“We showed them the statistics that a new church will evangelize more and grow more than a church more settled,” he says. “We now know that we can lengthen Shades Mountain’s reach by planting more churches.”


Wood says planting a new church in a distant location takes missions to a higher level.


“When you go on a mission trip, you go, invest some time, and then you return home,” says Wood. “It’s more meaningful to plant a church there. If you do that, you can work with that new church plant, invest in it and see the fruits of your labor that will continue on.”


Looking ahead, Kwak hopes to see the scope of reach at Maranatha Grace multiply as well. Kwak is currently focused on challenging the members of the congregation to missional living day in and day out.


“We are called to be missional—in our homes, workplaces and neighborhoods,” Kwak says. “We are the church, not the place where we worship. Our hope is to be more than just the church gathered. We want to be the church scattered among the metro New York area and beyond.”


With the launch of new church-planting efforts like Send North America: New York City, there is a new excitement among church planters in the city, a fresh hope and renewed dedication to see Christ’s name made famous in one of the most famous cities in the world.


Says Wood: “A part of the beauty of Send North America is that it gives every church an opportunity to combine their resources with other churches to make a new church plant a reality.” OM


Sara Shelton is content development specialist for On Mission.


 


ACTION ITEM:
Churches that want to partner with a planter in New York City can start the process by visiting www.namb.net and clicking on “mobilize me.” To learn more about church planting in New York City, visit www.namb.net/newyorkcity.

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