Serving on a church committee: several different reactions come to my mind. The first, to be honest, can be serving out of a sense of duty because the actual committee meeting is not exactly exciting. Another reaction is that the people on the committee can be really nice and enjoyable, so in spite of the content the time can be enjoyable. Worst case scenario is a committee that has a lot of politics and conflict, which is awful. However, sometimes the committee has both wonderful people and meaningful, exciting content, which is the best of both worlds.

In the Fall of 2014, as our congregation, Restoration Anglican Church, moved into our new facility that is located just north of the Ballston Metro stop in Arlington, we began to dream about what it would look like to help plant other new Anglican churches inside the Beltway.

As we worked together with another teammate from Germany, we began to learn the ropes of church planting. Our team had many decisions to make, and some of them were significant and consequential. We were always weighing different options. At the time we were not confirmed in a denomination so we were working with those from a non-denominational background. Our little church met in a home and we were deeply involved in people’s lives.

In my busy world, trying to balance many competing demands, I often struggle with “keeping the main thing the main thing.” Again and again, I ask myself, “What is really important?” and “How can I stay focused on that?”

My name is Desiree Barker and I am a member of All Saints' in Woodbridge, VA, and a member of the Great Commission Committee. My husband, Steve, and I have been at All Saints’ since the early 1990’s. We have one daughter who lives in Charlottesville with her husband and our two active grandsons. I have been a lay ministry leader for more than 25 years

As a follow up to an article in last month’s Messenger, I've been asked to share the story of how God has led our family into our neighborhood, building relationships with neighbors, ministering to them, and seeing some respond to the Gospel

Jay Baylor: "I never expected to end up in the city. I’m the son of farmers and truck drivers from Central Pennsylvania. In 2006, I was challenged by Heidi Baker’s testimony to “go where only the Gospel could make a difference.” I felt the Lord guide us into East Baltimore, one of the most challenged neighborhoods in our region."

My most recent experience with the Great Commission Committee came at the ACNA's Provincial Assembly in Wheaton, IL. I was part of the Always Forward track, the team equipping our province for church planting. Being among church planters and church-planting leaders was such an encouragement. I'd love to share a couple of highlights from that time.

I never expected to end up in the city. I’m the son of farmers and truck drivers from Central Pennsylvania. In 2006, I was challenged by Heidi Baker’s testimony to “go where only the Gospel could make a difference.” I felt the Lord guide us into East Baltimore, one of the most challenged neighborhoods in our region.

We’re launching a new series here on DOMACAST where we’re focusing on the mission and ministry of church planting and church health. This work in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is led by what’s called the Great Commission Committee—or the GCC. Tom Herrick, Canon for Church Planting for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic—as well as the Executive Director of the Titus Institude—is chair of the GCC. We asked Tom to be our first guest in this series we call “Into the Harvest.”

We're kicking off a special series over the next several months in the Mid-Atlantic Messenger where we'll be focusing on the mission and ministry of church planting and church health in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. This work is led by the Great Commission Committee (GCC) of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. To launch the series we asked Tom Herrick, Canon for Church Planting for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic and chair of the GCC, to give us some background on the formation of the Great Commission Committee, its mission and goals as well as introducing us to the members of the GCC team. We will be hearing more from the GCC team over the next few months as they share their testimonies, mission stories, and lessons they've learned in their own ministry as part of the Into the Harvest Series in the Mid-Atlantic Messenger.

Editor's Note: This is the conclusion of a two-part series.

As I coach ministers across this country and across the traditional spectrum, I hear again and again the complaint that these pastors have been ill-prepared to face the realities that day-to-day ministering. And this inadequacy often appears when the newly minted minister first sits down in the church board meeting (whether it be elder, session, vestry, council, or what have you). Often the fearful thought emerges, I’m the leader. What do I do now? What’s important? What’s not? This is intensified the moment conflict begins to develop. And panic often ensues when that conflict devolves on the pastor.

One of the hardest concepts to grasp for those who wish to grow is that fact that growth will bring about pain, pain from the loss of important things valued by the pastor and the congregation. What losses are you talking about? you might ask. Growth looks like a good thing, right?.

"How come my church has reached a numerical number, and we are unable to increase that number?" This is a central question we have found with small churches everywhere. Studies have shown that numbers plateau rather predictably – 200, 500, 1000, etc. The most important plateau, and the one that is the biggest barrier, is the 200 plateau.

God has been challenging us to think bigger. This isn’t surprising when you see the trajectory the diocese has been on for the past few years. God has carefully been putting the pieces in place to support this kind of growth for some time.

This summer, seven churches in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic formed a learning community to explore what it means to become a multiplying church.

Every congregation develops structures to facilitate the things they need to do on a consistent basis. We normally refer to these as our “ministries,” and depend on them to create order as we carry on the functions that are important to us. Like any other organization, the church needs these structures to give shape and consistency to its life together. Whether that structure is to provide leadership, coordinate activities, or provide processes to accomplish the things that need to be done, creating structures is a natural part of living life together.

One of the great questions we, the Church, have to deal with today is how to relate to our culture. This is a complex question that resists simple solutions, yet it is a vital part of learning to think and act missionally.

In early April I was blessed to attend the New Wineskins for Global Mission conference in Ridgecrest, NC. It was such an amazing experience to be with more than 1,000 Anglicans who were fired up about missions.

We take an in-depth look at five different approaches to evangelism, focusing on various strategies for using each style, hear stories of how this style has been employed by churches in our diocese, learn practical tools for applying each style in your local context, and learn how to build an evangelistic culture in your church.

Tim Keller says, “Vision is a faithful restatement of the Gospel with rich implications for life, ministry, and mission in a type of culture at a moment in history.” The team at the Titus Institute for Church Planting defines vision as a “picture of God’s preferred future for a church, organization or person.”

There was an electricity in the air that was palpable and it was clear to all present that something special was happening. Simply put, this was no ordinary workshop. God was very present among us and moving in a powerful way. As the workshop drew to a close, the Rev. Jay Baylor, co-host of the event, was moved to ask if there were any present who would like to work with him to form a diocesan-wide Evangelism committee. One-third of those present volunteered. When was the last time you witnessed three dozen people volunteering to serve on a diocesan committee at one time? And on Evangelism, no less!

Internships and residencies are a great way to develop the leadership pipeline in your congregation. Learn more about how you can create a place where young ministry leaders can blossom as they help your church grow and gain valuable experience that will prepare them to launch a new church plant.

...why and how you and your church can be involved in church planting.

Check out this video of Walter speaking of his plans to plant Hispanic churches among us in 2014.

At our Diocesan Synod last weekend, 14 planters spoke of their work in planting churches in the Mid-Atlantic.

We’ve been praying, and God has been answering. We’re “praying earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers to his harvest field” (Luke 10:2) in the Mid-Atlantic, and He is doing just that. We now have planters of 13 congregations at work in our Diocese who have been in the field for 2 years or less. Three more are just beginning. We’ve targeted 26 new cities in our region for plants in the coming years. The number of new plants is accelerating each year.

Church Planting Residents – Boldly Going

There are 6 spiritual keys to your fund raising. Randy Alcorn describes the Christian’s ideal position on finances through six keys in his book The Treasure Principle.

How You Can Plant & Add Both People and Money: 1-2-3

“I think that healing stuff is a bunch of bunk, but I’ll take a cup of coffee and a prayer.”

Did you know that Anglicans and Baptists are forging partnerships to envision new forms of church for our changing culture?