Staff

Third Thursday: Launch Sunday for Ferguson and West Palm Beach!

This Sunday, both The House and SoFlo Church will be having their first Sunday services! Launch Sunday is a milestone that we love to highlight and celebrate.  Thank you for the ways in which you've partnered and prayed with us and these churches. We are so excited for these communities!

Third Thursday: Meet Kyle & Joy of the Ojai Valley Project!

We are excited to share the Ojai Valley Project with you! Kyle & Joy Costello love to see God do new things. In early 2021, they began to see that God was calling them to step out and plant a new church. The more they prayed, the more obvious it became

Third Thursday: Celebrating City Coast Church!

This July, we celebrate with Fairfield County's City Coast Church as they have been beginning monthly gatherings leading up to launch. They've met in town, at an elementary school, and on the beach!  It's been an incredible success. Leslie Welke observes: It has been fun to start City Coast Church

Third Thursday: First Baptism Sunday at the new Camden church!

This month, we are thrilled to celebrate with Accelerate Church where 31 people baptised into new faith in Jesus! It's incredible to see all that God is already accomplishing in this community that's less than a year old. Visit Accelerate's Instagram for even more photos! See what some new churches

Third Thursday: Meet Isaac & Vanessa of the Tampa Project!

We are excited share the Tampa Project with you! Isaac and Vanessa Petit Frére are passionate about places where people are skeptical or even hostile toward Jesus and his church. Their enthusiasm is infectious: “If only we could show them something they haven't seen before, something different. If only we

Third Thursday: Resurrection Day!

West Palm Beach Fun! This season has been a blast. The West Palm Beach Project [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/west-palm] (now officially named SoFlo Church, after its location in South Florida), hosted an event that drew over a thousand people to get to know their community, enjoy some Easter fun,

Third Thursday: History Makers Launch Day!

Spring is right around the corner, and we already have beautiful things to celebrate. History Makers Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/greater-miami] had their official launch last month! More than 350 people were present as the new church shared in song, teaching, and fellowship. We are thrilled to witness the

Annual Report 2021-22

Download the Annual Report ↓ Get the .pdf with photos, stories, and stats! Orchard-Group-Report-2021-22-1.pdf 5 MB download-circle [https://blog.orchardgroup.org/content/files/2022/02/Orchard-Group-Report-2021-22-1-1.pdf] More than 30 years ago, Tim Keller started Redeemer Church in Manhattan, and he recently retired with decades of ministry experience in New

Your Mission: We've Got Your Back

What does Orchard Group do best? How does it serve the mission of church partners and vision of church planters? New churches have been planted with Orchard Group for more than 70 years, and over the decades we've zeroed in on four core areas of practice. While some church planting

Third Thursday: New churches are planting more new churches

Happy New Year! We hope that you've had a great 2022 so far. As you know, we love to celebrate the ways that God works through new churches in their communities and beyond. One of our favorite things a new church that goes on to help plant more churches. Mosaic

Third Thursday: New Churches Preparing to Launch in 2022

Christmas is right around the corner, so first, the Orchard Group team [orchardgroup.org/about] wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas! There have been so many things to celebrate [https://blog.orchardgroup.org/tag/newsletter/] in new churches this season. Now, we begin to look forward to the

Video: Meet Lenny & Jennie of the Ferguson Project

Lenny spent much of his time growing up Ferguson, a community in greater St. Louis, where his father had planted a church. As he grew older and developed relationships, he fell in love with the city and its people. Ferguson is a beautifully diverse city with charm and neighbors that

The Latest: A New Church for Oakland

This Fall has been one of the most fruitful seasons ever for our church planting team. As we've shared in the last couple of updates [https://blog.orchardgroup.org/the-latest-more-new-churches/], new churches [https://blog.orchardgroup.org/the-latest-exciting-season/] have launched Sunday services in cities across the country. The latest church to

New City Church Launch!

We are celebrating along with New City Church which just officially launched in Oakland! Planters Gabe and Kari Garcia share, > This past Sunday was a beautiful picture of the goodness and kindness of our gracious God who has been leading us in this journey every step of the way. What

Why Church Planting?

Christian missions efforts have a rich history of creative and fruitful outreach across the world, and individuals and churches have an ocean of possibilities as they consider how to invest their resources. Why should church planting be an integral part of that mission? With so many good options, why choose

The Latest: More New Churches!

As we shared in the last update, this Fall is a season for many churches to begin regular Sunday services. Over the past few weeks, Accelerate Church (Camden) [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/camden], Beacon Church (New Hampshire) [https://twitter.com/OrchardGroup/status/1441398480732184576], Hope Church (Baltimore) [https://blog.orchardgroup.org/

Launch Sunday for Reunion Church in Manhattan!

We're thrilled to add Reunion Church in Manhattan to the list of churches that have launched this Fall! Russel and Katie Rader share: > LAUNCH SUNDAY! What a day it was. We sang. We met new friends. We participated. We are being drawn together to participate in a grand story that

Hope Church Baltimore Launches!

Hope Church Baltimore, led by church planters Joshua and Ericka Symonette,  officially launched on Sunday! Hope's team shares: > "Hopeful & grateful for all that is to come. It was so awesome and encouraging to see and feel the enthusiasm. Thank you to those who have joined us in this story. This

Accelerate Church Launch Sunday!

We celebrate with Accelerate Church in Camden County, NJ! Launch Sunday highlights:

Video: Meet Charlie and Leslie Welke of the Fairfield County Project

Charlie shares, > We are the Welkes, and when we found Fairfield County, Connecticut, we found a place that fused the city with the coast, and we began asking whether or not this place needed a new church. New England has a rich spiritual heritage: it’s the birthplace of America’

The Latest: An Exciting Season for New Churches

‌ As the summer season gives way to Fall, many church plants find themselves transitioning out of the pre-launch stage and into the exciting season of launching regular Sunday church services! In fact, the next couple of months are shaping up to be some of our busiest ever: Accelerate Church (Camden)

The Latest — A Growing Team

We are excited to announce the addition of two new staff members to Orchard Group! Tanner Green will begin serving in September as Regional Director for New England. Tanner has been serving as the Founding and Lead Pastor for SouthPointe Christian Church near Providence, RI for the past nine years.

The Latest: Peace and Prosperity in Planting

At the heart of church planting is a commitment to "Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you... Pray to the Lord for it..." (Jeremiah 29:7) We believe that God has called us to be at work in the world, helping to draw people

Announcing a New Partnership for New England

Dear partners in ministry, I am excited to announce a new partnership that I believe will strengthen and accelerate the church planting efforts in New England for many years to come. Orchard Group will be contributing our leadership, staff, and expertise to Restoration House Ministries, a New England church planting

Video: Introducing Ernest and Sarah Grant

Ernest and Sarah Grant share their vision and excitement for the upcoming launch of Accelerate Church in Camden County, NJ. You can help plant a new church in Camden County. Partner with Ernest and Sarah [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/camden] to establish Accelerate Church.

The Latest - New Life, New Churches, New Prayers

New Life As churches shifted to online last year, our team wondered if there would be a burst of new baptisms as physical gatherings relaunched. Now, as churches across the country and world are regathering, it sure looks to be the case. In Chicago, Miami, New York, San Luis Obispo,

Plan A: Watering and Planting

In a little paragraph in a letter to the church in Corinth, history’s most well-known church planter provides some important insight: > What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So

The Latest: May News

We couldn't be more thrilled to announce our commitment to back Ernest & Sarah Grant to establish a new church for Camden County, NJ [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/camden/]! Introducing the Camden County Project Ernest & Sarah Grant and familyThe Grant's church planting journey started with a series of questions: "What if

Introducing the Camden County Project

"Vision" is a picture of the future in the present. Especially in the early days of a church plant, casting vision as clearly as possible is critical for achieving alignment and unity on a new team. Church planters Ernest and Sarah Grant are casting vision right now for a new

Plan A: Churches Planting Churches

There is so much to celebrate about the work of church planting: leaders applying their God-given gifts, new people encountering the good news, local volunteers and staff being developed, and — of course! — new believers following Jesus. Church planting frequently brings about another wonderful thing: new churches investing to help start

City Church OTR Launches!

City Church OTR in Cincinnati officially launched on Easter Sunday! We celebrate  with this church as they form a new community in the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood. Co-pastors Chris Marlin and Tyler Chernesky share: > The theme of our Easter Celebration was "Not finished yet..." We felt this was reflective of Easter and

The Latest: April News

There is so much to celebrate about the work of church planting: leaders applying their God-given gifts, new people encountering the good news, local volunteers and staff being developed, and — of course! — new believers following Jesus. Church planting frequently brings about another wonderful occurrence: new churches that invest in new

Plan A: Living the Book of Acts

Header photo: Paris [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/eglise-saint-lazare], where a new church has been established in recent years in partnership with Orchard Group. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of our favorite church planting passages in the Bible is in Acts 14:21-26: > They preached the gospel in that city and won a large

The Best Kind of Motivation

Right now, Orchard Group is backing several church planters who have left secure jobs at established churches in order to pursue a vision of planting a new church. Why would someone voluntarily trade security for fragility, or something known for something ambiguous? Church planting often requires these kinds of big

The Latest: March News

Header photo: Preview service at History Makers Church (Greater Miami) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God continues to move in and through new churches that you are helping to establish! This month, we want to highlight some of the ways church planting leaders have been at work in Greater Miami and in Oakland: Greater

"God has shown us once again just how good he is"

By Luke Greer, Director of Partnership Receiving truly good news is a delight — all the more so in the middle of a prolonged tumultuous season. As our team here at Orchard Group began preparing last year to publish our annual report [https://blog.orchardgroup.org/orchard-group-report-2020-21/], I was a bit

Orchard Group Report 2020-2021

It’s hard to think of very many aspects of normal life that haven’t been disrupted in the past year. Yet, one thing has never been disrupted, and never will be: God is still at work in our world!

The Latest: February News

It's hard to imagine a more unprecedented year than 2020. Yet, God's work through new churches remained constant. In 2020, thousands of people heard the good news about Jesus for the first time, hundreds came to new faith and were baptized, and local communities were creatively served — all through churches

Celebrating One Year at Community Church

This article is contributed by Lou Pizzichillo, lead planter of Community Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/long-island-project] on Long Island. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul wrote these words. If you stop and think about them for a minute, they’re pretty extreme. In Ephesians 3:

January News from Orchard Group - A Letter from Brent

Dear Friends and Partners, How many things in your life were disrupted in 2020? Maybe you had to stop going into the office for work. Maybe you lost your job. If you have kids in school, your routines were certainly interrupted. Maybe political strife unsettled your city or your relationships.

Christmas 2020: Not Foreign to the Christian Story

By Luke Greer, Orchard Group's partnership director. In many ways, much of what we have experienced in 2020 is not unlike the historical backdrop that Jesus was born into. In Jesus’ day there were entrenched interest groups, social unrest, competing ideologies, mutual distrust across ethnic lines, and profoundly different political

Video: Meet Joshua and Ericka

You can become a partner [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/baltimore] with Joshua and Ericka to plant a new church in Baltimore!

