Hello my name is Gary Rohrmayer, Associate Director of Converge Church Planting Here is my Converge story: I was 27 years old just graduated bible college armed with nothing but a passion for evangelism and loads of inexperienced. I searched for a church planting network that I could connect with both relationally and theologically. This search led me to a group of leaders that today is know as Converge Worldwide. They opened their arms to me, they believed in me and helped me see my church planting dream become a reality. Converge offered a perfect balance of resourcing, encouragement and opportunity. That was twenty years ago and over 80 churches later that I have help start at some level. I would never be where I am today if it wasn't for Converge. I would not have had the opportunities or the friendships if I had just went on my own to plant the church God called me to start.
Do you have a dream to start a church?
Converge Church Planting is a proven church planting force reaching people from every segment of society. We are a network of likleminded organizations who have worked together to start over 500 new churches in the last twenty years.
Are you interested? Do you want to take the next step? Learn how to become a church planter with Converge Church Planting
On November 17-21, the ConvergeUSA Assessment Center was held at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in DC. It was a great week to see how God is working in the lives of so many people across this country. First impressions are important and our first impression of FBCG was one of overwhelming blessing. Their generosity to be hosts and sponsors of this assessment set the tone for the entire week. We were humbled by their servant leadership throughout the week.
Our assessment looks for the sixteen building blocks that we believe a church planter needs to successfully plant a church. This type of assessment allows for multiple models or new methods as we understand that God is leading the way to reach His people. We are not locked in to a specific model and there is no average church planter. They are all uniquely called by God to grow his kingdom.
As the Converge USA assessment center is now moving around the country to hold its Assessment Centers regionally, we depend on the generosity of our churches to continue to grow our movement. FBCG has set the standard when it comes to serving His kingdom through the Converge USA Assessment Center. Their hosting of the Assessment Center is, as they see it, an opportunity to serve God’s people in growing Christ’s kingdom through church planting.
We encourage your church to host an Assessment center. Hosting an assessment center will bring your church right into the middle of what God is doing to reach tens of thousands of new people for his kingdom through church planting. The energy that the church planting candidates bring to the process is contagious as they share the calling God has placed on their lives to grow his kingdom. Your church will be energized by the vision to reach new peoples through church planting.
As co-director of the Converge USA Assessment Center I must tell you that I never leave the week without an incredible sense that God is fulfilling his promise to reach into every corner of the world and every neighborhood to bring the message of grace, love and salvation to every heart. I know that if you choose to be a host your church and people will experience the same.
Marlan Mincks, Co-director ConvergeUSA Assessment Center and Founding Pastor of Iron Ridge Church, Waukon, IA,
Check out the Upcoming Assessment Centers Dates and Locations
In the early nineties, under the leadership of Paul Johnson, the TeAmerica Church Planting Assessment Center was born. The TeAmerica Assessment Center is one of the longest running, most influential and highly trusted Assessment Centers in the country.
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The ConvergeUSA Assessment Centers will be operated on a regional basis around the country, using local host churches with highly successful church planting experience as primary sites. The actual assessment team is a composite of highly skilled professionals in leadership development/assessment and experienced church planters who know first-hand the challenges of getting new churches started. ConvergeUSA Assessment Centers continue to enjoy a close partnership with the Minneapolis-based consulting group, Strategic Team-Makers, Inc. and with the growing network of churches associated with Converge Worldwide.
Many sending agencies, churches, and denominations have found ConvergeUSA Assessment Centers (formerly “TeAmerica”) to be a helpful tool in the process of enlisting new church planters. We hope to expand and build upon that fine tradition.
Dr. Curt Gruber, Co-Director, grew up in a church plant in central Minnesota and pastored in 3 churches over 30 years, plus a couple interim pastorates. Graduated from Bethel Seminary (1982) and Fuller Seminary (2000). Post-graduate studies at UC Boulder, San Diego State, and Claremont Graduate School. Adjunct instructor with Bethel University, teaching leadership, church planting, and evangelism. Associate Exec. Minister/Director of Church Planting for Converge Southwest (2002 to present). Also currently planting Legacy Church in La Mesa, CA (launched in February 2008). Curt resides in San Diego, California with his wife, Lisa, and son, Michael.
Marlan Mincks, Co-Director, is a church planter from Waukon,
Susan Ward, Administrator, lives in New Ulm, MN with her husband Scott. She has two young adult daughters. Susan has a Masters Degree from Bethel University in Organizational Leadership and is a Certified Leadership Coach.
Strategic Team Makers, Inc. was founded in 1985 as a consulting firm that specializes in building productive relationships in business and organizational settings.
Jerry Dahl - Founder, has been a relational consultant and counselor for over thirty years. He is a nationally recognized lecturer, author, and skilled facilitator. He has been serving as the resident counsel of the TeAmerica Assessment Center since its inception. Also serves as the resident counselor of many other church planting assessment centers throughout North America.
Steve Dahl - Vice President of Production and co-facilitator, brings to STM certification and 9 years experience in facilitating and personality instruments. He has been serving as the administrator/facilitator of the TeAmerica Assessment Center for over ten years.
For more details on the ConvergeUSA Assessment Center process
