2020 CHURCH PLANTING REPORT Katie Arnold, EFCA TX-OK Director of Ministry Effectiveness Thursday, February 25, 2021 2020 – what a difficult year for all churches, especially church planters who are trying to launch a church! Multiplying Together, the District’s multiplication initiative birthed in 2016, started with 18 churches signing an annual covenant committing time, finances, collaboration and accountability to focus intentionally on multiplication at every level (disciples, leaders and churches) within their local church and across the District. Typically, the Multiplying Together (MT) churches gather together at three, in person events starting with the Annual District Leadership Conference where each primary church representative signs the annual covenant. The District was unknowingly able to squeeze in the District Conference before COVID-19 hit, and we had a roomful of leaders gather to express their commitment to multiplication…and to multiply together! Due to the pandemic, we were not able to host the annual April retreat at T Bar M Camp & Retreat Center, but instead, Multiplying Together met for 2 hours/day for three days of Collaboration Labs via Zoom, and we had a GREAT turnout! Our third event of the year is held as part of or adjacent to the fall Church Health Clinic. However, that event was canceled. We hope we will be able to meet in person both this spring and in the fall to better encourage and spur each other on, especially all of these current and planters, towards an increase in multiplication! Church planters are trained on how to plan and strategize for in person events and preview services and meet with people over coffee or a meal to share the church’s vision, but this past year, planters have had to pivot, just like every pastor at every church, on how to do all of these things virtually and provide a virtual option for events and services. For planters who had started gathering and forming a core group before COVID-19 hit in March, they are doing pretty well. For planters who started gathering after the pandemic began, it has been very difficult to gather and form a core group. However, that Flywheel* keeps turning, albeit a bit slower, but moving nonetheless. We continue to be the forerunner in church planting of the entire EFCA, leading the way in the number and diversity of church plants—in both ethnicity and in church models! I am happy to report that a new Hispanic congregation launched in 2020: Grace en Español at Grace Bible Church in Laredo, Texas, led by Adrian Castillo! And, just after the new year on January 10, Reflection Church launched in Rockport, Texas, planted by Kevin & Elisa Saegert! (You can read about their journey in the national EFCA’s ReachNetwork Update.) *The Flywheel Effect is a concept developed by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great-- https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/the-flywheel.html.
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2020 CHURCH PLANTING REPORT Katie Arnold, EFCA TX-OK Director of Ministry Effectiveness Thursday, February 25, 2021 2020 – what a difficult year for all churches, especially church planters who are trying to launch a church! Multiplying Together, the District’s multiplication initiative birthed in 2016, started with 18 churches signing an annual covenant committing time, finances, collaboration and accountability to focus intentionally on multiplication at every level (disciples, leaders and churches) within their local church and across the District. Typically, the Multiplying Together (MT) churches gather together at three, in person events starting with the Annual District Leadership Conference where each primary church representative signs the annual covenant. The District was unknowingly able to squeeze in the District Conference before COVID-19 hit, and we had a roomful of leaders gather to express their commitment to multiplication…and to multiply together! Due to the pandemic, we were not able to host the annual April retreat at T Bar M Camp & Retreat Center, but instead, Multiplying Together met for 2 hours/day for three days of Collaboration Labs via Zoom, and we had a GREAT turnout! Our third event of the year is held as part of or adjacent to the fall Church Health Clinic. However, that event was canceled. We hope we will be able to meet in person both this spring and in the fall to better encourage and spur each other on, especially all of these current and planters, towards an increase in multiplication! Church planters are trained on how to plan and strategize for in person events and preview services and meet with people over coffee or a meal to share the church’s vision, but this past year, planters have had to pivot, just like every pastor at every church, on how to do all of these things virtually and provide a virtual option for events and services. For planters who had started gathering and forming a core group before COVID-19 hit in March, they are doing pretty well. For planters who started gathering after the pandemic began, it has been very difficult to gather and form a core group. However, that Flywheel* keeps turning, albeit a bit slower, but moving nonetheless. We continue to be the forerunner in church planting of the entire EFCA, leading the way in the number and diversity of church plants—in both ethnicity and in church models! I am happy to report that a new Hispanic congregation launched in 2020: Grace en Español at Grace Bible Church in Laredo, Texas, led by Adrian Castillo! And, just after the new year on January 10, Reflection Church launched in Rockport, Texas, planted by Kevin & Elisa Saegert! (You can read about their journey in the national EFCA’s ReachNetwork Update.) *The Flywheel Effect is a concept developed by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great-- https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/the-flywheel.html.
That brings us to a total of 10 launched church plants, which includes the following: Planter/Pastor Church Name Church Model/Focus Location
Jason & Kari May Rock City Fellowship Traditional Midlothian, TX Benjamin Rivera & Bernice Velez Iglesia Vida Dallas Hispanic Irving, TX
Nick & Kathyrn Vuicich Resonate Church Missional Austin, TX
Gabe & Monica deGarmeaux King’s Community House Church New Braunfels, TX
Mike & Ariel Kraft Mission Community Community-based San Antonio, TX Jaron & Eboni Jones Shine Bible Fellowship African-American Cypress, TX Mike & Shawn Bauer Disciple Together Church Micro-church Houston, TX
CJ & Dereka Addis The Mission Bible Church* Traditional (replant) Hobbs, NM
*The Mission Bible Church will close in 2021. These churches plan to launch on Palm Sunday! Planter/Pastor Church Name Church Model/Focus Location Charles* & Brandy Wright One Community Church Multiethnic San Antonio, TX
Daniel Perez & Jazmin Villa Encuentro Hispanic
Congregation Odessa, TX
Edison & Medgine Senat
Rendez-Vous Christ Church
2nd generation Haitians DFW, TX
*Resident at Northeast Bible Church in Garden Ridge, TX These four* church plants are continuing to plan and prepare to launch! Planter/Pastor Church Name Church Model/Focus Location Andrew & Jeanette Feng Jia Fellowship Micro-church/Chinese
University Students Grand Prairie, TX
Mario & Monica DiazCeballos Semilla de Gracia Hispanics San Antonio, TX
Nathan & Rebecca Jordan
The Gathering in Garland Multiethnic Garland, TX
Benyam Weldtensai & Kidist Dargasso TBD East African
Immigrants DFW, TX
*Unfortunately, one of our Hispanic church plants, Encuentro Sur, led by Hernan Cancino, will not be launching due to complications with his visa application process.
In spite of 2020, we amazingly approved five new, committed church planters! Planter/Pastor Church Name Church Model/Focus Location Blaine* & Anna Hooper Christ Our Refuge House Church/
Refugees Houston, TX
Paul** & Jolene Hodi
Disciple Community Church
Missional Community San Antonio, TX
Jordan & Kristen Cosper
Resonate Community Church Traditional Abilene, TX
Caleb & Hayden Rolan TBD TBD Edmond, OK
Gonzalo Mateluna & Daniela Vivanco TBD Hispanic
Congregation TBD
*Resident at The Bridge HTX in Houston, TX **Resident at Stone Oak Bible Church in San Antonio, TX May God bless the work of these laborers and grow what has been planted and watered! (1 Cor. 3:7-9) Katie Arnold EFCA TX-OK District Director of Ministry Effectiveness [email protected]
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