The Latest: December News

This season reminds us of "good news of great joy" that came for all people (Luke 2:10). Together with you, we plant churches so that more people everywhere might hear the good news that a Savior has come for them. It's for this very reason that we're thrilled to

Oakland Project's Thanksgiving Giveaway

How did you celebrate Thanksgiving this year? Food? Family? Football? The Oakland Project [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/oakland-project/] did all that and more, as they organized a Thanksgiving Giveaway to help provide basic Thanksgiving items for over 120 families in their community. This team is in the process of preparing

The Next Chapter: Collective & Icon

This post is part of the "Next Chapter [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/next-chapter]" series, where we share about the “Next Chapters” in the story that God is writing through new churches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each time you partner to plant a new church, you make a number of “firsts”possible, because

The Latest: November News

You play a vital role in good news being shared in places where Jesus isn't yet widely known. This is why we're so eager to share with you about our newest church plant project! Introducing the Baltimore Project Joshua & Ericka and familyOver the past two years, Joshua and Ericka Symonette

Celebrating God's Work at City Church Lagos

In a bustling city of over 20 million, City Church exists to "Love Jesus, Love People, and Love Lagos." Lagos is one of the largest and fastest-growing cities [https://updates.orchard.group/church-in-the-worlds-fastest-growing-city/] in the world, and we count it a privilege to partner with Femi and Tosin Osunnuyi and

The Next Chapter: True North & Community Church

This post is part of the "Next Chapter [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/next-chapter]" series, where we share about the “Next Chapters” in the story that God is writing through new churches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As our team continues to reflect on “The Next Chapter” that God is writing through his church,

The Latest: October News

This past month has marked the celebration of new beginnings at many Orchard Group churches, as well significant milestones at others. Join us in celebrating with these churches and in praising God for his good work! Celebrating New Beginnings On September 13, City Church Over-the-Rhine [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/cincinnati-project/

Celebrating New Beginnings at City Church OTR

On September 13, City Church Over-the-Rhine [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/cincinnati-project/] launched their preview services in Cincinnati! These services are designed to provide an opportunity for people to explore what their church is all about. Over 80 people turned out for their first preview service! We continue to be encouraged

Celebrating New Life at Trace Church

Trace Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/trace-church/] in Colorado Springs recently had the joy of celebrating 18 baptisms. Join us in rejoicing with them, and in celebrating the new life that these brothers and sisters have found in Jesus!

The Next Chapter: Reunion & Renaissance

This post is part of the "Next Chapter [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/next-chapter/]" series, where we share about the “Next Chapters” in the story that God is writing through new churches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Right now in Manhattan [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/manhattan-project/], Russel and Katie Rader are working and praying

Celebrating One Year (2020-style)

2020 has been a year like no other. Yet, even in the midst of unusual and unforeseen circumstances, God has been faithful to preserve and advance his church. This week, we have a tangible example of God's faithfulness with the first anniversaries of both Icon Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/

The Latest: September News

The church has always been characterized as a people who gather, united by their shared love for Jesus. This continues to be true even as a pandemic has caused this "gathering" to take on many different forms throughout the world. Even with present limitations, churches are still finding safe and

Not Limited by Four Walls

At its core, the church has always been characterized as a people who gather, united by their shared love for Jesus. This continues to be true even as a pandemic has caused this "gathering" to take on many different forms throughout the world. We love seeing the creative ways churches

Ways Unimagined: God's Work at The Gathering Harlem

This article is contributed by the staff of The Gathering Harlem [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/the-gathering], which launched in 2017, led by Kenny and Shanika Hart. Header photo courtesy of Anthony Geathers [https://www.instagram.com/anthonybgeathers/]. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The vision that God gave The Gathering Harlem (TGH) for 2020 was

The Next Chapter: Crossway & SLO City

Throughout this year, we’ve taken a moment to look back at past church plants and to look forward to current church plants. (Browse other features in the Next Chapter series [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/next-chapter/].) This month, we’d like to continue celebrating how God is writing the

The Latest: August News

Even as much in the world shifts around us, the church's core mission to make disciples remains constant. The same central aim endures: to share the good news about Jesus with as many as possible through the establishment of new church communities. Church planter Russel Rader in Manhattan recently expressed

Into the Fray: Praying for Planters

> Then Jesus told his disciples...that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1) While thoughtful plans and strategies are necessary, if God is not ultimately at work through them, they will produce little lasting fruit. This is why we are thankful for the thousands who pray

Grieving Losses and Pressing Forward

This article is contributed by Russel Rader, who is preparing to start a new church in Manhattan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > “How lonely sits the city that was full of people!” –Lamentations 1:1 From March to April of this year, it is estimated that over 420,000 people left New York City.

Finding Creative Ways to Connect in Greater Miami

In the midst of this unique season of physical distancing, church planters Terrence & Emma Mullings are pressing forward with fostering community and building momentum for the launch of a new church in Greater Miami. Here are a few snapshots of life from the past month from the Greater Miami planting

The Latest: July News

As the summer warms up, so do the efforts of church planters as they prepare for the fall season. Church planting always requires creativity – even more so in a time with the added complexities of physical distancing, volatile economy, and global protests. Right now, leaders in Greater Miami [https://orchardgroup.

Fostering a New Faith Family

This article is contributed by Chris and Katherine Marlin and Tyler Chernesky, who are currently preparing to start a new church in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our dreams of church planting reach back almost a decade. And while those dreams have changed and grown over the years, they never included

Pray, Watch, Bless: Church Planting While Physically Distancing

This article is contributed by Gabe Garcia. Gabe, Kari, and their kids recently moved to Oakland, California, where they are preparing to start a new church. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > “Many are the plans of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” –Proverbs 19:21 Planting in

How Your Church Can Begin Making a Strategy for Racial Justice

“Most churches and Christian organizations have all kinds of strategies: a strategy for evangelism, a strategy for crisis planning, a strategy for staffing, or a strategy for how to manage your building. But how many have a solid strategy to ensure that they are fighting against racial injustice?” –Brandon Watts,

Remembering and Celebrating God's Work at Crossway Christian Church

This article is contributed by Dave Smith, who served as the founding pastor at Crossway Christian Church in Nashau, NH – one of Orchard Group's church plants back in the '90s. He now serves as the planter of Crossway's Downtown Campus. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just over 25 years ago, our family arrived in

The Latest: June News

As we near the halfway point of 2020, we can look back on what has already been a historically challenging year. It makes us all the more grateful for you who pray and give for the establishment of new churches, and for the leaders that are serving communities around the

Meet Phineas

New churches in new places mean more opportunities for people to hear the good news that they matter to God [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/pmtg/]. Each new church provides the opportunity for more people to encounter Jesus and grow in their relationship with him. In 2019, SLO City Church

The Next Chapter: NYC & Istanbul

This post is part of the "Next Chapter [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/next-chapter]" series, where we share about the “Next Chapters” in the story that God is writing through new churches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Istanbul, Turkey is a city of 15 million people, yet it only has about 30 thousand Christians,

A Vision for Greater Miami

Greater Miami is filled with beautiful, diverse people. They are each known by and important to God. For years, Terrence and Emma Mullings have been praying, working, and dreaming for a new church in Greater Miami that will introduce people to Jesus and his work for them. Originally from Australia,

The Latest: May News

Over the past six weeks, it's been beautiful to see Orchard Group church plants "be the church" during this unique season. There's been much to celebrate [https://blog.orchardgroup.org/the-church-in-action/] as we see churches creating new approaches for worship services, finding new ways to stay connected, and proactively supporting

Church Finance Considerations for This Season

By Robert Tomko, finance director -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three church finance considerations for our current moment: 1.) Maintain accurate and responsible records. During this time, many of us will have fewer in-person connections with our accountant or bookkeeper. It’s important to ensure that our financial reports are produced with accuracy and

Navigating a New Reality

Our team has recently been encouraged by a report from some of our international planters of how they're navigating a "new norm" in light of COVID-19. We invite you to read the following report and join us in praising God and praying for the church in Istanbul. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From church

The Church in Action During COVID-19

From raising additional benevolence funds, to creating new approaches for worship services, to fostering new ways for intentional connection, to proactively supporting local community, to practicing lament together... it's been beautiful seeing the church being the church in this unique season. Here are a handful of examples of Orchard Group

Christian Life in Times of Crisis

Every crisis is different and the one we find ourselves in is particularly unique. Still, there are lessons to be gleaned from the past and principles learned in previous fires that can shape how we navigate adversity today. We recently asked a few staff members and church planters to share

Made For This: Strength in Weakness

From Luke Greer [https://greer.lt], Partnership Director -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > He said to me, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” —2 Corinthians 12:9 Strong and Weak Links A couple of weeks ago, Malcolm Gladwell gave a talk [https://munkdebates.com/dialogues/malcolm-gladwell] where he articulated some of his analysis

Meet John

We often say that we plant churches because people matter to God. God cares deeply for each individual on this planet. He created them. He loves them. He knows their stories and their struggles. He longs for them to know him. Through the work of Jesus, he makes a way

The Next Chapter: Brooklyn & Oakland

This post is part of the "Next Chapter [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/next-chapter]" series, where we share about the “Next Chapters” in the story that God is writing through new churches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 2016, Brandon and Ty Watts launched Epiphany Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/epiphany-church] in Brooklyn with

April News from Orchard Group – A Letter from Brent

Dear Friends and Partners, Thank you so much for prayerfully investing in new churches, especially during this challenging season. Your prayers are making an even bigger impact than you realize. Your support is helping new churches in some of the cities most rapidly impacted by the coronavirus - New York

FAQ for Churches: The Paycheck Protection Program

from Greg Hubbard, Director of Operations, Orchard Group What is it? The economic stimulus bill recently passed by Congress (the CARES 2020 Act) contains $349 billion in potentially forgivable loans for small businesses, including churches, to encourage them to retain their employees through the current crisis. Who can get a

Ministering in the Blizzard and Preparing for Winter

Like many organizations that are serving entrepreneurs and start-ups, we have been challenged by Praxis' article Leading Beyond the Blizzard [https://journal.praxislabs.org/leading-beyond-the-blizzard-why-every-organization-is-now-a-startup-b7f32fb278ff] . It gives an excellent framework for the current moment, and for moving forward over the medium and longer term. Borrowing the concepts of "blizzard" (~8

Staying Spiritually Healthy in Crisis

By Brent Storms, Orchard Group President/CEO Over the past couple of decades with Orchard Group I have experienced a handful of crises: the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the 2008 recession in the global economy, and the brutal impact of Hurricane Sandy on New York City. There have been

Seven Days of Prayer

Join nearly 4,000 prayer partners in praying for seven days. Begin anytime, and then return to do it again: Day 1 > View this post on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/B-NQfOWHEgI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading] Would you join us in seven days of prayer? ⠀ ⠀ Day

Resources for Navigating COVID-19

We know that at this point, everyone's newsfeeds are inundated with posts related to COVID-19. It can be daunting to sift through it all! So we've compiled a list of resources that we've found most helpful: Websites to monitor for current information: * Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.

