‘7 Reasons to Back Church Planters’

Orchard Group recently shared its 2020-2021 Report, which is a good way to catch up on what’s been happening with the church-planting organization. In words and pictures, the report shares about the organization’s planting efforts in Miami, Colorado Springs, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Cincinnati, and several other cities . . . even Instanbul.

As part of the report, Orchard Group president/CEO Brent Storms shared these “7 Reasons to Back Church Planters”:

1. Reaches new people—Numerous studies have shown that new churches are far more effective at reaching new people than existing churches.

2. Pays for itself—We plant churches that are designed to reach financial sustainability within a few years.

3. Invests in others—By its 10th anniversary, the average Orchard Group church plant has invested more outside of itself than it received to get started!

4. Addresses growing population—Many cities, like Istanbul, are growing by hundreds of people per day. In order to address the growing population, there must be many more churches.

5. Churches are closing—For decades studies have shown that churches in many places are closing. In the United States, for example, an estimated 4,000 churches close their doors every year.

6. Cities are underchurched—On average across the U.S., there is one church for every 500 residents. In places like New York City, Los Angeles, or Paris, the figure is closer to one church for every 2,500 people.

7. It’s by design—Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19). Since Christianity’s beginnings, church planting has been the principal method of outreach. Every church (yours too!) was started by someone. If you’re a Christian, chances are you are the beneficiary of a church planter.

Access Orchard Group’s 2020-2021 Report via orchardgroup.org.