We Can Do Our Part
I have noticed that there are two things I like to do. I like to ask questions and I like to think.
For the past few years I have been asking, "How can we impact the Northwest with the gospel?" Then the fun begins because I can think about all of my "What if..." answers.
I am capable of generating a lot of ideas. My problem has rarely been about coming up with ideas. It has generally been about choosing the best ideas out of the mix. There are many ideas about supporting and encouraging pastors, strengthening board leaders and helping churches. But when it comes to impacting the Northwest with the gospel, I keep coming back to the importance of starting new churches. We need to strengthen our leaders and existing churches so they can do their part in impacting the region. But to truly make an impact, we need to work together to start new congregations. With 15 million people in our Northwest district, and less than 10% of those have a meaningful relationship with Jesus, we need additional churches to reach 13,500,000 people. If those people each had a church home of 1,000 people, we would only need to start 13,500 churches to reach the people already here. Of course average churches are closer to 100-200 people. Could we start 135,000 churches? (As I said, I like questions.)
Of course, that is beyond imagining, but I am convinced we can do our part.
This year, I am focused on discovering, developing and deploying church planters. To help us accomplish that requires additional funding for starting churches. I am excited to report that we have obtained a matching grant for church planting of $25,000. I am seeking to raise an additional $25,000 to match that. With $50,000 to start, it is enough to get 3 church planters mobilized.
It is an exciting time. Since the first of the year, God has led us to several potential planters, who could work in Tacoma, Portland and with ethnic Indian immigrants. We are taking one planting couple to assessment in April and are looking for more who may go.
So what can you do? Would you prayerfully consider
giving a one-time gift to add to our matching grant? You could invite me into your home or church to share the vision of church planting in the Northwest. You might lead your church or small group to consider giving a one-time gift to match the grant. You might consider how you could give to church planting through estate planning. You could privately check the
My Legacy Planner website to help you consider an estate plan. You can pray that God will raise up workers that we may send into the fields
( Matthew 9:36-38). If you know of potential planters, I would love to talk with them.
So I invite you to join me in the question "How can we impact the Northwest with the gospel together?" That is something for us to think about.
In His Grace,
Rev. Steven B. Welling
