That’s the big issue for prayer — to raise up leadership for the video venues so that the “campus pastor” has the resources to coordinate a top-notch team of volunteers (worship teams, greeters, children’s workers, etc.) to make it their own congregation outright. They’ll still be connected to MPCC, but they’ll get their identity from each other. Dennis’ preaching will need to presented “sans cheeze,” of course. It can’t be played up as a “video production.” It will simply be a recording of Dennis preaching just as you would see in a “real” church. Of course, we need to wait and see if such a model for church growth will really take hold in a relatively small town such as Cruces. But, we think it’s worth trying.

As for the leadership for the other church plant, we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel a bit for that one. My wife and I are going to be the ones heading that one up. Our last day in ministry at MPCC will be July 9. We’ll then be spending the next several months (as long as it takes) building the “core team” for the new church, and refining its strategy, purpose, distinctives, etc. It’s a birthing process for sure — we want to make sure we’re fully gestated, so to speak. Many churches start out life stillborn because they rushed into their plant. The telling statistic is that 80% of new church plants fail within the first year. It’d be a drag to be part of that statistic. . .unless we learn from others and strive fully to be on the other side of that. We’re trusting God to stay faithful with the calling and vision He’s put in our hearts.

Thanks for your prayers.