21st century America is a GIANT mission field. If fact, our nation is now the third largest mission field in the entire world (third out of 195 countries.) No urban or suburban community in America has more than 25% of its population engaged with the Savior Jesus or a church home. A sobering statistic indeed. Think about it, 75% of the people in the communities of our nation are unchurched or dechurched, and that percentage is getting worse by the day.
For a decade now, studies have shown that new church plants are ideally effective at connecting unchurched-dechurched people to the Savior Jesus and a church home. Here are a few reasons why:
*New church plants launch with a very focused mission agenda. From the very beginning, the culture of a new church plant is unashamedly outreach-driven. Those involved in the launch of a church plant are there because they boldly embrace the truth that, “nothing is more important than striving to get sinners like me connected to their needed Savior.” Existing congregations can move toward that Great Commission culture (and wonderfully, many are doing so), but new church plants are blessed with that mission posture from the start. It’s the only thing they’ve ever known, and it’s powerful.
*New church plants don’t have anyone saying, “We’ve never done it that way before.” One of the supreme hindrances to reaching lost souls is the unwillingness to put creative and culturally relevant ministry paradigms into play (without changing God’s pure Word of course!) When an existing congregation yearns to try something new, it can often be like trying to turn a giant cruise liner on a new course – it takes time, and a lot of people just don’t like the change of direction. However, when a new church plant seeks to put creative, outreach-effective ministries into play, it can be more like a speedboat turning on a dime.
*New church plants create a lot of excitement and momentum, as does any new adventure. That momentum easily translates into God’s people being more active witnesses in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. They are so excited about the new church launch, they naturally talk about it frequently and in genuinely passionate ways, and that energy turns into constant worship invitations and new soul growth.
*New church plants make immediate use of modern technology, and that technology goes a long way to reach out to the unchurched people of 21st century America. As a congregation utilizes a modern website, audio podcasts, streaming video messages, blogs, twitter, facebook, and so on…the Gospel communication of the new church plant reaches hundreds (even thousands) of people instantly. The church plant’s use of technology also gets the unchurched person thinking, “maybe this church is something up to date, relevant, and maybe just maybe, it understands who I really am and what I’m really going through.”
With the realities described above very much in mind, SoulThirst Church Planting Ministries was founded by Pastor Patrick and the people of Water’s Edge Church (Frisco, Tx.)
SoulThirst Church Planting Ministries has set an initial goal of planting 12 outreach-zealous LCMS church plants throughout North Texas. Twelve regions extremely ripe for such plants have already been identified. As Pastor Patrick and Water’s Edge Church Frisco have seen their own church plant grow from 30 to 900 engaged disciples in five short years (with more than 60% of the new souls connecting from a previously unchurched-dechurched background), they are eager to see many other church plants get rolling.
Therefore, the primary focus of SoulThirst Church Planting Ministries is the training of competent, duly equipped church planters at the SoulThirst Academy. The Academy is hosted on-site at Water’s Edge Church, and is led by Pastor Patrick. Men training at the Academy get to experience the culture and strategic paradigms of a church plant firsthand, while also getting hands on training in the various aspects of launching and leading a plant. Men at the Academy also engage in intense classroom training, as Pastor Patrick walks them through an in-depth church planter training manual that he designed based on his own “in the trenches” church planting experiences.
In addition to its primary focus (the SoulThirst Academy), SoulThirst Church Planting Ministries also facilitates a number of other key endeavors. You can read more about those endeavors by visiting the link on the sidebar.
As the rescue mission of our Savior continues, we appreciate both your prayers and your support. Neither the Academy, nor the other church planting endeavors of SoulThirst would be possible without the bold financial support of mission-zealous partners. You can find out how to partner with SoulThirst and change the eternity of thousands of people by visiting the ‘Support SoulThirst” link on this website.
May your own journey of faith and witness be mightily blessed by our Savior and His Spirit. His Great Commission most certainly continues!
