Not only is church planting a biblical evangelistic model, it also has practical advantages. Studies show that new churches reach more people. An examination of established Southern Baptist churches revealed 3.4 baptisms per 100 resident members, but new churches average 11.7 baptisms per 100 members. It’s evident that starting new churches will lead more people to Christ.
New churches also are needed to keep up with population growth. In 1820 there was one church for every 875 people in the United States. By WWI the ratio had dropped to one church for every 430 people. Today, there is only one church for every 6,194 people. In Canada the ratio is 1:123,971. Church planting has lagged behind population growth in North America for decades.
The population of North America is 345 million, and at least 259 million do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It will require new churches to reach such a great and diverse population with the gospel.
The message we share is a never-changing gospel; however, our methods must be contextualized to the people we are reaching. In other words, one-size-does-not-fit all. Each church has its own unique and distinct culture because of the people who make up that congregation.
Send North America is not only about taking the gospel to everyone in North America, it is about providing a family for our brothers and sisters in Christ to gather, participate, serve and grow that will eventually lead to more lives transformed by Jesus Christ.
SEND STRATEGY
Send North America will focus on mobilizing missionaries and churches for evangelistic church planting. Once churches or potential missionaries connect with NAMB, they will go through an assessment process to identify the type of partnership or missionary track that best fits the church or individual. NAMB will provide any needed equipping and training—including evangelism and leadership development—before the missionary or church enters the mission field.
Churches that partner with NAMB will have a broad range of participation options, all the way up to and including starting a church themselves. Smaller churches can participate in clusters with other churches. All will be encouraged to send mission teams, volunteers and other resources to directly help and partner with church planters on the mission field.
Fewer than 4 percent of SBC churches are engaged in church planting as a primary sponsor (accepting responsibility for direct financial support in partnership with other churches). NAMB’s goal is to see an increase to 10 percent.
“This entire strategy points everything we do toward assisting churches in planting healthy Southern Baptist churches,” says NAMB President Kevin Ezell. “Our desire is to mobilize thousands of Southern Baptists to be engaged in church planting.”
REGIONAL FOCUS
NAMB’s leadership working with its state partners has divided North America into five regions: Canada, Northeast, West, Midwest and South. This regional approach will allow NAMB to be more strategic and responsive to the diverse needs across North America.
“We relate with 42 state convention executives. It’s vital we work together—not because we have to but because we want to,” says Ezell. “They, too, have a heart to reach North America and they all have a heart for reaching the under served areas.”
12 Summer 2011 •
onmission.com
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