Central district superintendent

Church planting, life with Jesus, is an ongoing adventure—a life of growth and productivity (John 15:16). Disciples need to make new disciples. Leaders need to develop new leaders. And churches need to start new churches.

Jesus came to each of us in love—right where we were and just as we were. Through his death and resurrection, he restored our broken relationship with God and made us his friends. But he didn’t stop with us. He’s still on his amazing mission to make new friends everywhere—and he wants all believers, everyone he’s called into his Body, the church, to be part of his ever-expanding mission of love.

One way the church can share in Jesus’ work is through church planting. By starting new churches, the church takes an active part in Jesus’ mission to actively engage the world and make disciples.

Church planting is about following the Holy Spirit into new and different places to make Jesus known to all kinds of people. It is about sowing seeds of the gospel while learning to understand with sensitivity the ways in which the Spirit works with people to turn them to Jesus. In other words, it’s about not only meeting people where they are but meeting them as they are—just as Jesus did with us.

It may not be easy to do. But it’s not up to us alone—it’s Jesus’ work, and he’s promised to be with us as we trust in him (Matthew 28:18-20).

“Living and sharing the gospel,” the WCG motto, is more than just a slogan; it’s a way of life, a life of trusting and following Jesus wherever he leads. It’s a life of love, love for people in need of the good news only Jesus can help them see. In future articles we will explore ways we can effectively start new churches in new places for people Jesus wants to make his new friends.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2006