Planting the gospel by planting new churches has been our vision even in the dreaming phases of New City Church downtown. Our vision statement includes this:
We dream of a church intent on planting new churches that will engage cultures around the world.
By "intent on planting new churches" we mean aggressively seeking to plant new churches. I recently explained to another church planter that at New City Church we are constantly looking for ways TO plant churches as opposed to reasons why we can't (not large enough, not enough money, not enough leadership support...).
A few months ago I received an email from a pastor an hour away who wanted to talk with me about church planting. That email led to other emails and phone calls and meetings and an Acts 29 Boot Camp and seems now, to us taking another aggressive step in seeing our vision happen. This week the Elders of New City Church welcomed Andy Blankenship on board as the lead planter of New City Church Albany!
Andy, Mary Kathryn, and their 3 little ones will be moving later this month to Albany. Andy has taken a position in a nearby school system where he will work as he learns his city, trains with the New City Elders, and begins the process of planting a new New City Church.
I am constantly amazed and very thankful!
