We can start strong new churches--if we plan to. There is no reason for a new Church of the Nazarene to have only a handful of members at the end of the first year. It happens only because we are content for it to be that way.

Prayerful preparations, careful selection of the new church leaders, and thoughtful procedures can readily result in gathering a sizable congregation within the first 12 months. We need to trust God for strong new churches of 150 to 250 or even 400 or 500. The accomplishment of this goal is dependent upon our commitment to starting strong new churches and starting them the right way.

Every day in postmodern, postdemoninational America, thousands of people are won to Christ. Many new churches begin with large core groups who, in turn, win scores and even hundreds of people to Christ. This can be true of new Churches of the Nazarene if we will make up our minds that, with God's help, it will become a reality.

Starting new churches is the most effective method of evangelism under heaven. Starting strong new churches raises this effectiveness to an even higher level.

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Michigan NewStart Grows to 90
Thirty-Year-Old Dream Becomes a Strong Church

Fenton Church of the Nazarene was first envisioned many years ago in the 1964 Eastern Michigan District Superintendent's Assembly Report. That year, Dr. E. W. Martin challenged delegates and decision committees to proceed by faith to start a new church in Fenton, near Flint. Today the vision has become reality--a thriving three-year-old church reaches out in service to one of Michigan's fastest growing communities.

Early in 1993, Pastor Michael Morris accepted the Eastern Michigan District challenge--his ministry assignment--to start a new church with a contemporary model of ministry. District Superintendent Stephen Anthony helped Morris schedule a promotional/vision tour, including services in more than twenty churches in the area surrounding the targeted community. Each congregation was asked to pray for the new church, provide financial support, and assist in any possible way.

Following the promotional tour, the first service was held in the local high school on Pal Sunday, 1993. Over 300 persons from the community and across the district gathered for the opening celebration with the theme "The Birth of A New Church." What an exciting day that was, but it was only the beginning.

Soon God opened remarkable opportunities for the young congregation to establish itself in the community. The first miracle consisted of a series of circumstances making it possible for the church to purchase a newly constructed home for their parsonage family. Without capital funds or credit, the home, located near the heart of the targeted community, was purchased at $80,000 below appraised value.

Another miracle took place just a few months later as Pastor Morris started searching for prospective building sites. Because of the rapid population growth in their area, prime real estate started at $30,000 per acre. In spite of such high prices and limited resources, the infant congregation pursued a 15-acre site of prime real estate near a freeway exit, which would provide excellent visibility and easy access. Although the purchase price was 30 percent under appraised value, a down payment of $23,000, which the congregation did not have, was needed immediately.

At the same time, an anonymous family from another part of the district, who were unaware of the pressing financial need of the new church, asked Rev. Anthony to visit them. They told Anthony they were responding to God's leading to give a sizable gift to the new ministry. When Rev. Anthony opened the envelope they gave him, he was amazed to find the gift totaled $24,000. With this tremendous answer to prayer as a stimulus to their faith, the new congregation paid off the remaining balance on the land in a few months. This achievement, then, made it possible for the new church to enter into a building project that included major site development, construction of a 5,200-square-foot multiple-purpose facility, and purchase of furnishings.

The church has grown from an average of 36 in worship the first year to 90 this year. The primary growth comes from 15 new converts in each of the three years of the church's existence. With a strong lay ministry and a resolute commitment to meet community needs, the congregation is living up to its motto--"A Community of People Caring for People."

Pastor Morris and lay leaders are presently planning to start a second Sunday worship service which will allow the church to continue to grow until it can begin the second phase of the building program. Future plans include an educational wing, a new sanctuary, and additional office space.

Fenton Church of the Nazarene is another vivid example of reaching lost people with the good news of Christ through starting new churches. The new congregation's participation in extending the Kingdom has only begun and provides encouragement to hundreds of others who are considering being part of the Nazarene new church start groundswell.

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