Kingdom Community, Part 1
By America Kimlinger
I recently returned from the Vineyard National Conference in Denver, Colorado, where I had the privilege of joining in celebrating their 50th anniversary. It was an inspiring conference, filled with a vibrant community of pastors and an atmosphere of reflection and anticipation for the future.
These pastors, each with unique stories and journeys, shared a common passion for advancing the Kingdom and serving their communities with unwavering commitment. Engaging in conversations with them reminded me of the incredible impact that collective faith and collaboration can achieve. Their stories of triumphs, challenges, and unyielding faith were truly inspiring and reinforced the importance of our mission at StartCHURCH. Surrounded by these dedicated pastors and ministry leaders, I felt a profound sense of unity and purpose.
From our early years, StartCHURCH has placed a tremendous emphasis on partnerships, recognizing their profound impact on our mission to be a voice for the Body of Christ. Over time, we have cultivated and nurtured relationships with organizations that share our passion for empowering churches and ministries to thrive, multiply, and be protected. These partners are not just collaborators; they are integral members of our extended family. I am excited to introduce you to our diverse and dynamic family—our "friends on mission," as NewThing fittingly describes them.
Here's a quick look at each one:
Vineyard USA
The Vineyard movement includes about 500 diverse churches, all about living out the Kingdom of God's practice and theology. They see Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom as the key to understanding Scripture. They stick to traditional Christian beliefs, with the Bible guiding faith and practice. Vineyard is known for its close-knit vibe, building strong bonds among members who walk together in faith and impact. They're big on relationships! Check them out at https://vineyardusa.org/.
Vineyard backs local churches worldwide through Multiply Vineyard, its church-planting arm. Its goal is to see vibrant Vineyard churches in every U.S. community. Multiply Vineyard prepares church planters for success with a deep dive into their calling and solid training. It's hands-on, offering planters the coaching and support they need to lead thriving churches. Learn more about Multiply Vineyard here: https://multiplyvineyard.org
ARC
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) brings together independent churches from different backgrounds and denominations. Its main goal is to help church planters and pastors spread the message of Jesus. It does this by building relationships, offering resources, and opening doors for leaders of all kinds of churches to succeed.
In 2000, ARC was created to empower a new wave of church planters and build a tight-knit community that feels like family. Since then, ARC has helped start over a thousand churches, impacting the church-planting world. For more information about ARC, visit their website at https://www.arcchurches.com/about.
Foursquare
Since its founding as a local church in 1923, Foursquare has been all about sending people out—its mission centers on developing leaders who grow together on a shared mission. Whether you're a pastor, chaplain, or missionary, growth is a lifelong journey that starts with you and thrives in community.
At Foursquare, relationships matter—whether with God, family, or fellow believers—as they collaborate in making disciples of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Support is fundamental at Foursquare; they stand by leaders wherever they serve, whether in Hawaii, hospitals, or Haiti. For over a hundred years, Foursquare has been steadfast in making disciples and equipping leaders, offering them wisdom and guidance. To learn more, visit their website: https://www.foursquare.org/about/mission/
NewThing
Their mission is to catalyze movements by reproducing disciples, leaders, churches, and networks worldwide, providing frameworks and resources to empower leaders to fulfill God's call for greater impact. Through intentional relationships, reproducing movements, apprenticeship residencies, and pooled resources, they support church planters in turning their visions into reality. They're there for church planters every step of the way, helping them bring their ideas to life. Their big dream? A church in every community, changing the world through a network of churches that keep growing and working together. Learn more about our friends at NewThing: http://www.newthing.org
Send Network
Send Network is all about boosting the Kingdom's reach with strong backup.
They’ve got over 47,600 partner churches and have planted over 10,000 churches since 2010 alone. They're all about helping church planters hit the ground running and make a real impact in their communities. It's not just about one person; it's a team effort involving churches and planters worldwide. Check out their Church Planter Pathway—it takes you from figuring out your calling to crafting strategies and staying connected for ongoing support. It's all about launching and growing churches that change lives and communities with the good news. Visit https://www.namb.net/send-network/church-planting/ to learn more.
These partners in mission offer just a glimpse into the vibrant kingdom community that is ready to support you. I encourage you to visit their websites, connect with them directly, learn about their initiatives, and seek where God may lead you to join and contribute.
Stay tuned for our upcoming blog featuring more of our diverse community of ministry partners. For more information on partnering with StartCHURCH, please email us at partnerships@startchurch.com.