Church Planting Movements

Branches is all about reaching those that haven't heard. In travelling and studying different church models, as well as participating in church plants, I have been able to go literally all over the planet. The coolest thing by far that I have found are what we call Church Planting Movements. This is where we go in and start a house church that intentionally starts another house church that intentionally starts another house church ad infinum. I have seen this with my work in Russia, and with my best friend Volodya who is over in China helping do this very thing as he works bivocationally as an engineer.

The unique thing about Branches is that it won't just have a big church service with small groups. It will have a big church service built around the needs of seekers, but it will also have a House Church Network in the place of small groups. The whole thing is to help inform people about Church Planting Movements and to get people involved in a House Work Movement instead of just splintered off house churches that aren't networked effectively.

If you are a part of our core, you don't necessarily have to buy into house church, thats why we want to have the regular service with children's programming as well.

As I have spoken with people interested in being a part of a launch team, I know the fear that it is too much work to commit to. Believe me, I hear ya. I have been here before, but this is the first time I have been here while doing another job that I don't want to quit (aka teaching!). It won't be any more work though than volunteering to help with youth or children in a bigger church.

The vision right now is for us to get the core group built around the ideas above, and then launch the big service when the core is established. Paper work, logos, all that jazz is to be handled by Aaron (who has yet to find a teaching position so hey, why not make her a job?)

We need you to come on board with the core if you live in or near our target area (Oakwood or Flowery Branch), and if you don't we need your prayers! We would love to have some sponsoring churches. But we aren't set up just yet for that. We are in the process of applying for that with the SBC North American Mission Board. I would love to hear from you!