The Latest: March News

Orchard Group focuses on planting churches where they're most needed, and we're passionate about establishing churches that help start other churches. Therefore, it's with great excitement that we share our commitment to back Gabe & Kari Garcia as they establish a new church in Oakland, California! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introducing the Oakland Project

Introducing the Oakland Project

Over the past year, God has placed an unshakable burden upon Gabe and Kari Garcia's hearts to reach a new community with the love and truth of Christ. Throughout a season of prayer and seeking godly counsel, they were encouraged to investigate the possibility of church planting. Through that process,

The Next Chapter: Phoenix & Cincinnati

This post is part of the "Next Chapter [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/next-chapter]" series, where we share about the “Next Chapters” in the story that God is writing through new churches. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As we entered a new decade earlier this year, we found ourselves reflective about all God has

Orchard Group Report 2020

Download the Report [https://www.dropbox.com/s/z1xicwa6s9npdq6/Orchard%20Group%20Report%202020.pdf?dl=1] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Six ways to take action: 1. Multiply Your Church’s Mission [https://orchardgroup.org/partners] • Every church has a mission: to make disciples, to serve the community, to evangelize new believers, and to

The Latest: February News

Each January, Orchard Group hosts a retreat in Miami for lead planters. This retreat is born out of our commitment to support leaders well through the many challenges of church planting. Our prayer is that this time together spurs these leaders on to serve well in their various ministry contexts.

Celebrating God's Work at Epiphany in 2019

After launching in 2016 [https://updates.orchard.group/epiphany-church-launch/], Epiphany Brooklyn quickly began growing [https://updates.orchard.group/a-church-grows-in-brooklyn/] as it reached more and more people with the good news about Jesus. It's a joy to see how God continues to grow Epiphany [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/epiphany-church], not only

Celebrating God's Work Through Renaissance in 2019

We plant churches because we want people everywhere to know Jesus [https://orchardgroup.org]. In 2019, Renaissance Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/renaissance-church/] expressed this core motivation as it reached many more people with the good news about Jesus. Their two worship services reached an average of 500-600 people each

In for the Long Haul: Churches that Multiply

This article is part of the series "In for the Long Haul [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/long-haul/]," describing Orchard Group's commitment to back church planters as they establish churches in cities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More than 150 years ago, after decades of church planting and missions work, leaders from missions societies

The Latest: January News

We hope that you had a wonderful holiday season, and that 2020 is off to a great start. We're eagerly anticipating all God will do in 2020, both through existing church plants, and through the launch of new churches: Long Island [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/long-island-project], Manhattan [https://orchardgroup.org/

2020 Lead Planters Retreat

The 2020 Lead Planters Retreat was a great success! We're grateful for the refreshment the Lord supplied to lead church planters amidst the sunny skies of Miami. We're also thankful for the opportunities for encouragement God provided, including through interactions with fellow leaders. The retreat concluded with a time of

Launch Sunday: Community Church

Over 350 people came out on Sunday, January 5, 2020 to join in the launch of Community Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/long-island-project] on Long Island! We praise God for a great start, and we're excited for all he has in store for Community Church! =

In for the Long Haul: Planning a Financial Future

This article is part of the series "In for the Long Haul [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/long-haul/]," explaining Orchard Group's commitment to back church planters as they establish churches in cities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Planning for a flourishing future What could be more challenging than turning nothing into something? Like any

In for the Long Haul: Why Plant Churches

This article is part of the series "In for the Long Haul [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/long-haul/]," explaining Orchard Group's commitment to back church planters as they establish churches in cities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Orchard Group was born in New York City in 1948, and we have focused on establishing new

In for the Long Haul: Why Cities

This article is part of the series "In for the Long Haul [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/long-haul/]," explaining Orchard Group's commitment to back church planters as they establish churches in cities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Orchard Group was born in New York City in 1948, and we have focused on establishing churches

Celebrating Five Years

We're rejoicing with Renewal Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/renewal-church] (Chicago) and Renaissance Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/renaissance-church] (NYC) as they celebrate their five-year anniversaries. Both of these churches are already to the point of being self-sustaining [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/self-sustaining/], one of the most important indicators

In for the Long Haul: Management Teams

This article is part of the series "In for the Long Haul [https://updates.orchard.group/tag/long-haul/]," explaining Orchard Group's commitment to back church planters as they establish churches in cities. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Orchard Group team is committed to supporting church planters at each stage of the process. As

A Church for the "Never-Churched"

God has given Brent & Jenna Bramer a desire to see the "never churched" encounter the goodness of God through a new church in the city of San Luis Obispo. One of the first communities settled in California, San Luis Obispo (known locally as "SLO") is a city that is poised

Launch Month for Icon Church in Seattle

Justin and Emilie Anderson are starting a new church in Seattle. In their own words: > Icon Church exists because God loves Seattle and called a small group of Christians to do the same. Beginning in the summer of 2018, we began to dream and pray about starting a church in

The Cincinnati Project

"Family is a word central to everything our church hopes to accomplish," say church planters Chris Marlin and Tyler Chernesky. "Almost all of our methods will be built around the fact that God invites Christians into His family and sets them on mission together." Tyler and Chris are preparing to

The Manhattan Project

In New York City, young professionals face pressure to find their identity in their work, in their abilities, in their educational status, and in their relationships. Russel Rader, lead planter of the Manhattan Project shares, “Many people in the city are lonely, overworked, and lacking community. Katie and I believe

Long Island Project

Orchard Group will back church planters Lou and Allie Pizzichillo, who will lead the Long Island Project in 2020. Lou said, “We believe that when people see God for who He truly is, they’ll find God irresistible. We want the people of Long Island to understand God as a

Spring Growth

One of the pictures Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of God was of a mustard seed. The Bible often uses gardening or farming illustrations to reveal the nature of the gospel, showing how God is at work in the world. God can bring life even in the most barren

Mission City Church

Sunday was a day of energy and excitement at Mission City Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/santa-barbara/] in Santa Barbara, CA. Mission City is a church plant that launched in the fall of 2017. "Church planting" is an evocative phrase to describe the start of a new church. It

Race and Immigration: A Gospel Conversation

Each year, Renewal Church in Chicago hosts a conversation centered on how the gospel impacts issues around racial identity. This year, they expanded the conversation to include how Jesus followers can think about immigration. Renewal is committed to living out the gospel in Chicago, crossing boundaries and becoming a multi-ethnic

No SLO-ing Down

It's thrilling to see a group of people grow into a movement that will build a new church! The San Luis Obispo (SLO) Project, led by Brent & Jenna Bramer, is gathering momentum towards a launch in the fall. Brent shared, "On February 17th we were able to gather together for

2018 Annual Report

2019 Church Planter Retreat

Spending time with these church planting leaders in Miami is the highlight of the Orchard Group calendar. They serve their people and their communities with tireless effort, humble sacrifice, and a clear call to serve God. Getting away together is a chance to reconnect, relax, and laugh.  God is good.

In Their Own Words: A Far Better Savior

I don’t think it’s presumptive to say we all like the feeling of being helpful and feeling as though we make a difference in other people’s lives. We like the idea of someone standing on an award stage and declaring that they couldn’t have done it without us.

In Their Own Words: Putting People in Leadership

From Brian Kruckenberg, New City Church in Phoenix During Bill Clinton’s 1992 Presidential campaign, Clinton’s entertaining and often polarizing lead campaign advisor, James Carville, boiled down the strategy to one, now infamous, and often repeated, slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid.” While there were many important aspects to

In Their Own Words: Moving With a Core Group

by Kyle Costello, Missio Dei Community, Salt Lake City Six months before my wife and I moved to plant our church, the lead pastor of the church where I was on staff publicly announced our plans. He didn’t just mention the church plant and our future move from Portland

In Their Own Words: Building God's Kingdom or Clinging to Mine

By Ty Watts, Epiphany Church in Brooklyn, New York I find it hard to admit when I am wrong. Maybe because I’m usually always right – or at least I try and convince myself that I am. However, I can look back at one particular moment in my marriage when

In Their Own Words: Year One, Don't Forget the Family

From Bert Crabbe, Lead Pastor of True North Community Church Planting a church is a huge undertaking, and anyone who’s even glanced at a first-year church planter can see that it takes a toll on a person – body, mind, and soul. But. There’s another area that can really

In Their Own Words: Church Launch and Loneliness

From Lindsay Kuhl, Mosaic Church, Elkridge, Maryland Mother Teresa says “loneliness...is the most terrible poverty.” When we launched Mosaic nearly 10 years ago, I wasn’t prepared for the deep loneliness that came with it. In 2008, my husband Carl and I moved from Louisville, KY to Baltimore, MD

Mission Church Grand Opening

On September 23rd, Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/santa-barbara/] celebrated the grand opening of their new worship space in Ventura, California. The building is located right off of the main highway and is visible to the thousands of people who drive by daily. Mission also marked their 7th

Celebrating One Year of The Gathering Harlem

Congratulations to our church family at The Gathering [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/gathering-harlem/] in Harlem, New York City! They celebrated their one year birthday in September. The Gathering has grown in numbers, but the leadership is also excited about the spiritual and emotional growth they've seen in their people.

In Their Own Words: The Power of "I don't know"

From Jeremy Hazelton, Village Church, Buffalo, New York Every time I learn something new, I realize how much more I still have to learn. This has been a challenge for me in virtually every aspect of my life, but perhaps most acutely in my work as a church planter and

In Their Own Words: Hiring (and Firing) Staff

By Derrick Puckett, Renewal Church, Chicago We came into planting a church in Chicago like we had it all together. We thought we had the perfect location, the perfect staff team, enough money, and people. In the mind of the church planter, the plant may look and feel better than

Launch Sunday: Mission City Church

Mission City Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/santa-barbara/] held their first service on Sunday with two full services. One attendee, a resident of Santa Barbara, said, "I feel like this church was started just for people like me!" Lead planter Jake Barker laid out the vision for the church

Bay City Church Launches

Sunday was a great start for Bay City Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/bay-city/] in San Francisco! Bay City meets in the Bayview neighborhood, one of the last remaining working-class neighborhoods in the city. As the San Francisco area continues to grow, Bay City has the opportunity to introduce

Upcoming in California

BAY CITY CHURCH [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/bay-city/] in San Francisco is launching with their first worship service on Sunday, September 9th. Eddie Williams is leading this team with the goal of making a big kingdom impact in the very neighborhood where he grew up. They have been hosting

In Their Own Words: Church Planting, The Third Time

from Justin Anderson, lead planter of the Seattle Project I've been told more than once if there is anything else I could do with my life, besides church planting, I should do that thing. I have now ignored that advice three times. I never thought I would plant three churches,

San Luis Obispo Project

One in twelve Americans lives in California. While 18th Century Spanish missions may dot the landscape, nearly one-third of the people in the state are “nones” - men and women who have no religious affiliation whatsoever. Because new churches are one of the most-effective ways to reach new people with

Hiring Staff: Five Recommendations

From Brian Kruckenberg, lead planter of New City Church You’ve read the books, gone to school, gone through assessment, raised money, worked and reworked your vision statement, found a place to meet and made it through launch. Congratulations, you’ve planted your church! You thought the most difficult stage

News from Pro Deo Church, Cape Town

PRO DEO CHURCH [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/capetown/] has exciting possibilities ahead as they look for a new venue with Sunday morning availability in downtown Cape Town. Lead pastor Louis Scheepers envisions a place where Pro Deo could host services in two languages. Louis has noticed increasing numbers of

Business Books for Church Planters

From Nick Parsons, Director of Recruitment Church planters often fall into one of two categories regarding business and leadership books. One group uncritically embraces whatever method sits atop the current bestseller lists. This approach fails to recognize that the secular publishing industry is plagued by faddishness that would embarrass even

The Lord of the Dance

A ballet school might not be an obvious ministry outreach for most church plants. But when the leaders of MISSIO DEI COMMUNITY [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/missio-dei-community/] in Salt Lake City discovered that several trained ballet dancers were a part of their church, they equipped those dancers to lead

Legal Pitfalls to Avoid

From Greg Hubbard, Orchard Group Director of Operations “THERE ARE TWO THINGS IN LIFE YOU CAN'T AVOID..." As a church planter or church leader, there are some things we don’t like to think about but, in the end, cannot avoid. I can’t give official legal advice in this

Launch Sunday at Delaware Christian Church!

