Is it possible for ARC to plant 50 churches each year? I believe it is!
With 50 churches already planted in the first 7 years of our existence and
with the addition of over 50 other churches joining in to plant churches
around the USA it can be done.

Here it is: If half of the ARC member churches planted one church out of
their congregations each year we would plant 50 churches every 12 months. Of
course that number would increase as more churches join ARC and more are
planted. That would be each church planting one church every two
years….not impossible but it has to be a priority. As we grow it is easy
to see that 100 churches each year is a reachable goal within the next 5
years…and then who knows what will happen. It is incredible to think that
God would use us to do this….but it can be done.

ARC is set to plant 25-30 churches in 2008. With the new CPI, Church
Planters Internship, and an increased number of CPR’s and Assessments we
should at least break the 25 mark in 2008.

In 2007 we added to our staff John Bolin. John is a great asset to ARC and
along with our Chief of Operations, Michael Smith and the Home Office
President, Gayle Bennett we have the team in place to effectively handle the
increased load of 25-30 churches. You can help us reach these goals.

“What can I do?”

If at least one service per year was dedicated to the message of church
planting and your congregation was encouraged to pray about being involved
in church planting by either praying, supporting, or being sent out as a
church planter, we would explode in the number of plants each year.

Let’s work together to come up with a plan for getting more of the ARC
church members involved in planting churches around the USA. After all, they
have the ARC DNA and understand what a Life-giving Church looks like…they
have learned it from you…

Have a very Merry Christmas

Billy

Just got back from Life Church Jackson in Brandon, MS. Franko Hornsby, my
nephew, is pastor there. It is a lively, friendly church with the potential
to reach many people in the area who have either dropped out of church or
never really been involved.

After the Sunday service Franko and I drove for an hour and a half a few
miles north of Yazoo City to make an afternoon deer hunt. It was raining and
the gumbo mud nearly got the best of us. By the time we got out there was
over 100 pounds of the dark sticky mud clinging to the 4-wheeler and
me….No deer but a great experience.

This week I am home with Charlene and awaiting all the Christmas activities
to begin. I love this time of year. Pray for all of the ARC churches as we
go into this season that God will give them inroads into the lives of many
who need Christ.

Blessings, Billy

We had an incredible time at the Church Planters Roundtable at Matt and Martha Fry’s church. C3 is a great church in the Raleigh area in a town called Cleveland. C3 stands for Cleveland Community Church. There were 30 people in attendance with 5 or 6 potential church planters and a couple of churches that may join ARC and help with church planting. The C3 staff did an incredible job hosting the event….as usual.

Number 50! ARC started 7 years ago with a vision of planting churches around
the USA. We started slow and have been gaining speed ever since. Today,
Sunday, September 23, 2007 ARC has planted church #50.

Mark and Janet Furlong launched Cross Point Church today in the St. Louis
area between St. Peter and O’Fallon, Missouri.

Mark and Janet were missionaries in Germany back in the 80’s when I first
met them. They since moved back to the states and for the last few years
worked for Pastor Ron Tucker at Grace Church in St. Louis.

Thanks for everyone that has helped ARC have a part in the lives of 50
different church planting couples.

At the ARC board meeting we laid out the plan for planting 30 new churches by Dec. 2008. We are pumped at all the new church planters are doing and all the talent God is sending our way.

By the way, you’ve probably already heard about FOCUS on 5, a special church growth event designed especially for pastors who are facing a plateau in momentum, attendance or motivation. At this event, we’ll be talking about the five key growth catalysts that are proven to break inertia and breakaway. The event well be held at Seacoast Church on October 29-30.

Click here to register for FOCUS on 5