When we started our church over 30 years ago, people asked why we would start another church? Don’t we have enough churches? There’s something about a new church that will draw people who don’t attend a current one. In our small community, we have seen hundreds come to know Jesus as a result of the services here. Sometimes a new church in a community challenges established churches to try new ways and projects.
The apostle Paul stated it this way:
“My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.” Romans 15:20 NLT
Some would challenge that statement by saying, people in the USA have heard about Jesus already. But indeed so many have not. Or they might say they have heard about Jesus but really haven’t heard the good news and how to come to know Him personally. Just because you’ve heard of a restaurant and know it’s there doesn’t mean you have actually eaten there!
“The most important single argument for making new church development a high priority is that this is the most effective means for reaching unchurched persons. Numerous studies have shown that 60 to 80 percent of the new adult members of new congregations are persons who were not actively involved in the life of any worshipping congregations immediately prior to joining that new mission. By contrast, most long established churches draw the majority of their new adult members from persons who transfer in from other congregations.” (Lyle Schaller)
Thus new church plants are vital to the community to draw people to Christ and develop leaders who are currently not engaged. But most importantly, new churches reach unbelievers far more successfully than established churches. The Great commission is to make disciples of all nations and people groups. We have much to do! My husband and I are currently working with Dynamic Church Planting International in providing training to enable others to plant churches. And we are planning on planting more churches ourselves. It’s exciting what God is doing!
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