PLANTING NEW CHURCHES
by B. Randall Parris
The Heart of
Cultivating
YOUTH and
missional
thinking and
an evangelism
CHRISTIAN
awareness
movement in
America EDUCATION
N THE UNITED STATES of America, church planting (with full or partial fund- set” that will eventually energize a
I
both our moral foundation and the ing) have not produced the fruit we church-planting movement through the
spiritual climate of our nation are desire, while the needs of the harvest young emerging leaders in our denomi-
changing. A key political figure was continually grow. We are in dire need for nation. We must prepare and inflame
recently quoted as saying, “America is not young couples and young adults who are “American missionaries” that are com-
a Christian nation. It is a nation of Chris- compelled by God to start a missional pelled by the Holy Spirit to advance the
tians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and other church-planting and ministry movement kingdom of God through planting
religions.” We blinked, and America that are not bound or limited to build- vibrant churches that are relevant to our
became one of the largest mission fields ings and finances. We need to reprogram present culture yet uncompromising in
biblical standards.
Leadership Happens
Much of this new direction and min-
istry initiative is because several key min-
istry leaders have locked arms, hearts,
and minds on this subject. Dr. Orville
Hagan has always valued evangelism and
church planting and is known for his pas-
sion and endless efforts to remind every-
one that the United States desperately
cries for revival and culturally relevant
ministry. Tom Madden, international
in the world. It used to be that a mission- the thinking of two generations and director of youth and Christian education
ary was a person that was sent to foreign intentionally infuse the emerging genera- has a vision of motivated and well-disci-
lands to share the Gospel. The ends of tion to view evangelism differently. pled students and young adults using
the earth have become our next-door their energy, gifts, and talents to do
neighbors, yet for most believers, we have
Partnership Happens
hands-on ministry in urban environ-
hardly noticed. The Division of World Evangelization ments around the world, including major
We must start rethinking our evange- is partnering with the Youth and Christ- cities in the USA. YCE intends to encour-
lism and church-planting efforts. If we ian Education (YCE) Department in an age and assist the younger generation to
are honest with ourselves, we must admit America Ablaze effort to mobilize our “grow and go” (Matthew 28:19-20). Our
our efforts in recruiting and preparing denomination’s emerging young leaders. general overseer, Dr. Raymond Culpep-
leaders for lifestyle evangelism and The goal is to produce a “missional mind- per, has placed the Great Commission at
12 EVANGEL • APR 2009
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