Monday, March 12, 2007

Church Plantings

These are exciting times! Every day we experience God’s hand in Mission Alive. In the last two and a half years God has worked through our church planters to plant eight churches. This report describes each of these. As you read this report of God’s work, you will perceive that a new era is beginning, an era in which we are once again thinking of ourselves as a missionary people in North America!

Christ Journey, Southwest Fort Worth

“Like the wind, 2006 has come and gone, and the Christ Journey community looks back with thankfulness at the provision of the Lord. With hands held high, we praise God for new relationships, new believers, new searchers, new house churches, new staff members, new emerging leaders, new ministries, and new opportunities to serve. Eagerly, we continue journeying with our Shepherd and each other into 2007 seeking spiritual formation in the image of God and participation in His story as the hands and feet of Christ in our community. In April 2005, 8 people came together in a living room marking the first meeting of Christ Journey Church. Today, the LORD has grown CJ into a network of 85-90 participants. Currently, Sunday morning gatherings take place in a storefront facility in Burleson, TX, and five house churches rooted in worship, community, mission, and spiritual formation meet once a week throughout the area. For the latest testimonies, blogs, field reports, pictures, and videos, check out http://www.christjourney.net/.”

                                                           -- Chris Chappotin, Church Planter

Higher Point, Brighten/Reunion area (north of Denver)

“It is breath-taking, awe-inspiring, humbling and even a little frightening to stand on the peak and admire the surrounding mountains that God formed with a word and raised with a breath. Those mountains are a constant reminder here in Northeast Denver that the same God is forming and raising His church at Higher Point Christ Fellowship.

Higher Point is a new church planting with a long history. Over a decade ago God began stirring in my heart a novel idea within the churches of Christ – plant churches. During these past ten years, I've seen Him gather a team, create vision, choose a location and bring together a broad collection of co-laborers.

Higher Point is being built upon a foundation of home churches called Connection Groups, is being equipped through spiritually forming groups called Formation Groups and leadership groups called LINC's (Leadership IN Connection), and is being inspired by dynamic Worship Gatherings, Children's Ministries and Community Events. We currently have three Connection Groups meeting each week, several Formation Groups, one LINC and we're meeting with everyone every other Sunday night at Prairie View High School as we build a strong core team expecting to launch in September 2007.

It is breath-taking, awe-inspiring, humbling and even a little frightening to stand on the peak and admire what God is forming with a word and raising with a breath – Higher Point Christ Fellowship.”

                                                           -- Robbie James, Church Planter

Northern Hills, Cherokee County (North Atlanta area)

God is greatly blessing the growing Northern Hills church in Cherokee County, north of Atlanta. Church planters Tim and Annette Broadwell are equipping 60-70 people, from children to 80 years of age, to launch the new church. Paradoxically, in the middle of this suburban community, a farm house serves as their staging ground—a place for planning, equipping the team, and connection to community. Spiritual renewal is at the heart of this church planting. All team members attend a Walk to Emmaus as Tim also develops a renewal retreat for the church called Clear View from Bethsaida. Northern Hills is targeting young families with children. Their goal is “to make God look so appealing that children are inspired to walk with Him everyday and be the best Christians that they can be," Tim says. “We have to think about the next generation.” The current focus is equipping God’s people for works of ministry, especially in spiritually formative small groups.

The Northern Hills church is being planted by the East Cobb church in Marietta. Tim writes that if East Cobb “had not been ‘Kingdom Focused,’ it would not have made the decision to plant Northern Hills. . . . Northern Hills will be thankful throughout all eternity for the faith, forward-thinking, confidence, prayers, and optimistic spirit that East Cobb has given us.”

New River Church, Forney Texas (East of Dallas)

“I’ve never been a part of a more faithful group of believers than the ones at the Kaufman Church of Christ. Their generosity and willingness to send a team of their own members to a neighboring city so the gospel can be shared truly shows their hearts. We have a team of 12 that plans to begin meeting in homes this summer and to launch publicly some time later. Our hope is Christ being formed in the hearts of the lost. We are not attempting to attract members of other churches. Our goal is to seek the lost and share with them the good news of Jesus. This journey has been filled with excitement, joy and some fear. There are times we have a lot more questions than answers. All that means to us as a team is to turn to the One who has all the answers. Church planting stretches your faith but also rejuvenates it. May God be praised in all we do as we seek His lost sheep and continue the ministry of reconciliation. Please pray for us at New River that we trust in God more than ourselves.”

