Author: Craig Whitney

Craig lives in Sacramento, California with the cutest girl in his 4th Grade Sunday School class who he has now been married to for over 35 years. When he is not reading, writing or talking about ideas for church planting, he likes to spend time roasting and drinking coffee, cycling in the Sierra Foothills, and cheering on his favorite Formula 1 driver.

Reacting to Church Planting Potential

baseball infielder diving for a ground ball

Major league scouts don’t wait for players to be ready—they spot potential early and take action. Church leaders must do the same. Don’t miss the planters already in your church. Learn to recognize potential and respond quickly. Download the Scouting Guide and Coaching Cards to get started.

Church Planters Need More Than a Residency

4 people having a conversation

What if church planting didn’t require quitting your job or relocating? Multiply Project redefines development with a flexible, inclusive model for raising up new church planters-right where they are-in your church. Learn how it works.

Local Leaders are the Future of Church Planting

shop local sign

Church planting is hard. Parachute planting—where an outsider moves into a community to start a church—can be even harder. Many well-meaning planters struggle to establish deep roots and lasting impact in unfamiliar cities. That’s why the future of church planting lies in developing local leaders—those already living in and understanding the unique needs of their communities.

3 Clues to Clarify Calling

child looking at a map

Do you know someone wanting to discern their calling? Help them find these three clues:
-A specific people or place.
-A clear purpose that brings tangible change.
-A unique role that aligns with their gifts.

There are Church Planters in Your Church

Person spotlighted in a crowd

I’m convinced there are people within your church, right now, who could become church planters. You just need help recognizing them. You need a church planter scouting guide.

The Lost Habit of Calling

rows of empty chairs

We remember what’s repeated.
If we want more people to say yes to Jesus’ call to ministry, we need to make the invitation a regular part of church life—not just at camp. The Holy Spirit calls, but we help people hear by saying it often enough to be remembered.

The Best Coaches were Rarely the Best Players

Kids on a basketball court with their coach

The best players rarely make the best coaches. They don’t know how to teach certain skills because they never had to learn them. It turns out the best coaches are good at coaching.