New season. New church. New you. Those words marked an amazing launch for Delaware Christian Church (DCC) in the heart of the city of Wilmington. People gathered at a public school auditorium in the midst of the city’s well-known Trolley Square neighborhood on a brilliant spring morning. Lead Planter

Sunday at Miami Church

On any given Sunday at Miami Church, 15 different countries will be represented by the people who attend. Miami as a city is known for its multicultural flair, flashy style, warm weather, and increasingly, for people who say they feel isolated. Miami Church is a gathering place where many find

Finding a Facility

From Brent Storms, Orchard Group President and CEO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of the biggest challenges of starting a church in a center city or urban context is finding the right facility for Sunday gatherings. Space is limited. Landlords are skeptical. Prices are (often) outrageous. One example of the challenges: a few

Essential Tips for Church Planters

By Brent Storms, President and CEO I’ve been hanging around church planters for twenty years. I planted a church fifteen years ago, and since then I’ve interviewed, assessed, trained, coached, or managed hundreds of church planters. They are among the brightest, most gifted, most entrepreneurial leaders in the

Collective Church's New Venue

It's so exciting when a church gets to sign for a new facility to worship! Collective Church has met in several venues on the west side of Los Angeles over the last three years. Recently, they had the opportunity to move into a space that is conveniently located, with children's

Values that Shape Culture

By Mike Hickerson, lead pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA When we started Mission, I would love to tell you we knew exactly what we were doing…we didn’t. I would love to tell you we had values and strategy clearly marked out…we didn’t. I would

The Future Church

By Nick Parsons, Director of Recruitment “It’s difficult to make predictions, especially if it’s about the future." - Mark Twain The 1989 film Back to the Future II made some incredible predictions about what the year 2015 would look like. It correctly foretold flat screen televisions, video conferencing,

City Similarities

From Luke Greer, Orchard Group Director of Partnership As I stepped from the platform into the car, the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the subway assaulted my senses: a suit-wearing executive barked orders on his iPhone before losing coverage, teens sporting Yankees caps and loosely-laced Nikes slap-knuckled one another

Church in the World's Fastest-Growing City

Nigeria has been called “the most religious country on earth.” According to a recent BBC poll, 100% of the participants believe in God. That astonishing statistic is easy to accept when you notice the large, hangar-like structures that dot the country: churches where worshippers come in the thousands. Hundreds of

Where East Meets West

Glances at a map of Paul’s early church planting efforts reveal churches that were established in what would become modern-day Turkey. Those early Christian communities have all but disappeared. Turkey is one of the least-Christian countries in the world, with Christians making up .2% of the population. The number

From the NFL to Church Planting

The National Football League (NFL) is not a typical training ground for church planting. Yet Eddie Williams’ story is not a typical one. Eddie grew up in the bay area of San Francisco, California. His childhood was rootless, filled with constant upheaval and moves from one area to another. He

2018 Lead Planters' Retreat

Church planting is a glorious (and sometimes exhausting) calling. Once a year, we gather many of our lead planting couples for a retreat in Miami. It is a time to reconnect with each other, share what's working, and discuss the issues that challenge us. It is a great joy to

Meet Xochitl

A move to a new city, grief over a miscarriage, and struggles with infertility and adoption left Xochitl feeling isolated and alone. Frustrated dreams brought her to a dark place for months, where she felt discouraged and alone. She struggled to get outside. Xochitl decided that it would be good

2017 Year in Review

Throughout the year, we've listened to and shared stories of individuals from our church plants. Each person has a unique path to come back to God or a new openness to following Jesus. From heartbreak to infertility, from discovering that success is illusory or needing a community where diversity is

The Urban/Rural Divide – And Christmas

From Luke Greer, Director of Partnership For me, part of the Christmas season means spending time reading the Bible’s nativity stories in Matthew and Luke. Although I’ve read them many times before, something “new” often captures my attention. This year when I read the angels’ declaration to the

Meet Lauren and Robby

“Chicago is such a diverse city, but we went to so many churches where it was all white or all black. We loved seeing the mix of people at Renewal.” Two years ago, Lauren and Robby were dating and searching for a church where they both felt welcomed. Lauren heard

Isolate or Engage?

Isolate or engage?  This challenge confronts Christians who face the challenges of prevailing cultural norms that often run counter to a life centered on Jesus. This tension is not new. Jesus mentions being in but not of the world. Cities often appear to be places where unchecked secularism prevails, yet

Expanding the Impact

From Brent Storms, President and CEO As we find ourselves between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’m feeling both a deep sense of gratitude and a great anticipation of what is to come. I’m grateful for the ways God has allowed our ministry to reach tens of thousands of people

Meet Josephine

Josephine grew up in a Christian home. As she attended college, she increasingly felt the tension of living between eastern and western cultures. She saw her peers leaving the church and began to view the church as unenlightened and oppressive. So Josephine threw herself into the world of startups. They

New Life at New City Church

What a great weekend at New City Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/new-city-church/] in Phoenix, AZ. 14 people were baptized yesterday!

A Church Grows in Brooklyn

At the launch of a new church, it's easy to wonder, "Will anybody show up?" Starting a new project is always a risk. Even after overcoming the initial challenges of gathering a core group of people who attend and give financially, new challenges present themselves. Epiphany Brooklyn [http://www.orchardgroup.

Generosity, Fun, Life Change

What is your church known for? Trace Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/trace/] launched in the fall of 2016. The church's name comes from the desire to “leave a Trace of God’s love wherever we go.” That impression of God is making a difference in the lives of

Meet Mandy

People in cities like New York, San Francisco, Miami, Cape Town, and Osaka are finding and growing closer to God through churches started by Orchard Group. As city populations surge, let’s make sure that churches are growing where people are going! #PeopleMatterToGod [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/peoplemattertogod/

Introducing the Mercados

THE WILMINGTON INITIATIVE Marcos and Amarillis Mercado have a vision to see a new church emerge in the heart of Wilmington, the largest city in the state of Delaware. The Mercados bring a wealth of ministry experience, having served in Northeast cities including New York City and Philadelphia for twenty

Meet Dylan

“When I moved to California, I wanted to find a church. So I did what any millennial would do. I googled ‘church’.” Meet Dylan from Redemption Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/san-francisco-project/] in San Francisco. Dylan lived in various West Coast cities and in Japan. Church involvement was always

Launch Sunday at The Gathering in Harlem

It's just the beginning for The Gathering [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/the-gathering] in Harlem. Their launch Sunday was filled with energy and excitement, with over 260 people in attendance. Lead pastor Kenneth Hart preached powerfully from Luke 5 on being a "church for the unchurched." Jesus was proclaimed and at

City Church, Lagos

Long work days. Punishing commutes. High cost of living. Hearing that description, a person might think of New York City, or Tokyo, or London. Femi Osunnuyi, lead planter of City Church in Lagos, Nigeria, shares how these qualities typify life in his booming city. “The average work day in Lagos

Meet Maricella

"My name is Maricella. I believe that Jesus is the Christ and he has saved my life." Hear Maricella tell her story of faith, forgiveness, and the power of perfect love.  Maricella was baptized at Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/] in Ventura, CA.

Redemption Church in Photos

Planting churches is exciting work. Seeing those churches grow into thriving, fruitful communities is rewarding beyond measure! A recent visit to Redemption Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/redemption-church] in the heart of San Francisco revealed a community of people committed to God, each other, and living out the gospel in

Introducing the Santa Barbara Project

Get to know the Santa Barbara Church Plant [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/santa-barbara/], launching in the fall of 2018. Santa Barbara, located approximately 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is a center of influence on the central coast of California. There are over 40,000 college students in the

Where You Belong

From its beginning, Pro Deo Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/pro-deo-church] in Cape Town, South Africa, has emphasized that it is a church “Where You Belong.” This is intentional, as lead planters Louis and Yolandi Scheepers have noted that loneliness seems to be a prevalent part of city life. One

Meet Will

Will was connected to Renewal Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renewal/] before it even started. He had played football in college with Derrick Puckett, the lead planter. Will and his wife had been looking for a place for their family to attend. When Derrick articulated his vision for Renewal,

The Church of Today

“Children are not the church of the future. They are the church of today.” A ministry leader at a summer conference made this comment. How tempting it can be to view children in the church as add-ons to the “real” work of the church! That inclination is not new. Jesus’

Meet Jema

“Walking into a church again was uncomfortable.” Meet Jema from Renaissance Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/renaissance-church] in NYC. Jema appeared to have it all: great friends and family, a good job in a world-class city. She did everything she could to feel complete and happy, yet something was missing.

2017 Venture Publication

Wondering what we're up to this year? Here's a good place to find out:

Leaving a Trace

July 16 will be a celebratory day for Trace Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/trace/] in Colorado Springs, CO. It will be the first Sunday in their new worship space. Over the summer, Trace volunteers have donated time and money (over $50,000!) to renovate a new building that

Meet Ms. Carol

"When I first came to this country from St. Kitts, I didn’t have any family here – it was just me and my husband. Four months after I had my daughter, I started to feel such loneliness because I had no one to talk to. So I started looking for

Introducing Jordan

From Brent Storms, President/CEO I’m delighted to announce that Orchard Group will be adding a new staff member to our team. Jordan Rice has agreed to become our Regional Director for New York City. We couldn’t be happier to have his help as we plant more churches

Behind the Scenes of Orchard Group

A little behind-the-scenes of Orchard Group from Brent and Rhesa Storms.  We're grateful for church planting partners like Southeast Christian Church [https://www.southeastchristian.org/], who has been a strong partner of several new churches, including Renaissance Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/renaissance-church] and Epiphany Brooklyn [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/

Meet Kevin

“I was treating church like spiritual TED talks.” Meet Kevin from Collective Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/collective-church] in Los Angeles. Kevin was raised in a Christian home but admits it meant little to him growing up. In college, his faith became a bigger part of his life and he

Meet Tony

“Mission Church is God handing me a cup of coffee every week.” ☕️ Meet Tony from Mission Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/mission-church] in Ventura, CA. Tony joined Mission because he saw God doing something special through the church. Mission is known throughout their city as a place of grace, hospitality,

Easter Round-up!

