Why a Movement?
Some people have asked, why are you beginning a movement of church plants? Consider the following scenario:
- The current population of San Jose is approximately 950,000 people.
- The current population of Santa Cruz County is around 250,000 people.
- The current population of the Monterey Peninsula is around 85,000 people.
- Let's estimate the current number of Jesus followers in each location at 10%.
- If we added one new church in San Jose of 1,000 people, that would increase the number of Jesus followers to 10.1%.
- If we added one new church in Santa Cruz County of 1,000 people, that would increase the number of Jesus followers to 10.4%
- If we added one new church on the Monterey Peninsula of 1,000 people, that would increase the number of Jesus followers to 11.2%
- Are we happy with those results? Would we call it a great success? We think Jesus' heart is bigger than that.
Secondly, we have to evaluate the effectiveness of the church in the local region to build God's kingdom. We all have been a part of the local church, but unfortunately, the following results are discouraging:
- Over the last 30 years, neither San Jose, the Santa Cruz region nor the Monterey Peninsula has seen any significant increase in the number of followers of Jesus.
- Whereas great kingdom building strides are being made around the world, (i.e., in China, India, and Africa) it appears that the church in the U.S. is treading water. Even with current church plants, there is a net loss of 2400 churches in the U.S. every year.
- When the U.S. church model (buildings, ordained and seminary trained pastors, denominational restrictions) is imported in foreign countries, it often impedes the growth of the kingdom.
Given those factors, and in listening to the direction of the Lord we are hearing the following:
- We believe that it is time for something new.
- We believe it is time for a movement of church plants in this region.
- We believe we need 1,000 new churches in San Jose and 250 new churches in the Santa Cruz region.
- We believe we need some new wineskins to accomplish this task.
- We need a church that has the DNA of reproduction and multiplication built in at the foundation.
- We need a simpler more organic church.
- We need a church that releases the priesthood of believers in it fullest dimension.
- We need to release men and women in leadership and all people in all their gifts.
- We need a church w/o walls that can minister and serve in the local community.
Only a movement of church plants would truly fit with the call on our lives to disciple the nations and reach our community.
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PO Box 224 Soquel, CA 95073
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