Whereas churches most often start with one parent church, the new start at Tonganoxie, Kansas, has two parent churches. The Bonner Springs and McLouth churches served as parents of the new Heartland Community congregation. These two smaller Kansas congregations for many years felt burdened to start a new church in nearby Tonganoxie. The actual possibility for a new start came into clear focus with many people at nearly the same time.

As reported in the 1997 summer issue of GROW, Albert and Trula Smith, members of McLouth church, prayed and believed God for years for a new church in the town where they lived-- Tonganoxie. The Smiths shared their vision with laypersons, area pastors, and district leaders over several years. When the Smiths shared their concern in early 1994 with District Superintendent Keith Wright, however, he expressed enthusiastic interest.

Albert and Trula Smith, to their delight, discovered a combustible new commitment for starting new churches was spreading across the Kansas City District. Thus, the possibility of starting in Tonganoxie soon became an integral part of this growing excitement to win more people to Christ through church planting.

About the same time, several members of the Bonner Springs church who were residents of Tonganoxie shared a vision for a new church with Dr. Wright. Carol Spinhower, a Bonner Springs member, became a major sparkplug in discussions with Dr. Wright and her pastor, Rev. Brad Stockton.

Meanwhile, the Smiths frequently discussed the idea with their pastor at McLouth, Rev. Richard Sowder. After thoughtful consideration and a study of available date, Sowder also became convinced that starting a new work in Tonganoxie was feasible and desirable. Soon Sowder discussed the possibility with District Superintendent Wright just as had the Smiths, Carol Spinhower, and Pastor Stockton. Certainly God was inspiring several different people at the same time with a dream for starting a new church. Heartened by this increasing interest, the Smiths made a sizable contribution to the new work.

Soon Wright asked the Smiths to place an advertisement in the Tonganoxie newspaper announcing an interest-finding meeting. Twenty-five persons showed up for the meeting in the early spring of 1994. Since this response seemed to indicate the interest of a viable group, a church plant was planned.

Next in this story of gracious guidance of the Spirit enters Tom Saunders, a friend of Brad Stockton, pastor at Bonner Springs. Brad recommended Tom Saunders, a seminary student who had a heart for church planting. About Thanksgiving 1994, Wright met with Saunders to explore the possibilities. In January 1995, Saunders accepted the challenge to pioneer this outreach effort at Tonganoxie.

Soon, the core group set out to contact everyone who lived in Tonganoxie; they mailed information to all 5,000 residents. Saunders purchased a home for his family in Tonganoxie, which also served as the first place of worship. Though only 12 attended in the beginning, they soon grew to 40 people--more than could be accommodated in the pastor's home; so they moved to Smiths' residence. Eventually, they outgrew the Smiths' home and moved to the Tonganoxie Junior High School where the morning worship attendance has grown so they often have more than 100 attending worship.

The success of Heartland Community Church did not come without sacrifice from the parent churches. Each church sent 18 people to the new work. That meant giving more than 10 percent of each congregation. The Bonner Springs church went through a difficult time that coincided with the Heartland start, but God has been faithful and they have now grown to 128 church members. Pastor Brad Stockton strongly believes it was a positive plus for their congregation to be part of the Heartland church start because most of the congregation caught the vision for what was happening. So in spite of some temporary difficulties, they were fully behind the new start. Bonner Springs now averages 125.

Likewise, the McLouth church felt pained in losing 18 members. Pastor Sowder explains, "We were determined to find victory out of the temporary loss, so we made a big deal out of sending our members out to start a church." Now McLouth, like Bonner Springs, has experienced growth, which Sowder believes is a direct result of involvement in starting the new church.

McLouth recently received 15 new members, 12 by profession of faith, and their church has grown financially. They currently average more than 90 in morning worship and have a membership of 98. At the same time, they have raised significant funds for the new building they plan to construct in the near future.

Church planter Tom Saunders summarized the amazing blessings for all: "This situation is incredible--almost unbelievable--how God prepared this town and these two sponsoring churches for this particular time in history. They have been so faithful in supporting us." All three pastors testify to the extraordinary blessings God pours on churches who lengthen their ministry through church planting. They believe there is a direct link to the growth of each church that is a result of the new start partnership.

Heartland church at Tonganoxie provides GROW readers with another impressive example of what starting new churches can do for individual believers, for the sponsoring churches, and for the Kingdom. Why not ask the Father to assign you to be a part of a NewStart church soon?

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