Kejdis Bakalli, currently serving in Abania with Global Church Movement, shared his thoughts about characteristics needed in church planters at the Balkan Round Table in October:

The book of Acts inspires me to see how God has raised up his people to lead his church. The early apostles and their disciples were continually dependent on God. There are four characteristics of church planters which I see are specifically needed, and they all spring from being “full of faith and filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 6:5)

1) Boldness in evangelism.  I believe that there is no more important characteristic for a church planter than boldness in taking the initiative to share the Gospel. We need disciples who are “full of faith and filled with the Holy Spirit,” who depend on God despite threatening situations and personal fear.

2) Love.  My family and I served in Kosova for seven years and then moved to Budapest for one year. When we returned to Albania it was like a new country -- everything was different. There were many daily frustrations. But we knew that God had called us to minister to this people. It was this call that helped us to love people, maintain our joy and cope with daily stress.

3) Being sacrificial.  Following God’s will means sacrifice at times, but it is worth it. God is faithful and He will meet us the whole way as we move toward fulfilling His call. 

4) Forgiveness.  In every church planting team I’ve been in we have had to spend time resolving conflict, so you better make it a priority to learn how to do this in a godly way! Forgiveness is fundamental. People who do not forgive become an obstacle for the work, as trust is weakened and broken. Usually that results in church division.

We will see a church planting movement as we help our disciples to continually depend upon and obey God. Let’s pray that our churches produce followers of Jesus who are indeed “full of faith and the Holy Spirit.”