What is Basic Training II Basic Training II (BT II) is a six session (10 hour), two-phase process of preparing the church planting team to lead the church to the next level of growth. Phase I includes two sessions and is primarily for the planter and his mentor. During Phase II, the planter's spouse and two to four members from the new church will join the team as they prepare the church to move to the next level of growth. The planting team defines the "next level."  It may be viewed as a numerical level, it may be expressed as an organizational level, or it may be moving to reproduction (church planting). It is suggested that participants in Basic Training be invited to participate in a BT II one year after Basic Training. BT II can follow up the Basic Training as a conference event in a central location as a Friday noon to Saturday afternoon event, it can be conducted as a conference for new churches as a stand-alone event; or it can be done as a local church consultation.

How To Participate?

Where are You Now?

You should explore the following questions with your mentor:

• Were the vision, values, profile, and mission developed during Basic Training on target? What adjustments were made following BT?  How were these planning components refocused?
• Are there some areas that now need to be adjusted due to a growing understanding of God, focus group, and so on?
• How well are these planning components understood and accepted by the members and workers in the new church?
• What needs to be done in the year ahead to communicate the vision, values, and mission statement?
• How on target for the new church field was the strategy? What parts of the strategy need to be redesigned as a result of better understanding of the field and focus group?
• How much of the "Mile Post" exercise from Basic Training has been achieved?

To do this effectively you will need:

• The original planning components from Basic Training 
• Current demographics on the church field and statistics on the new church.

What is the Next Level to Which You Need to Move?

• The planter, spouse, mentor, and members begin to look into the next year asking the following questions:
• What is God's desire for this church as it faithfully carries out the Great Commission in its setting?
• What is the "next level" for this church?
• What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the church?
• What limiting factors do we face at this time?
• Attitudes/personality of the church?
• Leadership, organization, and resources?
• What organizational changes need to occur?
• What leadership needs to be developed for the adjusted organization?
  • C1 and C2 leaders
  • Pastoral style changes
• What resources need to be developed or gathered for this movement?

During this phase the team will be introduced to the growth barriers and how to deal with the different barriers. A primary resource for this unit is material from Charles Chaney's "Breaking the 100 Barrier" and resources from George Barna, The Habits of Highly Effective Churches;  Kennon Callahan, 12 Keys to an Effective Church; Stephen Macchia, Becoming a Healthy Church; and Christian Schwarz, Natural Church Development.

Activities You May Want to Complete

• Checklist of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
• Team discussions on various issues with which the church needs to deal
• Mile Post exercise for coming year
   

When Can You Attend Basic Training II?

Check the Scheduled Events section for a current list of Basic Training events.  If you do not see an event close to you, please contact your State Director of Missions, or the North American Mission Board for more information. 

Several states have trained consultants for Basic Training II. To initiate scheduling of a Basic Training II for a church, association, or state convention, begin by contacting you State Director of Missions. If outside consultants are needed, he will coordinate the schedule with NAMB Church Planting Group.  The resources developed to support Basic Training II include a participant's manual, a presenter's manual, and PowerPoint cells.

Basic Training II Suggested Topics

• Where are we?
• Where does God want us to go?
• What do we need in order to get there?
• What are the mileposts?

Possible Basic Training II Schedules

Rationale for Issues Dealt with in Unit 5:

Note the parallel issues identified in four books related to leadership, worship, groups, and evangelism.  Also, structure and stewardship showed up in three chapters of the four books.  These six issues will form the second part of the morning session.