Churches Pair Up With Others to Have Greater Impact
More and more, churches are pairing themselves up with a single individual or another church to have a greater impact on ministry.
More and more, churches are pairing themselves up with a single individual or another church to have a greater impact on ministry.
Purpose Driven Ministries' P.E.A.C.E. Plan, for example, pairs local congregations with overseas churches, communities, or governments to holistically transform the entire community. The global plan seeks to bring overseas the energy of regular laypersons who are impassioned to make a difference.
“I believe you are marked by God to be part of a revolution,” Purpose Driven pastor and author Rick Warren told Saddleback members during the September launch. “God has decided to use this church in ways none of us have imagined.”
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Table 71, a group of seven of the world's largest missions organizations, is also executing a similar strategy, pairing up missions-minded megachurch pastors with each of the world’s remaining 639 people groups with populations of 100,000 or more that do not have anyone communicating the Gospel to them. The goal is to encourage church planting movements among the last frontier of people groups and to complete the Great Commission by working together. The missions organizations recently hosted a "Finishing the Task" conference Nov. 14-15.
Another Purpose Driven program, Adopt-a-Pastor program, helps out pastors displaced and devastated by Katrina. Willing congregations donate money to these pastors, and reports of success are coming in.
“It was good for me and our people to be able to put a face on Hurricane Katrina and to know who we are assisting,” wrote Pastor Madon from Community Church of Southport, in Indianapolis, Ind., which had adopted Harvest Ripe Church in New Orleans.
Purpose Driven Ministries began promoting the program, and congregations began providing funds toward the salaries of needy pastors. More than $875,000 has been donated to over 175 pastors who continue to preach and minister in the devastated areas.
"You need to know that you were instrumental in confirming God’s will for me to return to New Orleans to rebuild the Galilee Baptist Church,” stated James S. Casimier Jr., pastor of Galilee Baptist Church, who received support from First Baptist Church in Athens, Texas.
“I had initially determined to settle the affairs of the church, pay off the mortgage, and seek a pastorate in another area. But thanks to your obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit, I am on a straight course,” he added.
According to Purpose Driven, almost 200 churches in Mississippi and Louisiana have been adopted by churches that make a commitment to contribute at least $5,000 over 90 days toward the pastor’s salary, and connect with the pastor to determine and address the needs of the church.
