Plant Seeds, Grow Roots

GCD Weekly Newsletter - 7th November 2024

The first time I heard the words, “church planting” I was about ten years old. I’ve since been a member of three church plants in two countries.

Most days I still feel like a sapling amongst great oaks.

Church planting isn’t new, but always fresh. The questions and challenges vary, but the answer remains the same. Here at GCD we’re committed to making and nurturing disciples the world over through the context of the local church. Over the past few years, we’ve released books about making, maturing, and multiplying disciples; helping them to remain steady when all around seems to be changing; as well as difficult subjects like how we find joy in heaven while we’re still here on earth. Earlier this week we released our latest book, written by Tony Merida, the founding pastor of Imago Dei church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the vice president for church planting at the Send Network.

I was recently speaking with a friend who is heading back to a large church after a long stint as a member of a church plant. When I asked what they’d learned, they said, “I’m never going to treat a church the same way again. I’ll never stop planting, no matter where I am.”

We’re all called to sow seeds, and to dig our roots deep wherever we are. Maybe you’re leading a church plant, or considering doing so. Perhaps you’re in the same church you were fifty years ago, but feeling fresh call to minister to people in your town.

Wherever you are, plant seeds, and grow roots.

Tony covers everything from personal relationships to international mission, discerning one’s calling, and how to call people to repentance. If you want people to hear God’s word, and live out the calling of a disciple, you can read more about it by clicking here:

If you’re a church planter yourself, we’d love to hear from you. Why not drop a comment below to let us know where you’re based and how we can be praying for you. If not, why not head to comments and pray for those people in the comments.

Grace and Peace,

Adsum Try Ravenhill is married to Anna and together they are passionate about seeing men and women discipled in the context of the local church. They live in Reading, UK and are part of a church plant that meets in the town hall. Adsum edits the GCD Weekly Newsletter and can be found through his writing at The Raven’s Writing Desk. You can find all of Adsum’s previous articles for GCD here.