Five Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) new church developments will receive $25,000 each in mission program grants from the Evangelism & Church Growth ministry area of the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC). The new church ministries in Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida will serve diverse population groups including Anglo, Hispanic/Latino, Korean, African and, specifically, Ghanaian. They are:
Westminster Presbyterian Church's Stateline New Church Development project, Rockford, Ill. (Synod of Lincoln Trails), will create a new faith community focused on children's ministry and small groups, along the state line with Wisconsin in northern Illinois, in Blackhawk Presbytery.
Iglesia Nueva Creación/New Creation Church, Indianapolis, Ind. (Synod of Lincoln Trails), will serve the Hispanic/Latino community on the west side of Indianapolis, in Whitewater Valley Presbytery.
Korean Presbyterian Community, Huntsville, Ala. (Synod of Living Waters), will minister to Korean Presbyterians, seekers and non-believers, in Huntsville, in North Alabama Presbytery.
Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Mableton, Ga. (Synod of South Atlantic), will serve immigrants from Ghana and elsewhere in Africa in the Greater Atlanta area, in Cherokee Presbytery.
Hebron Korean New Church Development, Jacksonville, Fla. (Synod of South Atlantic) will create a place of worship, community and welcome for nearly 3,000 Korean residents, the majority of whom are immigrants in Jacksonville, in the Presbytery of St. Augustine.
Each new church development was selected to further "Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide" by the Mission Development Resources Committee of the GAMC. Proposals for the next review cycle of new church development mission program grants are being accepted now and are based on Starting New Churches: A Process of Discernment (Version 2.0), developed by the office of Church Growth Ministries of the General Assembly Mission Council.
To support this ministry that works in partnership with synods and presbyteries in establishing new congregations, go to mission program grants.
Mission Program Grant Recipients
Westminster Presbyterian Church "Stateline" New Church Development project, Rockford, Ill. (Synod of Lincoln Trails, Blackhawk Presbytery). Westminster Presbyterian Church is a historic and vibrant faith community with a current membership of 1,167. The community moved to a new facility on the growing east side of Rockford in 2006 and is seeking to establish a new emerging faith community in the Rockton-Roscoe-South Beloit area of northern Illinois. The primary target audiences for this faith community are young families, young professionals and unchurched population as this church seeks to nurture the next generation to service.
Iglesia Nueva Creación/New Creation Church, Indianapolis, Ind. (Synod of Lincoln Trails, Whitewater Valley Presbytery). Iglesia Nueva Creación will serve the Hispanic/Latino community of the west side of Indianapolis. The Hispanic/Latino population in the area has increased significantly in the last ten years and is projected to grow to more than 20 percent of the area population by 2014. Iglesia Nueva Creación / New Creation Church wants to become a bilingual, disciple-making congregation for the community, committed to being the body of Christ.
Korean Presbyterian Community, Huntsville, Ala. (Synod of Living Waters, North Alabama Presbytery). In the summer of 2009, the Korean Presbyterian Church of Huntsville was dissolved. Remaining members of the dissolved church desired to continue worshiping as Korean Presbyterians and were able to resume at the Covenant Presbyterian Church who graciously opened their church facility. This new church development will reach out current active members, seekers and non-believers. People will be trained to gain Biblical knowledge and understanding while experiencing joy, faith and spiritual growth as Presbyterians.
Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Mableton, Ga. (Synod of South Atlantic, Cherokee Presbytery). This new church development will serve immigrants of Ghana and Africa in the Mableton and Greater Atlanta area. U.S. Census data predicts, by 2015, a population growth of more than 12 percent for African immigrants in Mableton as well as in surrounding counties. There are currently no other Ghanaian PC(USA) churches west, north or south of this church in Georgia. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana will share in the joys of Christian faith, equip their community to become more multicultural and grow in relationship to God and their neighbors, and embody the good news of the Gospel with all people.
Hebron Korean New Church Development, Jacksonville, Fla. (Synod of South Atlantic, Presbytery of St. Augustine). Hebron Korean will serve the Korean people in the city of Jacksonville. According to the report of the Consulate General of the Republic of South Korea in Atlanta, there are currently 2,750 Korean residents in Jacksonville; the majority is not fluent in English. The church will become a gathering place for them to worship in their own language; a center for hospitality and familiarity. Hebron plans to reach out to all Korean immigrants who move to Jacksonville in the coming years, providing them with a place of worship, community, and belonging.