23,552 That's the number of people who attended on Easter Sunday at a church started in the last twenty years with the help of Orchard Group. Among that number are individual stories of people who have heard the good news of Jesus for the first time, people who have

Meet Emiola

“Chicago is an extremely diverse city, but it’s a very segregated space.” Meet Emiola from Renewal Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/renewal-church] in Chicago. Emiola was born in Chicago and grew up in London and Nigeria. When she returned to Chicago for college, she was surprised and dismayed at

Church Planting Then and Now

From Luke Greer, Director of Partnership > From Attalia Paul and Barnabas sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and

Renewal Church in Photos

Renewal Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renewal/] in Chicago recently relocated to a high school on the west side of Chicago. The move allowed them to stay in the neighborhood while also providing them room for growth. It was a good idea - after adding a second service, the

Meet Olga

"I was having a difficult time last summer. One morning, I woke up and told myself I could not do this alone anymore." Meet Olga from Miami Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/miami-church]. Olga moved to Miami for work and school. While she had attended church as a child, she

New Space for Mustard Seed Osaka!

Mustard Seed Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/479/]met for the last two years in the YMCA in Osaka, Japan. The YMCA facilitated the church's growth to this point, but now a new facility has been found that will allow the church to grow even further! According to

Incubation to Incarnation

For the past ten days, the live feed of April, a pregnant giraffe, has captured the attention of 40 million people around the world. 40 million! Perhaps you’ve seen the news pop up on TV or in your Facebook feed. Funny enough, not much has happened (no sign of

Meet Melinda

“My struggles with alcoholism took me to places where I never thought I’d be. Mission stood by me and said, ‘We love you anyway.’” Meet Melinda from Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/]. Melinda came to Mission on Easter Sunday of 2016 when a friend invited her.

Meet Moses

“When I first started volunteering, I thought it was for Renaissance. Then I realized it was helping me.” Meet Moses from Renaissance Church [https://orchardgroup.org/projects/renaissance-church]. Moses was born and raised in Harlem. A few years ago, church and God weren’t a priority for him. Through friends,

Meet Katie

“If I joined this church, these people would really know me.” Meet Katie from Collective Church in Los Angeles. Katie was following Jesus and very active in a campus ministry in college, but was not connected to a church. She started to wonder if something was missing. She met Casey

City Church Launch!

Lagos, Nigeria is a city unique in the world for its explosive growth. Studies show [https://www.thecable.ng/lagos-population-rises-by-85-people-per-hour-says-wef] that it grows by 85 people per hour, faster than London and New York City combined. Not only is Lagos growing rapidly, it is a religiously binary city; the Muslim

Becoming a Spiritual Grandparent

From Nick Parsons, Director of Recruitment Even though I am only 34 years old, I recently experienced the joy of becoming a grandparent. Before you start doing math on the ages of my wife and daughter, know that I am talking about being a “church planting grandparent,” not a physical

Meet Courtney

Meet Courtney, from Mosaic Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mosaic-christian-church/] in Baltimore (right, with Louis and Yolandi Scheepers, lead planters of Pro Deo Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/capetown/] in Cape Town, South Africa). After college, Courtney found herself in a toxic relationship and drowning in credit

Connection Brings Strength

The Redwood groves in California are one of nature’s wonders. These trees can grow to 275 feet high and 25 feet in diameter – large enough to drive a car through! Some of these trees are over a thousand years old, withstanding floods, fires, and strong winds.  With the tops

Pro Deo Launch!

Pro Deo Church celebrated a successful launch in Cape Town, South Africa last month! Partners from Mosaic Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mosaic-christian-church/] and Renaissance Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renaissance/] were on hand to volunteer and take photos:

Restore Church Serves Refugees

In the fall of 2015, photos of Aylan Kurdi [https://www.wsj.com/articles/image-of-syrian-boy-washed-up-on-beach-hits-hard-1441282847] made the front pages of papers around the world. The lifeless body of the 3 year old boy, washed up on the beach in Turkey, became a focal point of grief and frustration over the

Introducing the Harts

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story! Ps 107:2 Kenneth and Shanika Hart share how God has led them to start a new church in Central Harlem.  From the simple prayer, “Jesus, if you’re real, change my life,” God has transformed Kenneth and given him a

New Year, New Church in Orlando

Thrive Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/thrive/] celebrated its launch Sunday with two services and 162 people. Led by Greg Marksberry, the church is off to a good start. Thrive is meeting in the heart of a growing section of Orlando – Lake Nona. Lake Nona is a planned community

Christmas in Japan

> People have heard the name Jesus, but it doesn't mean anything to them...  Jesus is not a part of Japanese Christmas. Even though fewer than 1% of the population in Japan identifies as Christian, Christmas is a widely-celebrated holiday.  The day is associated with Santa Claus and presents, sponge cake

Celebrating Christ in the Chaos of the City

> "I've never heard anything like this before." > "This is what I've been looking for." > "When a friend told me about this place, I had to come see for myself." These are all verbatim statements made at a preview service at City Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/lagos/] in Lagos,

How We Wait

This year, Americans will spend roughly 37 billion hours waiting in line. 37 billion. That’s a lot of waiting. If you’ve visited your local post office in December, you probably feel like you’ve added your fair share of minutes to that total. Nobody likes waiting. We are

Giving Tuesday and Partnerships

Over the last few years, The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been informally named "Giving Tuesday."  The day was promoted via social media to encourage people to think charitably after the consumer-driven Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  The idea has grown rapidly.  Last year, $117 million was raised for charities in

Below the Waterline

If you visit New York City and have a day to spare, take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The views of Manhattan and Brooklyn are spectacular. The bridge is an engineering marvel. When it was built, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Several controversies surrounded the

Love God, Love People, Love Lagos

Femi Osunnuyi is leading the Lagos Project, a new church in Nigeria. Lagos is a vital and strategic city in Africa. Watch the video to hear more about the project. You can also donate to the project here [http://www.orchardgroup.org/donate/lagos/].

A New Church for Cape Town

Cape Town is a beautiful city of 3.7 million in the metro area.  Louis and Yolandi Scheepers are leading a new church plant to reach people in South Africa with the gospel of Jesus.  You can join them by committing to pray for them and giving to the project.

East and West

For sixty years, Orchard Group helped start new churches exclusively in the northeastern United States. Six years ago, we helped start a new church in Salt Lake City, UT. Since then, six more churches have been started out west. Those churches reach thousands every Sunday and many have come to

Why Plant Churches? Because People Matter to God.

Mike and Jodi Hickerson at Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/donate/mission/] in Ventura, California have been amazed at how people's lives are changing as a result of hearing the gospel.

Introducing the Central Harlem Project

Kenneth Hart is a Harlem native. Raised in New York City, Kenny grew up believing he would one day escape and move on to greener pastures. He was a talented athlete, and baseball provided that opportunity. Upon graduation from high school, Kenny exchanged the streets of the city for the

Summer Fun and Youth Opportunities

One of the beautiful pictures in the Gospels is of little children hovering around Jesus. Perhaps they were begging, "Just one more, Jesus! Throw the ball one more time! Tell one more story!" insistent in the way only small children can be. Of course the disciples are nearby, because there

A Church That Throws Great Parties

What if Christians were known for throwing great parties- no strings attached? That has become the DNA of Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/]. They have gained a reputation for loving people with openness and grace. Each summer, they host several Free Friday Flicks in a local park

From 0 to 60

Kyle Costello, lead planter of Missio Dei Community [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/missio-dei-community/] in Salt Lake City, has a unique challenge and opportunity by starting a church in a city with a very young demographic. Many people are new to the city, which means that the church members have

Finding the Right Venue

Scott Ancarrow faced an early challenge when he led a church plant in Baltimore- finding the right facility. Where a new church meets, especially in city centers, dramatically affects who is able to come, and whether or not new people will be able to find it! Fortunately, Foundry Church was

Church Planting Partnerships

The story of every church plant is also the story of partnering churches.  New churches get their start with the prayer, personnel and financial support of other churches! Lorenzo Smith of Collective Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/collective/] in West LA shares of how that support is encouraging to

Go To Where the People Are

Derrick Puckett recognized that many times people won't come to church, even if they are spiritually seeking.  So Renewal Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renewal/] in Chicago makes a habit of getting outside the walls of church- whether that's playing basketball or going to neighborhood celebrations! As a side

Part of the Family

Over a period of years, Jordan Rice became increasingly convicted about the need for spiritual growth and change in Harlem.  He left behind his law career to study theology and entered a training program for church planting.  A year and a half ago, he led the launch of Renaissance Church

Get Back to Me in 20

From Brent Storms, President and CEO You might not know why you’re doing what you’re doing now for another twenty years. Sorry. It’s true. Twenty years ago this month, my wife and I packed up our meager belongings and moved from Missouri to Massachusetts. We both grew

A Diverse People, A Big Opportunity

Louis & Yolandi Scheepers, both South Africans, will lead a new church in Cape Town [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/capetown/] this year. Get a glimpse of the calling God has placed on their hearts to unite people in Jesus.  The book of Acts informs us that Jesus united people from

City Similarities

From Luke Greer, Director of Partnership As I stepped from the platform into the car, the familiar sights, sounds, and smells of the subway assaulted my senses: a suit-wearing executive barked orders on his iPhone before losing coverage, teens sporting Yankees caps and loosely-laced Nikes slap-knuckled one another in greeting,

A New Church for Paris

There are 60,000 people in the 9th Arrondissement of Paris. And one evangelical church. The need for the gospel is great! Etienne Koning will lead a new church in Paris [http://www.orchardgroup.org/2016/02/paris/] in the coming year.  In this video, he has a conversation with

Want to Change Culture? Engage the City

from Greg Hubbard, Director of Operations Many people are watching the emerging U.S. presidential races with keen interest (or dismay). We are concerned about the state of our culture. We long for a positive future. If only we could elect a leader who would do something about all the

Introducing the Lagos Project

Lagos is a city of superlatives: With more than 20 million inhabitants, it’s not only the largest city in the country of Nigeria, it’s the largest city on the continent of Africa. Its industries form the centerpiece of Africa’s largest economy. Its booming media studios are producing

Epiphany Church Launch!

A beautiful start for Epiphany Church in Brooklyn! A crowd gathered before the service, visiting and enjoying goodies made by bakers in the church. Once the service began, people trickled in until the place was packed. Gabe Katz welcomed everyone to launch Sunday. Dr. Eric Mason prayed for the new

We've Been Learning for a Long Time

from Brent Storms, President and CEO Orchard Group has been starting churches in and around New York City since 1948. That means a lot of organizational learning from trial and error, failures and successes. Three visionary leaders preceded me as President. Hundreds of board members have exercised sharp minds to

Collective Church: A People Who Pray

Collective Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/collective/] is not "a place where" but "a people who." They are most definitely a people who pray together!  From the very beginning, the leaders of Collective built a foundation of seeking God's direction in prayer.  Recently, Collective Church prayed for Brent Storms,

Searching for Church

Through the Global Cities Initiative [http://www.orchardgroup.org/globalcities/] , Orchard Group will start churches in some of the most populated cities in the world.Why does this matter? Six years ago, Mustard Seed Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mustard-seed-christian-church/] was launched in Nagoya, Japan.  Lyndsey Eubanks is

Making Dreams Come True

Kaley Puckett had initial reservations about church planting.  Over time, she became excited about the idea.  With the support of Orchard Group, Derrick and Kaley planted Renewal Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renewal/] in Chicago!

