Day 6: Church Planting Worldwide

Global Ministries is working in collaboration with church leaders across the world to plant 400 churches by 2012. It’s an ambitious goal, but with God’s help we have already planted over 150 congregations in locations such as Laos, Vietnam, Cameroon, Russia, Honduras, and several other countries. We call these areas Mission Initiatives.

Mission Initiatives are unique in many ways, but mostly because they are places where The United Methodist Church is new to the population. While United Methodist churches have existed in the US for over 200 years, we have only been present in Thailand for the last five years. The Thai people are just getting to know United Methodists, and Christianity is relatively new to them. In all of the places where we are planting the church, people are asking, “Who are the United Methodists?” This question has opened the door for us to share the gospel through word and deed.

Whether we are planting churches in Asia, Africa, Latin America, or Eastern Europe, the Good News of Jesus Christ is transforming lives, and Global Ministries is empowering young churches as they engage in works of piety and mercy. This is a historic moment and The United Methodist Church is experiencing rapid growth outside the US. You can be a part of this movement by supporting and learning from these vibrant congregations through a church-to-church partnership with the In Mission Together program.

The In Mission Together program facilitates church planting abroad by developing partnerships with local congregations in the US. A partnership covenant is created between the two churches, which fosters mutuality and respect for each other. This is important because both will be transformed and energized by this faith-building experience. The 400 Fund is the first step and enables new converts to share the gospel and grow the church worldwide. All funds are designated for developing new congregations and their ministries.

400 Fund, Advance # 400400
Learn more at www.inmissiontogether.org

To make an additional donation to this project, click here

Quick Facts

• There have been 100 new congregations formed in Laos in the last five years.

• The average age for a pastor in a Mission Initiative is just 35 yrs old.

• Church planting efforts have been initiated in over 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

• All 50 states are represented in the In Mission Together Church-to-Church Partnership Program, which connects US churches with new church plants in Mission Initiatives around the world.

• Over 1,000 churches have been planted since the Global Ministries Mission Initiatives began in 1991.

• Over 10,000 VIM (Volunteer-In-Mission) teams have participated in church-planting efforts.

Partnership Coordinators: The first step to get involved in church planting worldwide is to contact an In Mission Together Partnership Coordinator.  They are ready to talk with you and provide assistance on how you can become a part of this vital ministry:

IMT PARTNERSHIP COORDINATORS:

Rev. Patrick Friday
Director of In Mission Together
GBGM – Room 354
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
212-870-3860
[email protected]

RUSSIA
Dr. Jim Athearn - Russia
116 Frasher Drive
Clear Brook, VA 22624
540-662-2066
[email protected]  

Ms. Sabine Barnett
1421 Knox Valley Drive
Brentwood, TN 37027
615-370-1568
[email protected]  

EASTERN EUROPE & BALKANS
Mr. Dick Arnold
465 Mill Pointe Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540-961-1265
[email protected]  

SENEGAL
Rev. Tony R. Fuller
P.O. Box 301
New London, WI 54961
920-982-6526
[email protected]

Malawi
Rev. Herb Mather
2608 Woodlawn Drive
Nashville, TN 37212
615-385-8945
[email protected]

HONDURAS
Mr. Greg Gelzinnis
3002 Godfrey Road
Godfrey, IL 62035
618-466-8693
[email protected]

LITHUANIA & LATVIA
Dr. Bill Quick
1941 Wellesley Dr
Detroit, MI 48203-1428
313 891-2861
[email protected]  

In Mission Together Consultations: You are welcome to attend the following consultations on church planting and mission development for various countries.  It is a wonderful way to network with like-minded individuals and churches who share your passion for church growth around the world.  Please contact an IMT consultant for further details:

November 5 - Cameroon MI/IMT Consultation - San Antonio, TX

November 12-13 - Senegal MI/IMT Consultation - Roscoe UMC - Roscoe, IL

2011

March 31-April 2 - Cambodia MI Consultation - Cal-Nevada Conference

April 7-9 - Russia MI/IMT Consultation - St. Luke's UMC - Oklahoma City, OK

May 6-7 - Latvia MI/IMT Consultation - Canton 1st UMC - Atlanta, GA

May 6-8 - Lithuania MI/IMT Consultation - Centreville UMC - Centreville, VA

October 13-15 – Honduras MI/IMT Consultation – (TBA) in TN

October 27-29 - Eastern Europe & the Balkans IMT Consultation - Main St UMC - Alton, IL