Why we’ll always need more churches

With approximately 4,300 Baptist churches in North Carolina, some may wonder whether planting new churches is a necessary strategy to reaching the lost. However, statistics repeatedly demonstrate that new church plants are one of the most effective ways to reach unbelievers with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we look across our state, nation and world and reflect upon what Christ has done for us, church plants are uniquely positioned with the fervor to proclaim Jesus in both word and deed. Just like the theme for this year’s North Carolina Missions Offering (NCMO) — “compelled by love” — they are compelled to go to their communities and make disciples.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSCNC) Church Planting team’s desire is to catalyze a church planting movement in cities and towns from the mountains to the coast. The goal isn’t just to plant churches. We want to see churches planted that plant churches that plant churches.

According to a 2015 study by LifeWay, 42 percent of people worshipping in churches launched since 2008 never attended church previously or had not attended in many years.

If we are going to reach people who do not currently attend church, it is imperative that we do what will be most effective to help them experience the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

As North Carolina continues to be one of the fastest growing states in the nation, we have a unique opportunity to reach the lost, which is estimated at 5.8 million in our state. And as our state becomes more culturally and ethnically diverse, planting disciple-making churches is essential in pushing back darkness and impacting lostness.

If we are going to reach people who do not currently attend church, it is imperative that we do what will be most effective to help them experience the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

New churches show an evangelistic intentionality to reach unchurched people. Newer congregations that are filled with formerly unchurched people often demonstrate an urgent desire to attract and invite their nonbelieving friends into their gatherings.

The Baptist state convention works with churches, associations and church-planting networks to facilitate the launch of new churches.

Since 2007, the BSCNC has worked with more than 1,100 new churches across the state. On average, more than 100 new churches are started each year in North Carolina. In 2019, the convention worked with 65 new churches — 34 new church plants and 31 new affiliate churches. These churches reported more than 140,000 evangelistic contacts, 3,352 professions of faith and 2,912 in average worship attendance.

In His sovereignty, God is continuing to bring the nations to North Carolina. Our church planting consultants are committed to getting the gospel to these individuals in their heart language by planting churches to reach, evangelize and disciple individuals within these language communities.

The NCMO is vital to the convention’s church planting efforts, providing approximately one-third of the church planting team’s annual budget. From this year’s offering, 28% will go toward planting new churches across North Carolina. Through your faithful giving to the NCMO, you help plant churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.