In North Carolina, African American church planters faithfully preach and embody the gospel in ways that speak to the heart of their communities. They’re helping people meet God in a language and culture they understand — a powerful reminder that the kingdom of God belongs in every neighborhood, every context and every culture.

One of the greatest opportunities we have as followers of Christ is helping people meet God again and again. That fuels our passion for planting churches that plant churches. 

A few years ago, my family and I visited the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. (We happened to be visiting a church planter who later planted in Goldsboro, N.C.) A moving display revealed that out of the 7,000 language groups worldwide, about half — 3,654 languages — have little or no access to Scripture in their heart language.

Millions of people cannot yet access God’s Word in the language that speaks most deeply to them. How can they connect with God when His Word hasn’t been translated into the “language of home?” 

Similarly, communities here in North Carolina need churches that “speak the language” of their people — culturally and contextually. 

That’s why SendNC does not merely plant churches. We’re raising up missionaries in their own neighborhoods.

Ministry of reconciliation 

Church planters serving specific cultural contexts embody the ministry of reconciliation, bridging the gap between the gospel and culture. They preach Christ faithfully, but they also embody the message in ways that connect to everyday life, just as a faithful translation allows Scripture to speak in the language people truly understand. 

The gospel is the best apologetic for the increasing division and confusion across our country. Seeing diverse church planters across our state gives me hope and joy. It reminds me that God sees every neighbor, in every community, and He is training up missionaries to engage them. 

African American church planters play a vital role in this work: bringing the good news into communities that need to see and hear the gospel in their own language of life and culture.

In the coming months, eight new African American church plants will launch across our state. That is no small thing. It’s a move of God, and it’s deeply significant.

Historically, African American churches often carried the gospel into places of pain, injustice and need. They have carried that burden with fewer resources and less support. 

For too long, many African American churches have been underfunded and overlooked when it comes to church planting partnerships. To see new churches rising up now — rooted in Christ, expressing the gospel through their cultural context and sent to engage their communities — is remarkable.

This moment matters because culture matters. Church planters embody the gospel in ways that connect with the people in front of them. African American church planters bring a unique ability to speak to the complexities of race, resilience and reconciliation in our nation while lifting high the hope of Christ. Their presence declares that the gospel belongs in every neighborhood, every context and every culture.

In the next year, we will see these new churches planted, not only in traditionally African American neighborhoods, but in diverse communities and across socioeconomic lines. That means new congregations will rise up where people from different walks of life gather, and the unifying factor won’t be race, politics or status. It will be Jesus.

We are watching God do something powerful: raise up church-planting couples who are planting churches that plant churches, bringing the gospel with clarity and compassion into every corner of our state. Church planting is about embodying the kingdom of God, here and now.

Pray for these planters, support their work and celebrate what God is doing through them. When they plant, communities are transformed. And when communities are transformed, the kingdom advances.

Here’s how you can pray:

Manna House, Charlotte
Church planter: Oluwafemi Oke

• Pray for the Manna House team to continue to grow, and that the Lord would provide resources to equip and set up their ministry space. 
• Pray for God’s provision and guidance as the church seeks to hire a part-time campus staff member to connect international students with local Christian families.

City of Shalom Church, Rocky Mount
Church planter: Lemanuel Williams

• Pray for more laborers and favor: that God would raise up new leaders and volunteers ready to serve and share the gospel in their community, and City of Shalom would find open doors and strong partnerships with local leaders and organizations.
• For transformation and healing: that God’s presence would bring renewal to Rocky Mount’s inner city neighborhoods. And divides — racial, economic and spiritual — would be bridged through the power of the gospel.

First Love Fellowship, Tarboro
Church planter: Jonathan Taylor

• Pray that the Taylors would be able to afford to move to Tarboro by Spring 2026.
• Pray that First Love Fellowship would have 100% tithing members by the end of 2025. 
• Pray that God will send mature disciple-makers to help create a culture of discipleship.

By Antoine Lassiter, SendNC church planting strategist