Orchard Group – December News – Expanding the Impact
From Brent Storms, President and CEO
We need your help. Could you consider the request below?
As we find ourselves between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I’m feeling both a deep sense of gratitude and a great anticipation. I’m grateful for the ways God has allowed our ministry to reach tens of thousands of people with the gospel. I’m also excited about the opportunity to continue expanding the impact.
What we have witnessed in New York City in the past three years is remarkable! Three years ago Renaissance Church was launched in Harlem under the leadership of Jordan and Jessica Rice. Today they are reaching nearly 400 people every Sunday. Last year Epiphany Church was launched in Brooklyn under the leadership of Brandon and Ty Watts. Today they are reaching over 250 in worship. This past fall The Gathering started weekly worship services in Harlem under the leadership of Kenny and Shanika Hart. They are already reaching 100 people each weekend.
That’s three new NYC churches reaching 750 people in three years!
On top of that, two prospective church planters are currently serving within these churches as they prepare themselves to launch additional new churches. Momentum is building!
The need in New York City is enormous. There are over 8 million residents in the city itself and over 22 million in the greater NYC metro region. Attendance at gospel-centered churches in Manhattan has grown from 1% of the population 25 years ago to around 5% today. The need for more new churches is still substantial.
Earlier this year we added Jordan Rice to our team as the Regional Director for NYC. We believe Jordan is perfect for this role. He is a native New Yorker, former attorney and successful church planter. For all of these reasons, and more, Jordan is equipped to both make our team stronger and help to recruit, coach, and oversee future church planters in New York City.
That’s where our need comes into the picture.
In order to capitalize on these opportunities, our budget will increase by $20,000 a year starting in January. We have chosen to take these steps in faith because we believe it is what God wants for us in order to reach more people. We’re asking God to provide the resources we need and we’d love for you to consider how God might want to do that through you.
As 2017 comes to a close, would you be willing to help in one of two ways?
Help with a special gift in the month of December, to help us get a head start going into the new year. Perhaps you could consider a gift of $200, or $500, or even $1,000 or more. Of course I don’t know how God might have provided for you in surprising ways this year, but if you’re in a position to help now, we would be grateful.
There are plenty of other great things God is doing around the world. We are helping to establish healthy new churches in places like Paris, Lagos, Cape Town, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Consider how you might help start new churches in these influential cities!