                                                            -- Ben Stevens, Church Planter

Vine Life, Savannah, Texas

“When we look back over the last four months we cannot believe the amazing things that God has done and is doing in the 380 corridor (Savannah, Paloma Creek and Providence Housing Developments), 10 miles east of Denton, Texas. In September my wife Heatherly and I told Singing Oaks Church of Christ that we were ready and able to take on the task of planting a church in this area that they had selected as a prime area of need. What was I thinking in saying those words?! Despite my own ego God has humbled me and shown me his power in amazing ways. God has provided us with opportunities to walk as Jesus walked, meeting people along this journey, sharing our faith as we meet them on their terms in their homes, their "pagan temples" of fleshly appeal. In dining with our fellow sinners we are finding our long lost brothers and sisters in Christ come forward as authentic relationships are developed. Whether at the elementary school magic show or over "Baby Got Back" (90's hip-hop song) at the New Years Eve Party, God is moving both his wayward sheep and us his humble disciples to live and share the gospel and our lives as we represent him to those who desire authentic community. God has shown himself in all places, in all circumstances, to be the God over all things. We are thankful he has placed us in the paths of our future brothers and sisters in Savannah, Paloma Creek and Providence areas. May God continue to bless the people in our path and may we reveal him more and more each day.”

                                                           -- Les McDaniel, Church Planter

Immanuel, Austin, Texas

“In April of 2005, Kester and Rachel moved to Austin, TX with their son, Harry, to plant a downtown community that would reach out to Austinites who might be less likely to get involved with a church. They began vocational jobs in the downtown area in order to dive into the culture they love and begin forming relationships in the local community. Kester has been working at BookPeople (largest independent bookstore in Texas) for over a year and a half now and continues working there today. God provided Rachel with a part-time job as a speech-language pathologist in a pediatric clinic in October, 2005.

In January of 2006, after many months of prayer and planning, the Lord brought together a core team of people who committed to helping start and shape this community. What started as The Jesus Community ultimately settled on the name Immanuel. January through March of 2006, was spent praying, researching, and planning together for a fall launching of the Immanuel Downtown Community.

In March of 2006, weekly Bible studies began in the Smiths’ home, which continue to this day. People we had been growing in relationship with for months began coming to our study group on Wednesday evenings.
 
After a great deal of prayer and planning, we began public worship services on Sunday nights at the beginning of October, 2006. We were blessed to have been offered a community room in the Central Christian Church free-of-charge.
As our relationships have grown, so have our numbers, but what we are most excited about is the way that the group is being formed in the image of Jesus Christ.

Our web site is at http://www.immanuelaustin.com/.”

                                                           -- Kester Smith, Church Planter

Bluegrass Christian Community, Lexington, Kentucky

“The Bluegrass Christian Community's mission is to invite people of every history into the kingdom of God; to tell them the good news of Jesus Christ, that he came and died and rose so that they too can be a part of the family of God. Our church wants to be overtly missional, going to all people, especially people who are on the margins of society. We also want to provide genuine healthy Christian community for them. This seems to be the way to carry out Jesus' Great Commission.

We currently have two groups meeting in homes with two more on the horizon. Meeting in homes provides an atmosphere where genuine fellowship naturally happens. We will also begin hosting a public Bible study in a brand new elementary school building in a new and growing section of Lexington. The home groups meet on Sunday evening and the public Bible study will meet late Sunday mornings. At the public Bible study we will use John's gospel to tell how God, through Jesus wants a genuine friendship withus. We will also invite them to participate in our home groups. Lives are being changed. We are reaching people whose lives are broken and chaotic, and the power of the Gospel is changing them.”

                                                           -- Bryan Barrett, Church Planter

The Dwelling, North Little Rock Area

“The Dwelling, a new church plant for Greater Little Rock led by Jeff and Stacey Moore, met for the first time on January 28, 2007. The initial cell group meeting welcomed 13 adults and almost as many children. Some of those sharing in this time were unchurched, some struggling to overcome addictions, even some Christ-followers searching for a community to live out God’s will for their lives. The greatest compliment came at the end of the evening when one of the guests commented, “I could feel the Spirit of God here tonight.” From beginning to end, the time together was one of communion, a spiritual closeness where adults and children shared a meal, worshiped God in song, and remembered the Lord Jesus by breaking bread and pouring wine (juice). The evening ended as adults talked of their brokenness, continually inviting God to draw near through prayer and the reading of His Word. In the weeks to come, as Jeff and Stacey love and minister to those in their community, they are praying for God’s increase and stand ready to help those whom the Spirit of God leads into their midst to grow into the fullness of Christ.”
 
                                                         -- Jeff Moore, Church Planter
Posted by Gailyn V. at 12:00 PM
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