CHURCH PLANTING

The passion of Jesus Christ was to take the gospel far and wide.  He did not want the town down the road to be left without the Good News.  He pushed on from town to town, from village to village, modeling how His followers are to reach out to neighboring communities.  As established churches plant new churches or forge other outposts of ministry in nearby communities they follow the example of the Master.  The office of Church Planting functions as a catalyst to help extend the kingdom of God in western Pennsylvania.

If you feel God is calling you to be a church planter in the Western Pennsylvania District, please contact Rev. Joseph Toomey at 724-929-6516.

WHY START NEW CHURCHES?

History shows that Christianity has always expanded through the multiplication of new churches.  

Consider:

• New Churches are needed because of the growing number of unchurched persons.  There are approximately four million persons living in the geographical area comprising the Western Pennsylvania District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance.  Half to three quarters of this population is unchurched.

• Cultural diversity requires a diversity of churches.  It takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.

• Many people are open to spiritual things.  They need to experience meaningful relationships and see the love of Christ in a local church.  Church growth specialist, Peter Wagner says, "Church planting is the most effective means of evangelism under heaven."

• More churches are closing than new ones are being started.  Among all churches across America, nearly three times as many churches close each year as new ones start.

• God loves people and wants them to be in His family.  Healthy churches will effectively reach their community with the gospel of God's grace by multiplying ministry among various segments of the population both locally and in nearby communities.