A good planter and revitaliser will have to be a first-rate communicator. They must be able to explain their vision, excite and stimulate people, and incentivise them to join his team. A good leader will need to communicate the following in the early days:

• Explain the gospel
• Explain what healthy church should look like
• Explain doctrinal beliefs
• Explain the role of a healthy church member
• Explain how the group will engage the community
• Explain the discipleship process for new believers
• Explain the long-term strategy for engaging social issues
• Study the Bible together
• Discuss your plans for the future
• Pray
• Hang out and have the craic (really important—this is gold in the schemes where humour has a high premium)
• Hold one another spiritually accountable
• Encourage one another
• Settle any conflicts
• Show them what biblical hospitality looks like

Don’t be all business and formal. People aren’t looking to be saved into a business meeting once a week. Work at being dynamic and spontaneous (planned spontaneity I call it). Liking one another and being in community together are fundamentally important, however you work it out in your context. Real community is a powerful tool on the schemes. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35)