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Wanted: Free Grace Church Planting

Nov 16th 2007Jeremy MyersBible Study

I have a heart that beats for church planting…I’m just not sure I’m cut out to be a church planter! I mentioned it before, but I have become increasingly convinced that if Free Grace theology is going to move forward, we have to involved in church planting. There are numerous organizations and networks which are planting hundreds of churches worldwide, and most of them are strongly Lordship/Calvinistic. We need one for Free Grace Theology! It’s not enough to just write and speak and debate. We need to get out there and share the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches.

Below are 15 of the top church planting organizations. Though for many of them I could not find a doctrinal statement, the ones that did have doctrinal statements leaned toward Calvinistic/Lordship theology.

1. Acts 29 - Calvinstic
2. New Thing Network - Lordship
3. Global Church Advancement - I’m Unsure
4. Leadership Network - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
5. Orchard Group - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
6. Passion 4 Planting - Lordship
7. Stadia: New Church Strategies - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
8. Grace Church Planting Ministries - Lordship
9. house2house - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
10. Kairos - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
11. Emerging Church Network - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
12. 153 House Churches Network - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
13. multiplyingchurches.org - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
14. Church Planting Movement - I can’t find a doctrinal statement
15. Association of Related Churches - I can’t find a doctrinal statement

By the way, if you are interested in church planting, or just doing things better at your church to reach out more effectively, many of these sites have excellent free tools and ideas. Make use of them.

3 Comments »

3 Responses to “Wanted: Free Grace Church Planting”

  1. Don Reiher on 26 Nov 2007 at 7:07 am #

    I suggest GES and FGA branch out and include church planting as part of their mission statement.

    I would love to help start a FG church in my area. I live around 10 miles SW of Philadelphia in Aston, PA. My wife & I have been trying to convert some folks in the various churches in the area to the FG view, but it is taking a a very long time. It would be nice to have one or 2 FG folks who are already FG to network with, and just start a small church.

    If anyone else reading this is interested in helping start a FG church here, please contact me!

    FYI
    There are probably about 1/2 Million people within 25 miles of me (500,000 in Delaware County, 1.5 Million in Philadelphia, and 500,000 in Chester County). . . . not a single solid FG church that I can find. Mike Otto has a FG church 25 miles North of Philadelphia, but that is pretty far away. All the churches around here that used to be FG 30-40 years ago are now reformed/lordship in one way or another. I have been trying to get a FG church started for 15 years. This is SG/Reformed/Lordship territory, and it is getting worse every year. If you know of, or you are a FG pastor/church leader around here that I have not been able to find, please contact me!

    - Don Reiher
    dreiher2 at compsupport dot net

  2. Jeremy Myers on 26 Nov 2007 at 9:28 am #

    Don,

    I can’t tell you how often I get e-mails and calls just like your comment. There are people all across the country who are crying out for a free grace church plant in their area. I have talked several times with some of the “powers that be” about this, but they have no desire whatsoever to get into church planting.

    I think the FGA initially was planning on doing some of this, but they have now become embroiled in this “crossless gospel” debate and it has slowed them to a crawl.

    So… keep checking back!

  3. Don Reiher on 28 Nov 2007 at 8:52 am #

    I just noticed you are reading Dan Kimball, “They Like Jesus. . .”

    I have two of his books. . . emerging church, and emerging worship.

    I think he has a lot to say about the EC movement. I don’t necessarily agree with everything, but I like assessment.

    I think the 20’s and 30’s are the key to the future church in America, and if we leave them behind, then the church is basically done with here in the US. I am not even talking about FG issues. . . just basic issues!

    - Don

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