The Global Cities Initiative

Today, over half of the global population lives in cities. By 2050, it is projected that around 70% of the world's population will live in cities. We are in the midst of a massive global urbanization, and the world's growing cities need the gospel. As the world becomes more urban,

Introducing the Paris Project

Since the Romans established an outpost on the banks of the Seine two thousand years ago, Paris has captured the attention of the world. For centuries, Paris was the largest city in Europe. The city survived Viking invasions, the Black Plague, periods of extreme income inequality and more than one

What Churches Will Look Like in 2050

From Nick Parsons, Director of Recruitment > “It’s difficult to make predictions, especially if it’s about the future.” - Mark Twain The 1989 film, Back to the Future II, made some incredible predictions about what the year 2015 would look like. The film correctly predicted flat screen televisions, video

How and Why Cities Are Coming Back

> The truth is that we are living at a moment in which the massive outward migration that characterized the second half of the twentieth century is coming to an end. And we need to adjust our perceptions of cities, suburbs, and urban mobility as a result. -Alan Ehrenhalt The trends

2016 Lead Planters' Retreat

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. - African Proverb Our church planter's retreat is a time to encourage and support each other. Starting a church is work that requires courage, creativity, and consecration of life before God. What a joy

As The World Becomes More Urban, So Must The Church

When Orchard Group was established in 1948, the percentage of the world population living in cities was 30%. Today, more than 50% of the world lives in cities. By 2050, projections are that 70% will live in cities. When Orchard Group was started, there were only two cities — New York

The Foundry Church: Christmas Store

* 1300 brand new toys (look at those bicycles in the background)! * 200+ volunteer hours * 170 families served * 20 people lined up outside before the store even opened The Foundry [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/foundry-church/] had two very successful weekends of The Christmas Store [http://www.orchardgroup.org/blog-post/the-christmas-store-at-the-foundry/

Year-End Celebration

“Take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus must have known that his disciples needed to hear those words. Surely they remembered them often to find assurance and hope. Jesus’s statement is still powerful today. Facing a broken world, we can possess the same hope and peace. Jesus has

Churches Growing in Japan

It's exciting to see the growth of Mustard Seed Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/479/] in Osaka, Japan.  Matthew and Jessica Whelchel, staff members at MSCC share the joys and challenges of planting a church in Japan.  Check out this video of a behind- the -scenes on a

Collective Church Launches!

From Nick Parsons, Director of Recruitment I was bristling with excitement as I saw the sign for “Collective Church Parking” and drove into the lot at University High School on the Westside of Los Angeles. Today was the culmination of 13 months of prayer meetings, core group development, and ground

Introducing the Orlando Project

Imagine an area bursting with opportunity and growth, attractive to families of diverse backgrounds. Situated in the southeast corner of Orlando, the Lake Nona community is projected triple in population over the next ten years. Churches are continuing to find Florida an important mission field since its growth rate is

Celebrating Milestones

Miami Church in Florida celebrated launch Sunday [http://www.orchardgroup.org/blog-post/miami-launch/]! Renaissance Church in NYC and Renewal Church in Chicago each celebrated 1 year.  Autumn is an exciting time as we celebrate the launch of new churches and birthdays of established churches.

Orchard Group East Retreat

Every year, we get together with our East Coast teams to worship, encourage each other, and to "spur one another on to good deeds."  We love these people! Each one is the face of someone who loves Jesus and loves the people in their city.

Miami Church Launches!

> “I can say with the utmost confidence that God’s timing has never ever been off by a single second.  My continued challenge is to surrender my whole self to Him and His timing.” Greg Ingram, lead planter of Miami Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/miami/] in Florida, wrote

Prayer for Today

> Living God, Plant in me a bold faith that dares to see new possibilities, a sure knowledge of your promises that is not bullied by fear, a strong conviction that there is far more of you than what my eyes can see, and a deeply rooted trust that Christ my

What Can You Expect When You Plant a New Church?

Thinking about planting a church? Are you already a few steps in and have questions? Join our bonus session [http://m.exponential.org/2015w/sessions/sessions-01m.html] at Exponential West on October 5th.  We have a lineup of great speakers who have planted churches that are flourishing in their cities.

At the Frequency Conference

We are excited to be a sponsor of the Frequency Conference [http://thrivingfrequency.com/] in Philadelphia.  With speakers like Eric Mason, Paul Tripp, Bryan Loritts and a breakout session from Jordan Rice [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renaissance/], this year's conference will be essential to men and women leading churches

Introducing the Cape Town Project

We met Louis and Yolandi Scheepers (pronounced “Skippers”) in April at a church planting conference in Florida, and we were quickly impressed by their vision and passion for the people of Cape Town, South Africa. For many in the US, South Africa is primarily known for two things: World Cup

Creativity in Church Planting

It started with a guy who had a giant screen and a projector. MISSION CHURCH [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/] in Ventura, CA wanted to find a way to have fun with families in their city over the summer. As they reviewed their staff, their volunteers, and all their

Introducing the Brooklyn Project

Following God’s direction can lead to unexpected places. Abram followed God’s call to go, not knowing where it would lead. Jonah heard God’s call to Nineveh, but chose to run from it! Today, God still leads His people to surprising places. Brandon Watts was successful in the

Intercultural Leadership

From Dr. Brian Leander, Orchard Group Board member “Look at the last ten people you’ve texted,” a church planter recently challenged his congregation. Listeners pulled out their phones to scroll through their screens.  “Now, how many of them look just like you?” Take a moment to practice this yourself.

Healthcare and New Churches

From Greg Hubbard, Director of Operations OBAMACARE. The word itself (is it a word now?) evokes strong emotional responses in most people, whether positive or negative. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare’s more proper name) has been a source of anxiety for churches mostly because it has

Good News from Ireland and Japan!

Four more baptisms at Elevate Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/elevate-church/] in Limerick! ECC is rejoicing to see people putting their trust in Jesus. Mustard Seed Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/479/]in Osaka recently moved to new space, which has been a blessing. Their attendance

Hope in Dark Times

A recent Sunday morning service at Forefront Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/forefront-church-2/] in New York City closed with a time of open prayer.  It was a risky move.  Have you ever been in a group of a few hundred people and been invited to pray out loud?  It

Orchard Institute

You may have heard some of the startling statistics concerning cities: * For the first time in history more than half the world’s population lives in cities. * By 2050 more than 70% will live in cities. * Nearly half of American millennials want to live in New York City. What does

New Space For Missio Dei!

Opening Sunday in Missio Dei Community's new space! They've done a great job renovating it and making it a place to welcome new people. Missio had a BIG Easter weekend. From Good Friday to Sunday, there was non-stop worship, celebration, and reflection at the church. Five people were baptized on

Church Planting Operations 101

From Greg Hubbard, Director of Operations As a church planter or church leader, there are certain things we don’t like to think about (like death and taxes) that we cannot avoid. I can’t give official legal advice in this forum, but I can point out things that I’

Orchard Group Starts Churches in Cities Around the World

PLANTING CHURCHES IN AND FROM NYC SINCE 1948 Orchard Group starts churches in challenging, strategic, and influential cities throughout the world. Thank you to Matthew Kern [https://vimeo.com/thematthewbk] for shooting and editing.

Restoration Church Launches!

What a great start for Restoration Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/philadelphia-project/] in Philadelphia! Before the service, opening prayers were offered with leaders Rob Tomko, Watson Jones, Dr. Eric Mason & AJ Smith Lead planter Watson Jones, III speaking Over 150 worshipped together! Orchard Group's Greg Hubbard serves on the

From Megachurch to New Church

> "Church planting is incredibly challenging work.  You wear a lot of hats - entrepreneur, preacher, fundraiser, pastor, vision-caster, administrator - and you're not always working in your areas of strength."  Toney Salva Toney Salva was recently featured in Ozark Christian College [http://occ.edu/]'s quarterly publication, The Ambassador [http:

Creativity, Growth, and Prayer

Snow, snow, and more snow has blanketed the Northeast over the last month, causing school closings and creating dangerous conditions on roadways.  For many of our churches, the snow and school closings have forced them to get creative with their Sunday worship services! For two weeks, Revolution Church [http://www.

A Conversation on Gospel and Race

WHY HOST A CONVERSATION ON GOSPEL AND RACE? Renewal Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renewal/] in Chicago serves a city that is nearly equally black, white, and Latino [http://grist.org/cities/gentrification-might-be-real-but-its-the-least-of-chicagos-worries/] .  Their desire is to share the gospel with all people of the city, believing that the

Orchard Group Exponential Conference Bonus Session

Not Easily Broken

Orchard Group began planting churches in New York City in 1948. Over the past 25 years, our church planting efforts expanded into the northeast region. Decades of work are now bearing fruit, as new churches become mature churches and in turn help more new churches start. Individual churches become a

Church Plants that are Fighting Human Trafficking

Mosaic [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mosaic-christian-church/], Revolution [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/revolution-christian-church/], and The Foundry [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/the-foundry-church/] are partners in the fight against human trafficking in Baltimore. Their presence has been vital to the work of The Samaritan Women [http://thesamaritanwomen.org/], a home

Planting the Urban Church: An Exponential Conference Bonus Session

Mon, April 27 | 1pm – 5pm Idlewild Baptist Church | Tampa, FL Attend this Bonus Session FREE when you Register [https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=EXPO43E&TID=jPKc0EV1x9lSjQgezaygbQ==] for a Pre-Conference Lab or Forum as part of Exponential East for +$59. Hosted by The Orchard Group featuring: Brent Storms

The Impulse Society

A great cultural long read for your weekend. As pastors and leaders, it is important to be aware of social patterns. We will seek a solution more gospel- and spirit- oriented than the author, but he does point to trends that affect all of the people in our churches, our

Start a Movement: Plant "pregnant"

> "The goal of any church plant or church, for that matter, should never be stability. Stability as a goal becomes a poison that can turn the heart of a church to stone. It relegates a church to small dreams and little impact." –Josh Burnett, lead planter at Revolution Church in

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

From Brent Storms, President and CEO of Orchard Group When you reflect on the events of a year, you are likely to remember some of the difficulties and challenges. Hopefully you’re able to make a longer list of things to celebrate! We’re grateful that the victories and successes

The Common Things

> God shown his great love for his people by using commonplace things- water to mark your children, bread and wine to feed and nourish them to be disciples a child in a manger to announce your grace. – The Worship Sourcebook

Baptisms and New Life

What does the birth of a baby mean to the world? When that baby is Jesus, the incarnation of God on earth, that birth signifies changed lives.  Congratulations to our friends at Forefront Church in Brooklyn [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/forefront-church-2/] who were recently baptized! New life is yours

Five Business Books for Church Planters

From Nick Parsons, Director of Recruitment Church planters often fall into one of two categories regarding business and leadership books. One group uncritically embraces whatever method sits atop the current bestseller lists. This approach fails to recognize that the publishing industry is plagued by faddishness that would embarrass Contemporary Christian

The Christmas Store at The Foundry Church

Throughout the month of December and over the next several years, The Foundry Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/the-foundry-church/] is committed to serving Hollins Market, a low income neighborhood in Baltimore. This neighborhood is where Foundry wants to spend their time, talent and treasure - helping the neighborhood develop

Mission Church Seeks Good for its Community

What good can one new church do in a community? This compelling video from Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/]in Ventura, CA shows how one new church community has a real and practical impact on the people of a city.  Their generosity is the visible outpouring of

Selfies and Jesus

Have you taken a selfie lately? If you have, you’re joining the one quarter of Americans [http://ibnlive.in.com/news/selfie-stick-makes-to-the-time-magazines-list-of-25-best-inventions-of-2014/514219-11.html] who have shared a selfie in the last year.   The trend shows no signs of declining. More and more people share public versions of themselves,

Gallery: New City Church

Gallery: New City Church Art Walk

Good News on a Monday Morning

* Baptisms at Everyday Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/everyday-christian-church/] * Baptisms at Discovery Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/discovery-christian-church/] * Community service in Harlem at Renaissance Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renaissance/] (pictured) * New Japanese worship songs written by believers at Mustard Seed Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.

