This summer we held Church Planting Network luncheons across the state of Louisiana. Over 100 leaders attended the luncheons & were asked to share three things:

1. Biggest Recent Win
2. Current Greatest Challenge
3. Best Resource

The discussions were great & inspirational. God is truly doing some historic things across the Bayou state. It was a great experience to share a meal & get to spend some time with these incredible leaders.

What was the top resources? The #1 resource shared by church planting leaders across Louisiana was… PEOPLE! At every meeting several of these leaders would wisely say, “My best resource is the people that serve with me, support me, & that I can call on when I need them.” Fits a church planting axiom that I heard years ago, “The resources are in the harvest.” Church planting leaders MUST learn how to gather, develop, encourage, deploy, & depend upon people. Our best resources will always be those around us.       

Here is a list of 25 other resources shared at our statewide gatherings this summer.

1. Website: http://bookdepot.com/ – Great site to check when doing book giveaways. Recent releases for as low as $3 each. Must order $100 worth.
2. Website: http://www.rightnowmedia.org/ – Video Bible Study & Kids Entertainment Library.
3. Website: http://erlc.com/ – Keep up with culturals shifts & how to respond to issues.
4. Website: http://evernote.com – for sermon prep, planning, staff communication.
5. Website: http://get.planningcenteronline.com/ – for team & volunteer management
6. Website: http://story4all.com/ – for info on Gospel Storying
7. Website: http://Eventbrite.com – for event planning, registration, AND also social networking for events in your area.
8. Book: It’s Personal: Surviving & Thriving on the Journey of Church Planting. This years network giveaway. Great book on the personal, emotional side of planting & leadership.
9. Book: Rediscovering the Church Fathers: Who They Were and How They Shaped the Church
10. Book: When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself. Start healthy compassion ministries.
11. Book: Truth That Sticks: How to Communicate Velcro Truth in a Teflon World. on storying the Bible.
12. Book: Contagious Disciple Making: Leading Others on a Journey of Discovery. Great book on discipleship movements.  
13. Book: The Rise of the Nones: Understanding and Reaching the Religiously Unaffiliated. Must read for church planters!
14. Book: Saturate: Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life. Book of the year on discipleship & church life.
15. Book: Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community. on setting up healthy church systems & structures.
16. Book: Right Color, Wrong Culture: The Type of Leader Your Organization Needs to Become Multiethnic
17. Book: Community Group Guide: Planting or Re-Planting Life Giving Small Groups by Brad House
18. Book: The Pocket Guide to Leading a Small Group: 52 Ways to Help You and Your Small Group Grow by Dave Early
19. Book: Bobby Bowden On Leadership: Life Lessons from a Two-Time National Championship Coach. Shared by a former Florida State running back looking to plant a church in Louisiana in the coming years!
20. Book: Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty-first Century Listeners
21. Book: Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work
22. Book: Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down by Tony Merida
23. Resource: The Redeemer Church Planting Manual.
24. Mobile Pregnancy Center from the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home – available to setup at your church or community event. Pregnancy test, ultrasounds, etc. done on site.
25. Re-Group Coaching with Sean Keith. Sean helps churches set up structures & systems for continued growth. Contact Sean.Keith@LouisianaBaptists.org.

Watch for some fall opportunities to network with multiplication leaders in your area.