planters

Third Thursday: Meet Nate and Michaela of the Denver Project!

We are excited to share the Denver Project with you! Nate & Michaela Gay believe that God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people. They believe that because it’s their story. During Nate’s military career, he and Michaela found themselves stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where Nate was

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:

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 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.

Orchard Group Exponential Conference Bonus Session

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

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

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’

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

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