Leaders from the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America (RCA) are hoping a new church-planting initiative will create a “movement of Christ-followers” in communities across North America.
The two denominations are pooling resources in a collaborative church-planting movement that will spread the gospel by reaching out to people where they live. Seed funding for the project is being provided by the two denominations as well as by a significant grant from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation.
Denominational leaders say the strength of the joint approach will be its ability to develop visionary leaders and church planters who are theologically prepared and equipped to start and multiply churches that present the gospel in a way that is biblical, authentic, and contextual.
To launch the project, the churches have selected four test areas they’re calling “Kingdom Enterprise Zones”: Florida, Arizona, California, and West Michigan. The focus will be on evaluating emerging church planters, equipping and training church planters, empowering and coaching church planters, and expanding and parenting new churches. The specific regions were chosen because both denominations have significant potential in each area to grow new ministries, and each region also includes previously “hard to serve” contexts.
Collaborative RCA-CRC teams will provide vision, strategy, and relationship building. Denominational leaders, church planting staff and teams, church multiplication strategists, seminary presidents, and on-the-ground practitioners will all provide insight and input.
About the Author
Ben Van Houten is a senior writer for Christian Reformed Home Missions.
