The population of Las Cruces, New Mexico is growing at an average rate of around 16% per year. The population of the established churches in Las Cruces is growing at a rate significantly less than that. Most churches in Las Cruces could grow by 20% without severely affecting their operation — they have ample parking, seating, classrooms, etc. But that only accounts for one or two years’ growth in our community, assuming those churches find a way to bring them in at the same rate as the city. What happens then?

New churches in Las Cruces (those younger than 10 years) have not been able to address this deficit. They are new flavors of the same old formula, and have really only resulted in shifting the existing churchfolk around to different congregations. Of those who are new to our community, only a handful are joining churches and becoming involved in ministry there.

The amount of church that a newcomer has behind them prior to entering our church is getting smaller and smaller — but rarely is it zero. We are still just reaching those who have been reached sometime in the past. Who needs a new church? Anybody for whom that church will be their first church.

I think every church can be a new church when it comes to being intentional about seeing Las Cruces as a mission field. And yes, we need to plant new churches, born not of dissension and dis-satisfaction with existing congregations (not to mention selfishness and the desire to have things our own way), but empowered by a strong and established body of Christ. We have to be relevant to our community, not just desire to be seen as relevant. We have to proclaim Jesus, ask forgiveness of our sins, overcome our fear by falling more in love with Jesus, and learn to see the children of Las Cruces as He does.