Why Plant Churches in the U.S.?
Some people who are involved in a healthy church might scratch their heads when asked about starting a new church. Why would we do that? Our church is a good one, why don’t they all just come here?
One thing to consider is this: Do I really understand the nature or essence of the living thing we call the church?
1 Thessalonians 1:7-8: “so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.” (NASB)
Paul tells us the word of the Lord sounded forth from the local church in Thessalonica into Macedonia and Achaia. One day that intrigued me. Delving deeper, I Googled the geographic area of Macedonia and Achaia. I learned that the regional boundaries of Macedonia and Achaia is an area about 42,000 square miles.
Ohio, for comparison, has a geographic area of about 40,000 square miles. So Paul is telling us that the Word of the Lord sounded forth (in some way) into a region larger than Ohio.
Do I believe that my local church in Ohio has the DNA to reach all of Ohio, in some form? That is awesome! I want to be a part of that!
So, with every new church we are, from a human perspective, starting a living organism to whom Jesus gives incredible capacity. How amazing it that?
