West Side Church Plant Meeting

We’re launching a new church on the west side of town in 2023! This new church will predominantly serve the areas of Windermere, Winter Garden, Clermont and Dr. Phillips, but all are welcomed! If you missed our first church plant meeting on 03.06.22, here’s a few details. We invite all to get involved in this exciting stage of Kingdom growth in our city and beyond!

 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Acts 14:21-23

We are one Church. As Christians, we serve and worship together in locations around the globe, with a unified purpose – to glorify the one, true God. God has blessed us richly at First Pres, and it’s time to steward our gifts to reach the underserved regions of Central Florida. Healthy churches follow a cyclical pattern of growth: gather a group, preach, build leadership, commit to the Lord, do it again. You’re invited to be a part of God’s wonders as we “do it again” through His lavish goodness.

History:

  • 2004 - 2010 – Discern a call toward church planting

  • 2012 – Focus on discipleship within First Pres, and identifying potential locations for a plant

  • 2017 – Conduct a church health and growth survey/analysis

  • 2018 – Define our Vision & Values

  • 2019 – Transformed from “attractional” to “missional” with emphasis on formation & relationships

  • 2019 – Align staff and culture to vision & values

  • 2020 – Global pandemic created distance and momentum shift that offered innovation and continued alignment of Strategic Priorities

  • 2021 – Reunited our solid core, began building community, deeper discipleship, healthy staff, and relentless generosity

  • 2022:  Healthy churches multiply – they give birth!

Challenge:  

As a city-center, “cathedral” church, we must remain unwavering toward Truth & Love. We grow by seeding other churches with our strengths!

Process:

1. Session commits to planting. This involves resources of people & money. The approximate need is $300,000 per plant.

2. Name the Planting Pastor Search Committee: Greg Burden, Kurt Wood, Scarlett Broughton, Gary Vance, Meredith Simms, Dr. Case Thorp, Dr. David Swanson

3. Form Core Team – Who will go from First Pres with our “missional” DNA to form this new body?

4. Core Team holds informal meetings for prayer and fellowship

5. Form Leadership Council – to become first Elders

6. Planting Pastor spends 6 months on First Pres staff while meeting with Core Team

7. Planting Pastor transitions into community to begin meetings in home(s)

8. Launch date and location determined

9. First Worship Service!

10. 3-5 years before complete independence and permanent location

11. Funds provided by First Pres on a diminishing scale

Watch our Newsletter for more information and ways to get involved!

 
 

Listen to the EPC’s In All Things Podcast (30:39) to hear Dr. Swanson’s church planting commentary.

First Pres