Five Values that Shape Our Culture

From Mike Hickerson, Lead Pastor at Mission Church I would love to tell you we knew exactly what we were doing when we started Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/]…we didn’t. I would love to tell you we had values and strategy clearly marked out… we

Church Planting Podcast #5: Staffing

https://orchardgroup.hipcast.com/deluge/hipcast-11792-u-394986-s-1.audio.mp3 Four church planting leaders discuss what they've learned (and mistakes they've made!) when hiring staff. Podcast highlights include: 2:21 Mike asks, "What did your staff look like at launch?" 11:38 Josh shares his experience of hiring people that didn't work

Investing in Future Church Planters

From Luke Greer, Director of Orchard Institute [http://www.orchardgroup.org/institute/] When I began serving with new church plants in Mexico City, its growth rate was at a historical high of more than 500 people moving to the city daily. If we were going to reach only the city’

Church Planting in Miami: Diversity, Downsizing, and Adapting

From Whitney Ingram Learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, trying new foods – a missionary to a foreign country would expect all of these challenges. Church planters in the United States might not anticipate such cross-cultural experiences as part of their work, but Orchard Group planters in major

New City Church: By the Numbers

Mustard Seed Churches in Osaka and Nagoya

> The Osaka area is populated by 17.4 million people. The largest church in Osaka is around 500 people. If we planted a church twice that size, it would be unprecedented. If we planted a church of 17,000 it would be a miracle. And still, a church of 17,

Frequency Conference

We're looking forward to this weekend at The Frenquency Conference [http://thrivingfrequency.com/] in Philadelphia- a meeting of ministers in urban contexts!

Around the World

From Brent Storms, President and CEO Over the past year, our staff has focused on defining “wins.” Some of the wins have to do with measurable signs of success in our mission – seeing people surrender to Christ, raising up leaders, and financial generosity. For instance, when a church has a

Two New Churches, One Month

One of the most exciting times in a family’s life is the birth of a baby.  New parents (and grandparents!) post photos to share in their joy.  Starting a new church is often compared to a birth.  Furious work happens behind the scenes for months.  Then everyone gets together

Orchard Group East Retreat

> Church planting is hard. Connecting with smart, encouraging people who are in the trenches with you makes it a lot easier. –Bert Crabbe, lead pastor of True North Community Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/true-north-community-church/] and coach to Orchard Group church planters Last night, we were led in worship

Why Autumn Might Be the Best Time of Year

Fall is one of the best times of year! Cooling temperatures and changing leaves are nice, but we have other reasons for looking forward to September and October. Many of our churches are planted in the Fall. In the last month, Renewal Church and Renaissance Church started meeting weekly in

New Life In Ireland

Visiting Ireland is enjoyable. Visiting Dermot and Elevate Community Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/elevate-church/] is even better! Recently, ECC celebrated a baptism, baby dedications, and the highest attendance of first-time guests to their morning service. Elevate was planted in 2012. "Praise be to the Lord, the God of

Renaissance Church Launches!

On September 21, over 200 people gathered to worship and learn about Renaissance Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/renaissance/]!  Lead pastor Jordan Rice made a clear call to the gospel being central to the church's identity, and how they minister and serve in their community.

Welcoming the Visitor

Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/] is making a difference in lives in California! Below is excerpt of an email they received from a first time visitor: > "I just wanted to say thank you. Today was my first day at Mission Church. Before I even got in the

Renewal Church Launches!

One Family, Three Churches

> I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4 Joe Wilson, pastor at Fork Christian Church in Maryland (FCC), has long been a champion of missions and new churches.  At 120 years old, FCC is a well-established presence in

Orchard Group Staff Announcement

The following announcement was originally distributed near the beginning of this year. Paul Williams gave vital leadership to Orchard Group for decades, including serving as President from 1989 until 2009.  At that time, Brent Storms assumed the role of President and began providing both visionary and operational leadership, while Paul

This is Renaissance Church

From lawyer to minster Hear the story of Jordan Rice, lead planter of Renaissance Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/harlem-project/], and the people who are helping to get this church started in the fall! Please pray for Renaissance, Harlem and the leaders of this new church. video credit to

Hiring Staff: Five Recommendations

You’ve read the books, gone to school, gone through assessment, raised money, worked and reworked your vision statement, found a place to meet and made it through launch. Congratulations, you’ve planted your church! You thought the most difficult stage was over, right? While the beginning stage of a

Orchard Group Podcast: #4 Serving the Community

https://orchardgroup.hipcast.com/deluge/hipcast-11792-u-384968-s-1.audio.mp3 > Whatever you do for the least of these, you also do for me. -Jesus These words set a high standard for those of us who follow Jesus and work in churches! Today’s discussion will center around how several different churches live

This is Renewal Church

> "Out of 500 people, I was the only black guy in the room." Lead Planter Derrick Puckett, on his heart for Chicago, and the desire to be a part of a new church that has a vision to bring people of all backgrounds together. Renewal Church website [http://www.renewalchicago.

Church Planters Teaching Series

Everyday Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/everyday-christian-church/] has four top-notch church planters speaking this summer.  That's a lot of good speaking in one place!  Grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair and give these guys a listen.  Aaron Brockett is on our Board of Directors and

This is Restoration Church

Check out what Watson Jones III has to say about his desire to see a new church community in Philadelphia!

What I Didn't Know About Church Planting

From Jeremy Hazelton > "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know." Albert Einstein I'm no Einstein, but I do resonate with this quote. I have only been a church planter for 4 years. Village Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/village-church/]is not quite 3

Good News for Everyone

From Nick Parsons San Francisco is associated with a lot of things. For some it is the Gold Rush, the Beat Generation and the Hippie Movement. For others it is the Golden Gate Bridge, trolley cars and rows upon rows of narrow Victorian houses. More recently San Francisco has become

Church Planting in America

Can church planting help Christianity's growth in America? Our President & CEO answers questions [http://video.christianpost.com/can-planting-new-churches-help-christianitys-growth-in-america-5806/] about the importance of church planting to the future of the church. (click through for link) [http://video.christianpost.com/can-planting-new-churches-help-christianitys-growth-in-america-5806/]

Joy

Last week, Orchard Group churches: * Celebrated baptisms * Dedicated families * Served cities What a pleasure to see the work these churches are doing in living out the gospel throughout the world!

Baptisms and New Faith at New City

Congratulations to New City Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/new-city-church/] and all those who were baptized on Sunday! The One who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. (more photos can be found on New City's facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/newcityphx])

Five Things I'm Learning from Church Planting

From Jordan Rice My team and I have been planting this church in Harlem [http://www.harlemchurchplant.com/] for the last six months, and by the grace of God we’re growing.  We’re at/near all of our goals, and it’s been one of the most nauseating roller

Orchard Group West Retreat

Five years ago Orchard Group’s vision expanded from the northeast to include specific urban areas in the west.  It started as a vision.  Now it is reality! God has opened one door after another for new faith communities.  Last month leaders from our Orchard Group West churches got together

Orchard Group Podcast: #3 Preaching Roundtable

Listen: https://overcast.fm/+CE6P0PbfQ Few things matter in a church plant as much as the preaching. Four communicators from new churches talk about how they improve their preaching, and how you can, too. Highlights include (although really, set aside time to listen to the whole thing- it's worth it)

Five Things I've Learned About Waiting

From Greg Ingram Without a doubt, waiting is one of the harshest aspects of human existence.  Is there anything more painful than being forced to wait with no course of action?  Have you ever had to wait by the phone for test results from your doctor?  Each minute feels like

Easter After Party

What does it feel like when the big party is over?  After the cleanup of the streamers and the leftover food, when the wedding guests have returned home or the graduating senior has left for college, and the laughter of friends no longer echoes through the halls.  Do you have

Listen to Your Life

> If I were called upon to state in a few words the essence of everything I was trying to say both as a novelist and as a preacher, it would be something like this: Listen to your life. > See it for the fathomless mystery that it is.  In the boredom

Ask the Missional Pastor: #2

New churches are one of the most effective ways to reach people with the gospel.  However, we should not assume that evangelism will automatically happen in every church plant. We’ve asked some of our lead planters how their churches are living missionally and how they are training their people

Five Unavoidable Legal Issues in Your Church

From Greg Hubbard There are only two things in life you can’t avoid. One of those will be upon us April 15. As a church planter or church leader, there are other things we don’t like to think about but, in the end, cannot avoid. I can’t

From Country to City

Because of our emphasis on urban church planting, we often write about our nation's cultural centers: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami. These hubs are centers of power that shape the conversation for the rest of the nation and the world. And yet, the tide of influence also

Baptisms and New Life at Mission Church

Changing the World, One New Church at a Time

Brent Storms, President & CEO of Orchard Group shares why he feels new churches in cities are vital.

