Church Planting Is A Biblical Mandate! Jesus said in Matthew 28, "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). While the times and culture have greatly changed, the impact of our Lord's words are just as clear and convincing.

Dan Peterson Executive Minister

The church of Jesus Christ is called to continue the work and ministry which Jesus began! As the Apostle Paul and the early church leaders moved out and evangelized their world through the establishment of vital new Christ-centered congregations, so we are called to do the same. Indeed, the planting of new churches is God's primary strategy for evangelism and discipleship. There is no greater tool for touching unchurched people with the love of Christ.

We've Got An Incredible Opportunity Before Us!

Anyone ministering in Converge MidAtlantic knows that this is a special District. We live in a very beautiful part of the country. Our District has had a positive history in ministry to pastors and churches. The fellowship and spirit amongst our churches is second to none. From one point of view, there is only one major problem with Converge MidAtlantic. It is too small! As a family of churches scattered throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, we presently total 75 churches with a worshipping constituency of 20,000 members. That means that if everyone in our churches came together at one time, we would only fill half of Cleveland’s Jacob's Field. By comparison, the total population of the six-state region comprising the Mideast District is well over 35 million people. That means our total impact as a Conference in the Mideast part of our country is less than one-fourth of one-tenth of one percent! Indeed, Converge MidAtlantic is far too small.

A Growing Vision For Church Planting In Converge MidAtlantic!

In the midst of a secular nation and a pagan world, the planting of thousands of new congregations is essential to the completion of the task Christ has given to His church. I personally believe Converge MidAtlantic can play a strategic part in this aggressive movement of evangelism and church planting in the second millennium!

We really want to dream, and we want to dream big dreams. We want to let our vision be determined not by what has happened in the past, nor by what may seem to be the resources at hand. We want our vision to be determined primarily by the size of the harvest. Could it be that literally hundreds of new churches could be planted in the coming generation! Would it be possible for our District to give birth to one, two, or even more, new BGC Districts! Why not dream new and daring dreams for Jesus Christ!

Some may think that this kind of dreaming is an overly ambitious thing to do! The truth is, our Lord desires to see lost people reached with His love more than we do. Indeed, dreaming and planning is a worthy enterprise for the One who said "I will build my church"! As you take the time to read these initial pages, your input is most welcome. I personally believe that the greatest days of our District are yet to come. My hope is that through the power of God's Spirit the Lord will indeed begin to do a new thing right here in our midst.

Dan Peterson
Converge MidAtlantic Executive Minister

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