The Xtreme Steps Campaign is a Conference wide ministry effort to plant churches, strengthen and encourage our churches, and send new missionaries abroad.  These three efforts in concert will reach even more people for Jesus Christ.

The Baptist General Conference and Converge MidAtlantic are a fellowship of churches, but perhaps it is more accurate to think of the BGC and Converge MidAtlantic as a growing movement of God!

A movement of God is taking place through the partnership of our churches, District, National, and International staff – all of whom desire to impact the world for Jesus Christ.  We are united to help every church reach the people to which God has called them, people and communities both local and international.  That’s what our partnership is about – moving on God’s agenda for each of us!

Planting Churches in Converge MidAtlantic!

In recent years, God has richly blessed in abundant ways!  Since 1994, 40 new churches have been planted in strategic areas of our conference.  In the Washington D.C. area alone, we have grown from one church to 20 strong churches!  The total number of churches in Converge MidAtlantic has virtually doubled in the last eight years.  This represents and additional 11,000 people attending worship each Sunday and over 1000 new believers in Jesus Christ!  Praise the Lord for the work He is doing in our midst!

We believe the lives we are seeing changed are only the beginning of what God has in store for us.  As we look to mobilize our existing churches and ministries, we believe that God would have us plant 70 churches over the next six year period. Forty of these 70 have already been launched!  Converge MidAtlantic leaders are trusting God for $600,000 through the Xtreme Steps Campaign to enable this strategic church planting vision to be realized.  Converge MidAtlantic vision to plant 70 new churches by 2005 is actually a part of a larger TeAmerica vision to plant 442 new churches by 2005.  This really is a God-sized vision!

Strengthening our Churches!

Xtreme Steps is not only about planting churches.  It’s an overall, conference wide ministry expansion.  This means building on the foundation of established churches in Converge MidAtlantic.

It has been a tremendous asset to add Rev. Gary Schroeder to Converge MidAtlantic executive team.  Many have been blessed first hand by Gary’s availability for leadership support, and encouragement.  He is going to continue to focus on church enrichment, pastoral care, and district administration.  While much of Gary’s support has already been met through the faithful giving of our churches, additional resources are still needed to cover this support need.  We also want to provide funds for Gary’s work with pastors and churches.  Converge MidAtlantic leaders are trusting God for $120,000 through Xtreme Steps for the strengthening of our churches!

Fulfilling the Great Commission through BGC Global Missions!

While it is easy for us to focus on reaching people right here in our own cities and town, part of Xtreme Steps is also a focus on reaching international communities for Jesus Christ.  Two thirds of humanity are still classified as non-Christian.  The BGC has established a God-sized goal of nearly doubling our world mission’s force to 205 world missionaries by the year 2005.  We really are living in the greatest age of international opportunity, and we want to take advantage of it – people’s eternity is in the balance!

Xtreme Steps seeks to raise $20,000,000 for Global outreach initiating a Mission’s Endowment, new recruiting programs, specialized mission’s training and more!

Four Major Ways You and Your Church Can Participate!

1. Local Church Capital Campaign – to renovate or build facilities, retire debt or expand ministries.  80%  of all funds received through a local church campaign will remain in and be used for your church’s ministry.  The other 20% will be distributed to Converge MidAtlantic and BGC for Xtreme Steps mission expansion!
2. Stewardship Enhancement Program – to build a deeper stewardship base in your church.
3. A special over and above gift to Converge MidAtlantic/BGC – over the next three years to help us all realize the Xtreme Vision God has given us!
4. Individual Donor Gifts – Who could help support both your local church initiatives and the district/national expansion through Xtreme Steps.  We believe that there are many people who want to make a Kingdom impact for Jesus Christ. 

For more information on how you can become involved, or on how your church can take the next step, contact Dan Peterson at Converge MidAtlantic office at 330-757-7970 or at dan@bgcmideast.com.  Check out also the relevant info on Xtreme Steps on this web site!