God has been faithful to bring more qualified leaders that would answer the call to plant churches in cities in need. As a result, we saw a record growth in our church-planter training program this summer.
Much of the strength of our campus ministries comes from having a church where new believers can further hear the Word and develop in community. Because of this, some of our partners join with church planters to help them get started in target cities where the impact on the universities can be greater. When those churches become self-sustaining, they often send leaders from their congregation to get trained to be the next campus missionaries and church planters. The Every Nation North American church-planting initiative evaluates, trains, and assists these new planters with the ABC3 program (Assessment Center, Boot Camp, Clusters, Coaching, and Consulting). So far, it’s had a 95% success rate.
For the first time in our history, we’ll be hosting two Assessment Centers in one year because of the large volume of qualified applicants. Here’s a report from Pastor David—the director of the initiative—on the possible reasons for the growth.
This summer, thirty couples stepped forward with a vision to plant a church in North America. Reviewing the applications, recruiting two groups of qualified assessors, and generally doubling our administrative efforts has been a challenge. However, it’s one that has been a focus of our faith and prayers for several years. Since the founding of Every Nation, we’ve never had this many highly qualified candidates in one year step forward with a vision to plant churches in North America.
I can’t point to a single contributing factor, but several things seem to have added increasing momentum behind our mission—To honor God by establishing Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, socially responsible churches and campus ministries in every nation.
- Our churches are growing larger and stronger with larger congregations, more leaders, and more giving capacity.
- Our senior pastors are consistently promoting the vision of planting churches. They’re also taking the necessary steps of faith to send out their best leaders and support them financially.
- The quality of discipleship and leadership training in Every Nation Campus chapters is producing plenty of fully-funded campus missionaries—many who eventually become church planters. We’ve consolidated our School of Campus Ministry curriculum to include church-planting basics.
- Every Nation’s ABC3 process is gaining a lot of credibility. Over 95% of our church plants have been quite successful—several times larger in the first two years than the average North American church plant. When potential leaders see the success of others who go through the ABC3 process, their faith to go is emboldened.
- Every Nation churches and members continue to partner with the North American Church Planting Initiative, helping each qualifying church plant begin with a solid financial footing.
The Assessment Center standards have not been lowered. If anything, they are higher and we’ve become even more selective. Nevertheless, the applications seem to be increasing. I think all the factors above (along with the grace of God empowering our efforts) together contribute to increased momentum. Contributions to the North American Church-Planting Initiative are having an ever-increasing impact for Christ on our communities and campuses.