CA CHURCH PLANTING EMPHASIS
Ever since our “Reach California” conference last year and our emphasis on CA church planting in that year’s Missions Revival, I have been burdened for the great mission field of California.
Are you still praying for laborers in the harvest? Both recent guest missionaries preached on this—Bro. Derek Thomas on Sunday and Bro. Dwight Tomlinson last Wednesday—and God keeps burdening me for our state. I went to a “California for Christ” luncheon at Lancaster Baptist Church a few weeks ago and met with dozens of other pastors about reaching our state, and I’m going to represent California at a church planting conference in Phoenix in a couple of weeks.
In preparation for this conference, I’d like our church to pray and give toward a special offering that can help California church planting. Some people have been giving monthly toward this since 2023, and we want to do whatever we can to help reach our state for Christ.
A few updates on CA church planting:
- In 2022, Pastor Jackie Elwart presented the Big Bear Baptist Church plant, and several of our church family later went up to help with outreach for his launch.
- In 2023, we hosted the “Reach California” conference at Heartland Baptist Bible College to encourage college students to pray about planting churches in the mission field of California.
- In 2024, we hosted an Easter Break California missions trip for Bible college students to see almost 10 ministries from San Diego to the Bay Area.
- In 2024, we took on three California church planters for monthly support:
- James Kim, City Light Baptist, Irvine (started Spring 2024)
- Robbie Yapp, Skyline Baptist, Hawthorne (started last week!)
- Jackie Elwart, Big Bear Baptist Church
- Daniel Ward, whom we have been supporting for a couple years since he’s been on deputation, is starting Revival Baptist Church in Riverside this year.
Every year in January we attend the National Church Planting Conference and give away our Christmas offering to church plants all over the country, but in preparation for our June church planters conference in Phoenix, here are some of the guests preachers we be having:
- May 18. CBC 38th Anniversary celebration with founding Pastor (Emeritus) Rench preaching. (With potluck lunch and afternoon Jubilee service)
- May 25. Pastor John Ashley preaching. San Bernardino Baptist Church. He did not plant the church, but took it over when it was quite small, so it is like a church “re-plant.”
- June 1. Pastor Jackie Elwart preaching all day. I will be in South Dakota preaching a youth rally and Sunday services for Eastside Baptist Church in Sioux Falls, and Pastor Elwart will run all services (note: Bro. Zack, “P. E.” Rench (“Papa Rench”), and I are all out of town this same weekend!)
- June 2–3. Church Planting Conference at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Phoenix, AZ. See SWChurchPlanting.com
Our main special offering will be on Sunday, May 25, but you can give any time between now and June 2. God bless you as we reach souls for Jesus!
– Pastor Ryan