Why Church Planting?
I guess this whole thing really starts with that simple, massive question, doesn't it? Well, to do it justice, allow me to break it down into two.
Why Church?
This might feel like a very vanilla question to address, but it's a key foundation to build upon, so I'll hit the high points.
For starters, Megan and I are followers of Jesus, meaning that not only do we ascribe to Christian beliefs, but we also strive to be the type of people Jesus wants us to be and to do the kinds of things Jesus wants us to do. Part of the Christian lifestyle Jesus highlights is what we call church, so naturally, we prioritize it. A church is not meant to be just a once-a-week meeting place, but a dynamic family of world-changers united in faith, purpose, vision, and values! Feel free to read more about what that's like in Acts 2:42-47 :)
Beyond our beliefs, our lives have legitimately been transformed by the local church. And further, we've witnessed first-hand the local church change the lives of so, so many others, even on municipal and national levels. In other words, our experiences validate that the local church is the hope of the world - the primary agent of change for both spiritual and tangible betterment in societies.
For example, because of the local church, the hurting have found comprehensive rehab in Waco, TX, and thousands of underprivileged kids have been mentored and tutored. Hundreds in Russia have been freed from crippling drug addictions. Syrian refugees have received aid while the nation of Haiti has undergone redevelopment. Countless people around the world who have never known of a God who loves them have found peace and forgiveness for the first time. Sex trafficking victims have been rescued, defended, and loved - everywhere from Bryan, TX to Asia. And the party has only just begun!
For starters, Megan and I are followers of Jesus, meaning that not only do we ascribe to Christian beliefs, but we also strive to be the type of people Jesus wants us to be and to do the kinds of things Jesus wants us to do. Part of the Christian lifestyle Jesus highlights is what we call church, so naturally, we prioritize it. A church is not meant to be just a once-a-week meeting place, but a dynamic family of world-changers united in faith, purpose, vision, and values! Feel free to read more about what that's like in Acts 2:42-47 :)
Beyond our beliefs, our lives have legitimately been transformed by the local church. And further, we've witnessed first-hand the local church change the lives of so, so many others, even on municipal and national levels. In other words, our experiences validate that the local church is the hope of the world - the primary agent of change for both spiritual and tangible betterment in societies.
For example, because of the local church, the hurting have found comprehensive rehab in Waco, TX, and thousands of underprivileged kids have been mentored and tutored. Hundreds in Russia have been freed from crippling drug addictions. Syrian refugees have received aid while the nation of Haiti has undergone redevelopment. Countless people around the world who have never known of a God who loves them have found peace and forgiveness for the first time. Sex trafficking victims have been rescued, defended, and loved - everywhere from Bryan, TX to Asia. And the party has only just begun!
Ultimately, the answer for every social issue, every injustice, every abuse, every lack, every area of brokenness, hopelessness, and destruction, is Jesus and His Church. That doesn't mean we forego things like government, medicine, infrastructure, and business; rather, it is only to say that without God, none of the other solutions will last. We need Him and His people if we are going to sustain the transformation we all long to see! The truth is, we all need a Savior, and the Church is called to represent Him (2 Cor. 5:17-20).
Why Planting?
Why not just let the other churches in Fayetteville handle it? Or, if we want to move to Fayetteville so bad, why don't we join one of the already existent churches? These are fair questions to raise.
Most basically, we believe Jesus made it clear that His Church is not to remain stagnant, but is to take the Good News everywhere so that all people may have the chance to find life in Him (Matt. 28:18-20). If every church were to start new churches, the Body of Christ would grow exponentially more quickly due to multiplication versus addition, dramatically increasing our impact and reach.
The truth is, almost every city in America is in need of more churches. According to the US National Council Of Nonprofits, only 6.1% of America's nonprofit organizations are religiously related whatsoever - and that figure includes all world religions, not just Christianity. If we generously assume that Arkansas is twice as religious as the rest of America, that would still only give them at best one Christian-affiliated organization for every 2000 people, and only a fraction of those groups are local churches (see here and here). Frankly, there aren't near enough seats in the churches as-is. We can do better!
Most basically, we believe Jesus made it clear that His Church is not to remain stagnant, but is to take the Good News everywhere so that all people may have the chance to find life in Him (Matt. 28:18-20). If every church were to start new churches, the Body of Christ would grow exponentially more quickly due to multiplication versus addition, dramatically increasing our impact and reach.
The truth is, almost every city in America is in need of more churches. According to the US National Council Of Nonprofits, only 6.1% of America's nonprofit organizations are religiously related whatsoever - and that figure includes all world religions, not just Christianity. If we generously assume that Arkansas is twice as religious as the rest of America, that would still only give them at best one Christian-affiliated organization for every 2000 people, and only a fraction of those groups are local churches (see here and here). Frankly, there aren't near enough seats in the churches as-is. We can do better!
Breakdown of US Nonprofit Organizations
Additionally, not every church is the same. Just like you and me, each church has different strengths, different weaknesses, different skills, and different roles to play. Just as an arm is not 'better' than an eye or vice versa, one church is not better or worse than another. Yet only when we work together in unity can the Church reach its fullest potential.
For example, consider Antioch College Station. Before our church was planted in 2009, College Station was already one of the most churched cities in America. On the surface, there wasn't much 'need.' Yet, several years later, not only has our church grown tremendously, but so have the already existent churches, as well as churches that started even more recently than ours! We're all working together, playing to our strengths, adding value to our city, learning from one another, and reaching more people as a result. That's what we're going for!
We believe we possess unique strengths as a church, such as missions mobilization, discipleship, and community groups, and that our presence in Fayetteville will only be of benefit to both the unchurched and the churched in Northwest Arkansas.
For example, consider Antioch College Station. Before our church was planted in 2009, College Station was already one of the most churched cities in America. On the surface, there wasn't much 'need.' Yet, several years later, not only has our church grown tremendously, but so have the already existent churches, as well as churches that started even more recently than ours! We're all working together, playing to our strengths, adding value to our city, learning from one another, and reaching more people as a result. That's what we're going for!
We believe we possess unique strengths as a church, such as missions mobilization, discipleship, and community groups, and that our presence in Fayetteville will only be of benefit to both the unchurched and the churched in Northwest Arkansas.
