View from the Church: From the Smallest to the Largest, PCA Churches Commit to Send 1%
Means of Grace, a PCA church plant in Denver, Colorado, has around 30 members, making it the smallest church plant in the Rocky Mountain Presbytery. Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs has more than 1,600 members, the biggest church in the presbytery. When MTW challenged PCA churches to pray that an additional 1 percent of their congregations would be called to long-term, cross-cultural missions, both churches struggled with the idea.
David Choi
Pastor, Means of Grace church plant, Denver, CO
There are plenty of established churches who could really commit to the 1% Challenge. We’re small. We’re still trying to survive. What difference could we make?
As a church planter, this question plagued my mind. I recognize now that it’s a shortsighted way of thinking. I had similar questions when I decided to plant a church in Denver; yet God providentially got the ball rolling, put people in my life to spread the news to, and changed my heart in the process.
The road hasn’t been smooth and there have been many failures along the way, but in retrospect, my biggest failure was putting God in a box. Realizing that God is immensely greater than my own expectations helped me take the plunge into church planting. With the same mindset, I am urging our members to commit to the 1% Challenge.
Page Clark
Director of Mobilization, Village 7 Presbyterian, Colorado Springs, CO
When MTW first announced the 1% Challenge, our initial reaction was, "There’s no way we can send 16 more missionaries!" We considered the number of people, time, financial resources, and energy that would be necessary if we really did send out 1 percent of our congregation for missions. We were overwhelmed, and in many ways we still are. When we planted churches in the past and a group of our people went out with the new church, we felt the loss—but each time God has provided.
His faithfulness to us as a congregation in the past led us to take up this challenge. For us, the 1% Challenge starts with a lot of prayer: prayer with our missions leadership and in our monthly missions prayer calendar. We also plan to involve our entire congregation through an emphasis at our yearly missions conferences, and look forward to identifying and encouraging those interested in missions.
Has your church responded to the 1% Challenge yet? Learn more, see the churches that have already responded, and record your commitment at mtw.org/1.
GET INVOLVED
The Slow Work of Waiting
Waiting stretches us. It tests our patience and humbles us. But God's plans go deeper, wider, and broader than we can imagine.
SEE MOREThe Summer of Grecia
What happens when short-term teams, working with a ministry on the "wrong side of the tracks," meet a spirited little girl loved by Jesus?
SEE MOREMNA & MTW: Strengthening Global Missions Together (Audio)
Chris Vogel and Carolyn Philips discuss the future of church planting, and how the PCA is preparing for the coming harvest.
SEE MOREPray for missionaries as they go through trials that require patience. Pray that God would strengthen them and give them hope.
Pray for 18-year-old Grecia in Mexico, and others like her, who God is transforming into a woman after His own heart, thanks in part to faithful short-term teams.
Pray for healthy collaboration between PCA agencies like MTW, MNA, RUF, and CDM, around the Great Commission call to global missions.
Pray for MTW missionaries in Thailand as they seek to plant a parish-style church in the Prawet district of Bangkok.
Pray for missionaries on the field who are suffering hardship as they sow in tears. Pray that they would find hope and remember the promise of joyful reaping.
Pray for the English Club ministry in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the Bible study that has sprung out of it. Pray that God will use this ministry to draw many to Himself.
Pray for God to call people in their retirement years to serve with MTW in some capacity, and for wisdom in their decision-making.
Pray for the 15 Ukrainian churches planted with support from MTW, as many pastors and congregations still face very-real dangers amidst the war with Russia.
Pray for the Navajo Church, that God would strengthen churches and raise up and equip new Indigenous leaders.
Pray for missionaries at each distinct stage of ministry: discerning a call, itineration, transition to the field, service on the field, home ministry assignment, and transition home at the end of service.
SUBSCRIBE TO STORIES & MORE
Good news in your inbox, once per week.
1600 North Brown Rd
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
United States
1-678-823-0004
[email protected]
Donor Advised Fund Portal
Circle Portal