Baptisms and New Life in Osaka

What a beautiful baptism picture from Mustard Seed Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mustard-seed-christian-church/] in Osaka, Japan. On Sunday, they celebrated their 20th baptism. Acts 16: "So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers." We're seeing this growth in Japan as well. Happy

Youth Ministry on the Ground in NYC

What does a youth group in the city look like? Matt Mueller, youth pastor at Everyday Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/everyday-christian-church/] in New York City shares: We are  dedicated to serving and reaching the young people of our area, students in middle and high school. We have

Five Ways to Improve Your Preaching

From Bert Crabbe When it comes to church growth, preaching is kind of a big deal.  You can get a lot of things wrong and your church can still grow if the preaching is strong.  Likewise, you can do everything else right and flounder it it’s weak.  So, humbly

Spring Growth and Growing Churches

Winter still has its grip on much of the country, but spring is surely not far away.  The shoots of tender plants are hidden by snow in New York City, but within a few weeks the buds on the trees will break open, blanketing the city and its parks with

Orchard Group Podcast: #2 Worship

Listen here: https://overcast.fm/+CE6NrNpWY Orchard Group has a long history of planting healthy, vibrant churches.  As interest in church planting grows, we're sharing with new planters what we've learned over the years. Our second podcast continues the conversation regarding worship: How do you plan services, be sensitive to

Harlem Church Plant: Celebration Generosity

Forefront Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/forefront-church-2/] is hosting a reception tonight to support Jordan Rice and the Harlem Church Plant.  If you are in New York City, come hear about this exciting new project! Celebration Generosity Reception will be held at: MILLESIME [http://www.millesimenyc.com/] 92 Madison

Five Essential Tips for Church Planters

From Brent Storms I’ve been hanging around church planters for almost twenty years. I planted a church fifteen years ago, and since then I’ve interviewed, assessed, trained, coached or managed hundreds of church planters. They are among the brightest, most gifted, most entrepreneurial leaders in the kingdom. They

Elevate Church's Groups

Elevate Christian Church celebrated their 1st birthday in January, and they are seeing great growth in their groups!  Elevate started with weekly Sunday services and two groups per week.  Those two groups have flourished and have multiplied into five mid-week groups. Lead planter Dermot O’Mahony has noted, “Irish people

Hope in Baltimore's Neighborhoods

In the heart of downtown Baltimore, overlooking sailboats docked along the inner harbor, The Foundry Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/the-foundry-church/] meets on Sunday morning to worship and pray and share stories of hope.   A few blocks away is a decidedly different neighborhood, one marked by poverty, drugs and

New Venue for Redemption Church

Last Sunday, Redemption Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/san-francisco-project/] in San Francisco had their first meeting in the lobby of their new space.  They are doing construction on the main part of the building. It was packed out and their biggest service to date! Congratulations, Redemption.  Looking forward to

Elevate Church Celebrates First Year

[video width="500" height="282" mp4="http://www.orchardgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/12-Month-Video-.mp4"][/video] The moment (at :10 in the video) where the woman on the street exclaims, "Church?! Now THAT'S a sore subject." describes the feelings of many in Ireland. So we are appreciative of the

Introducing Luke and Lindsay Greer

We are excited to announce Luke Greer is joining the staff of Orchard Group! Luke will serve in two areas: developing future church planters through the Orchard Institute and helping us recruit and oversee church planters working with Hispanics and Latinos in the US and abroad. Luke is married to

International Monday

It's International Monday! We have much to thank God for: Elevate Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/elevate-church/] in Limerick, Ireland celebrated one year yesterday. Congratulations, Dermot and the Elevate team! May you celebrate many more years of leading people to a new understanding of Jesus. In 2013, TEN people

Want Happiness in 2014? Forgive.

From Donald Miller: [http://storylineblog.com/2013/12/16/want-to-be-happy-forgive-your-enemies/] > I confess I'm the type of person to hold a grudge. It's not that I want power over people, which is often the motive for holding a grudge, it's just that I want all-due glory for my suffering.  It’s

Missio Dei's New Space

We are celebrating with Missio Dei Community [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/missio-dei-community/], who just signed the purchase agreement for new space in downtown Salt Lake City.

Becoming Indispensable

Got time over Christmas break for a little reading and listening? How to Become an Indispensable Staff Pastor [http://justinlathrop.com/become-indispensable-staff-pastor/] has good advice for everyone on staff at a church. Then head over to our podcast [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/worship-in-the-new-church/id765566595?i=194421735&mt=2]

Christmas in Japan

At 1% of the population, Christians are a minority in Japan. However, many Japanese have been exposed to symbols of Christmas. Those symbols can remain a mystery without Christians to share the meaning behind them. This month, Mustard Seed Church in Nagoya [http://orchardgroup.wpengine.com/church/mustard-seed-christian-church/] threw a

Ask the Missional Pastor

Churches in the last 50 years have moved towards age-specific worship and learning.  A chasm is growing between youth and adult church experiences and many churches are intentionally incorporating youth back into congregational life. So we asked our pastors who lead missional communities: How do you incorporate younger members into

Mission Church's Volunteer Leaders

Mission Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/mission-christian-church/] volunteers truly love the people of Ventura, California.  This video highlights the various ways they have served their city in the last year. Keep up the good work Mission!  May the love of God be evident in all you do and may

Preaching and Teaching Convention

Does your church have issues? You are not alone. The Preaching & Teaching Convention [http://occ.edu/PT/] at Ozark Christian College will highlight discerning, admitting, confronting and mending the issues that keep us from being the body of Christ. Learn from President and CEO of Orchard Group, Brent Storms, board

Exponential Conference 2014

Will you be at this year's Exponential [http://blog.exponential.org/] conference in Orlando? There's a great (and diverse) lineup of speakers-we'll look forward to seeing you there:

Advent at Missio Dei

> "Every church needs an art team in order to serve their city because the people need beauty as well as bread."   -Ray Bakke Many of our churches are collaborating with artists in interesting ways, allowing them to use their talents- whether music, painting, photography, writing, or dance- to point to

Overcoming Leadership Pride

Would you know if you are a prideful leader? Does an desire for external recognition creep into your work? Two recent articles shine a light on the dangerous tendency we all share towards pride. * Carey Nieuwhof offers 5 Keys to Developing Humility [http://careynieuwhof.com/2013/12/5-habits-that-reveal-youre-a-prideful-leader-5-keys-to-humility/?utm_source=

Small Things

> I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God’s saving power…Our temptation is to be distracted by them…When I have no eyes for the small signs of God’s presence- the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words

Celebrating 2013

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  How you seen pictures of New York City in December?  The whole city is lit and decked out in party clothes.  Store fronts, displays and faces beam with celebration. The songs of the season use the words “Rejoice”, “Joy” and “Hark”, words

Streetwalkers

Once a week, a group from Missio Dei Community [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/missio-dei-community/] walks the streets to serve the prostitutes of Salt Lake City. Nurse Kelley Caruso describes the ministry, which provides water, food, hygiene kits, information and support.  Just as Jesus came to seek and save the

Baptism Sundays

THREE baptisms at Village Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/village-church/] in Buffalo, NY TWO baptisms at Legacy Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/legacy-christian-church/] in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania TWO baptism Sundays in a row at Revolution Annapolis [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/revolution-christian-church/] Behind these numbers

Orchard Group Podcast: #1 Worship

Orchard Group Podcast: Worship in the New Church [http://hipcast.com/podcast/H1Sz90VQ] Orchard Group has a long history of planting healthy, vibrant churches.  As interest in church planting grows, we're sharing with new planters what we've learned over the years. First up: how do you plan services, be sensitive

Seeing the Need

What do you do when you see a need in your community? North Shore Christian Church [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/north-shore-christian-church/] has been quietly serving the hungry on Long Island. In their area, no soup kitchens stay open the entire year. So a team of volunteers committed to make

Messy Community

From Rhesa Storms, Director of Communications: Churches talk quite a bit about community. Being a community, sharing community, living in community, growing as a community, authentic community. True community is worth pursuing.  The early picture of the church is of a diverse yet united community, used powerfully by God. Reality

One Big Storm

The Nesconset Church of Christ on Long Island was started by Orchard Group in 1955. Two members of the Nesconset youth group during the 1990s are back in New York, leading churches planted by Orchard Group.  Scott Solomine serves with South Nassau Christian Church [http://sncchurch.com/wp/], started in

Baptisms in Annapolis

Since their launch in 2010, Revolution [http://www.orchardgroup.org/church/revolution-christian-church/] has baptized 87 people! Showing people the way to Jesus... so thankful for their work in Annapolis.

Introducing the Philadelphia Project

Philadelphia is the founding and sixth largest city in the U.S.  While Philadelphia is rich in culture, history, diversity, and beauty, many people in the city feel hopeless, abandoned, and disenfranchised. One and a half million people live inside with city limits.  The city is experiencing population growth for

Introducing the Miami Project

From lead planter Greg Ingram: As I cruise the streets of Miami, my heart is stirred for this great city and the people who call it home.  I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 9:36-38. When he saw the crowds, Jesus had compassion on them, because

Jeans, Scissors, and The Gospel

Dismal reports of young people leaving church and diminishing attendance could lead to a dire prediction for the future of the church in America.  Research from the Barna Group concludes that the next generation of Christians has a crisis of confidence in institutions, including the church. And yet, studies show

Baptisms at Mission Church

Wonderful news from Mission Church in Ventura, CA. 13 people were baptized in the Pacific Ocean, committing their lives and future to Jesus!

From Challenge to Opportunity

First year challenges for Mission Church in Ventura become opportunities to see God's provision! In 2011, Mission Church [http://missionventura.com/gallery/home/] started meeting for Sunday worship in a Ventura, CA movie theatre. They rented the space on Sundays, and the church needed to clear out quickly before afternoon

Celebrating in Nagoya

Baptism in Nagoya, Japan Praise God, who is building His church in Japan! Did you know that fewer than 1% of the people in Japan identify themselves as Christians? Mustard Seed Christian Church [http://www.mustardseednagoya.com/] is sharing the gospel, week by week, and seeing lives change as a

"Who Are Adam and Eve?"

Matt & Kala Mueller find the nations of the world in their NYC youth group > "Who are Adam and Eve?" A young man at Everyday Christian Church [http://everydaycc.com/] in New York City asked this question to Matt and Kala Mueller, leaders of the youth group. Many kids attending Everyday

Church Planting is Messy

> I think the biggest challenge of church planting is staying rooted to Christ (mission, vision and values) day in and day out. It can be easy to romanticize or glorify or even idolize the church planting endeavor. The problem with that is that church planting is insanely messy. From the

Here for the View

Ireland conjures many romantic images: verdant green fields, warm hospitality, lively music, and a strong religious presence. Yet recent studies show that Irish people are walking away from the church. Religious institutions are viewed with suspicion even as they have a strong foothold in community life. The percentage of people

Introducing Jordan Rice

Jordan leads the Harlem Project, with a plan to launch in 2014. Jordan Rice will lead a new church plant in the diverse neighborhood of Harlem in 2014. Once famous as a vibrant African American community, Harlem is now a mosaic of ethnicities and cultures. This diversity is part of

Devoted to Community

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. How do our churches reflect the spirit of community evident in the early church? The book of Acts gives us glimpses of the early church. The picture is one of fellowship and

Introducing Derrick and Kaley Puckett and the Chicago Project

Chicago, Illinois is the third largest city in the United States and a city with significant global influence.  Over 20 Fortune 500 companies are based in Chicago. The city is home to significant educational and cultural institutions. While Chicago is a great and global city, it is also a city

Redemption Church

With 7.5 million residents, the San Francisco Bay Area is the 5th largest metropolitan area in the United States.  It is known for its technological hub, Silicon Valley, and attracts cultural creatives from around the world.  It is also one of the least churched regions in the US.  Justin