09 Feb Kingdom View Church Plant
I was in Michigan this past weekend attending their Mid-Year Conference. They announced a cooperative effort between Sunfield UB and a neighboring Weslyan Church to plant a new church in Portland, Mich. The church planting pastor, Ed Love, was introduced to the conference. In this plant, both churches will suppy resources and people to begin a successful church in Portland.
Will it be a United Brethren or a Weslyan Church after it is planted? Who knows! Most likely it will be Weslyan. But this is the type of Kingdom-view thinking that we must begin to develop. The Kingdom is bigger and greater than the UB and cooperative efforts with other like-minded churches is essential for seeing the Kingdom advanced. Partnering with other groups/churches/denominations that also are interested in advancing the KIngdom is essential.
Kudos to Sunfield, Pastor Mark Ralph, and the Michigan Conference for leading the way in this for our denomination. Let us all pray for this new work, that God would use it to bring many to a saving knowledge of His Son! “…thy Kingdom come…” Amen!
Tom Datema
Posted at 14:10h, 10 FebruaryI love this. I think this shows true unity in the body of Christ. Way to be a blessing Mark!
Ed Gebert
Posted at 22:07h, 11 FebruaryThis is what the Kingdom is supposed to be about… not worrying about drawing lines, but instead working toward expansion of the Kingdom and the deepening of the faith relationship. My congratuations as well!
Tom Blaylock
Posted at 03:37h, 15 FebruaryI just want to say that I am proud to be part of the UB as I tell this story to other churches and groups. Please pray for this planting effort. There is still much work to be done and we have an enemy who will oppose us. We need a lot of wisdom as we navigate our way forward simply because we haven’t attempted anything like this before. Be sure to send words of encouragement to Mark Ralph and Sunfield UB as you have opportunity.
Mark E Ralph
Posted at 20:54h, 16 FebruaryThis whole idea of planting a church by partnering with a non UB church is strictly a God thing.
Already as I share the story of EPIC Church in Portland, MI., people look at me and say, “How does that work?”, and I say I do not know, I just know God is in this project. I was amazed when I brought the idea to my leadership and they all with one voice said YES! They told me that that was part of our job as a church–to reach people. They knew right up front that it was not probably going to be a UB Church.
They said LET’S GO!
Since then, God has opened the doors to other denominational officials who have come along and asked to be kept informed on our progress. In no way do I want the credit for this God-opened a door which we just obediently walked through.