A new congregation in El Paso, Texas, wanted a bigger launch than a typical new church plant.
River’s Edge Christian Reformed Church discarded the idea of a small-scale opening, opting instead for a large-scale “launch.”
To create the feel of an established church, the 30-person launch team had to be ready from the start for up to 400 worshipers. They sent out 16,000 advertising mailers before their first service last fall.
They purchased everything a bigger church would have: music and sound equipment, stage and projection gear, signs, furniture, and a children’s security system. The church meets in a school and stores everything in a trailer.
“Sunday mornings are a lot of work,” said Charissa Lara, whose husband, Rev. Tony Lara, is the church’s pastor. “We got comments like, ‘This is your first service? We would have thought you’d been here for years.’”
Christian Reformed Home Missions and neighboring congregations cover the pastor’s salary. But the church hired a children’s director, sent its worship team to a conference, and trained greeters and childcare workers—all before the first service.
A launch is expensive but designed to help a church grow bigger faster. Charissa Lara said it’s too soon to say if that will work for River’s Edge. About 100 people now attend on Sundays.
But the church is having an impact on people like Rose Hinojosa. She got a mailer, attended the first service, and is now fully involved.
“My life is changing so much. My way of thinking, way of feeling, everything,” she said.
