Plan A: Living the Book of Acts
Header photo: Paris, 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 number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch… Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From Attalia they 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 how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Difficult-to-pronounce city names aside, this passage crams several years of church planting action into just a few sentences:
Paul, Barnabas, and other church leaders traveled the then-known world, proclaiming the good news and raising up leaders in order to establish new churches in population centers. Then, they returned to the older church in Antioch to "report all that God had done.” This passage is remarkable for the many churches that were started. But it’s also remarkable because it shows a basic church planting pattern that has remained for several thousand years:
- going to places that need churches,
- communicating the good news about Jesus in understandable ways,
- earnestly asking God for help
- raising up local leaders, and
- returning to report on all that God has done.
As a matter of fact, this pattern is so strong that it is happening as you read this!
Right now, there are churches in cities all over the world that many of you have helped to establish through your giving and prayer — in places like New York City, Lagos, Paris, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. And right now, you are supporting new leaders just getting started in additional cities to preach the gospel, pray and fast, and raise up new local elders — in Cincinnati, Manhattan, Oakland, Greater Miami, and Baltimore. And right now, we're reporting back to you all of these things that are being accomplished by God.
How beautiful is God’s work of opening a door of faith! Jesus' church is truly his “Plan A” for reaching the nations with the good news!
You can participate in all God is accomplishing through new churches.
Explore current church plant projects that you can partner with through prayer and financial support.
Stay informed about how God is working through church plants and how you can partner through prayer.