Church Plants & Church Planters For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 The Mid-Atlantic District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance

epic life church Rev. Matthew & Michele Guentner (Makayla, Brianna, Halle) Southpointe Parkway Fredericksburg, VA Phone: Web:

 Rev. Matthew Guentner arrived in Fredericksburg, Virginia with his family on January 1, Among his first thoughts after arriving in cold wintery Virginia were those of climate change. Five days earlier, warm southern California was the home of the Guentner family.  Fredericksburg, Virginia is a community of 150,000, growing at a rate of 10% annually. It is just 45 minutes south of our nation’s capital, Washington DC.  The Lord quickly confirmed to Matt and his family His calling to plant a church among the nearly 78,000 people who call Spotsylvania, a southern suburb of Fredericksburg, their home. Pg 1-3

Pg 2-3  The first nine months Matt developed relationships through the community. He and a member of the plant team went door to door in their neighborhoods meeting people and inviting them to gathering events at their homes. Soon a core group of new believers and those who were already followers of Jesus began to form.  The epic life Church was launched in September For one and a half years the church met in a school, growing to an average attendance of 75.  Today, the church is aggressively reaching out to the unsaved in its community. Men gather early Saturday mornings to strengthen each other in the faith as they enjoy being together. The congregation is giving to global missions through Faith Promise giving to the GCF, and supporting church planting efforts within the Mid-Atlantic District.

 Already one church has been birthed out of epic life.  On July 1, 2012 the church took possession of a large meeting hall in a business and shopping complex. This meeting hall will provide larger space for worship, youth activities and space for local businesses and families to use as needed.  Today epic life meets for worship and other church ministry at its new home. Pg 3-3

 While the new meeting location is an intentional step forward for epic life, pray that the congregation remains vigorously committed to the evangelism of its community.  Matt and his wife Michele live to bring people into a relationship with Jesus and become established at epic life. Pray that they will nurture times of quietness and Sabbath rest in the presence of Jesus, and His Word.  Acquiring the new hall will stretch the church’s income an additional $2,000 a month is needed in their giving to meet expenses.

Prayerfully consider how you will partner with the Mid-Atlantic District to plant new churches and renew churches that must experience turnaround. Give through your church to “Mid-Atlantic District Home Missions” How to support Church Planting across the Mid-Atlantic

Ebenezer Eritrean Church th St. NW Washington, DC Phone: Web: Pastor Goitom & Sara Mezghebo (Yoyada, Elim, Sinai)

 In early 2008 three leaders of what would become the Ebenezer Eritrean Church met with Dr. Corbin, District Superintendent of the Mid-Atlantic District and Rev. Andy Kerr, Assistant to the District Superintendent, to explore the possibility of starting a church that would reach out to the rapidly growing Eritrean community of the Washington, DC region.  On March 30, 2008 the church officially started, meeting at the Washington International Church of the C&MA. Pg 1-3

 A deep passion for Jesus, a moving worship service, and expectation of the presence of God have been the preeminent characteristics of the church.  Today, even after three meeting location changes, the church averages over 150 in its Sunday afternoon service.  A year after the church formed, they called Pastor Goitom Mezghebo to lead the spiritual life of the church. The church is blessed with a team of five men who are dedicated and gifted in service to lead the five program ministries of the church. Pg 2-3

 When asked for some key contributors to the church’s growth and unity, the pastor answers without delay: “It is our prayer ministry. One of these prayer services occurs early every morning as we commute to work throughout the DC area. We join together in a conference call and we pray for each other, for the unsaved Eritreans we will meet that day, and for the glory of God to be shown.”  Another ministry that is leading the Eritrean people to Jesus is the Praise Team. Music during the worship service reaches far beyond a few enjoyable songs, or choruses. The praise team draws people into the presence of Jesus. People are meeting God through song - often weeping, convicted of sin and of the holiness of God. Pg 3-3

 The church Prayed for two years for a place to meet near U St and 12 th St. in Washington. God gave them their desire. Ebenezer Eritrean Church now meets near 12 th and U St Ave. It has grown nearly 200  There are an increasing number of children attending the service who are more comfortable in English than the.language of Tigrigna. Ask God for workers who will be able to serve the children in English.  Many of the Eritreans work as taxi drivers or in other low income occupations that often require them to work seven days a week. This makes it very difficult for them to attend church for Sunday services. Join with the church leaders in prayer as they seek the wisdom of God as to how they will reach out to the Eritrean population given their work schedules and lack of transportation.

Prayerfully consider how you will partner with the Mid-Atlantic District to plant new churches and renew churches that must experience turnaround. Give through your church to “Mid-Atlantic District Home Missions” How to support Church Planting across the Mid-Atlantic

CrossLife Community Church 1410 Old Brook Road Charlottesville, VA Phone: Rev. Todd & Renee Cothran (David, Jonathan, Maggie, Mollie)

 The CrossLife Community Church in the central Virginia university community of Charlottesville has perhaps the best location and most ideal facility for effective ministries to their community. Located on a major travel route, and in the prime shopping area of the city, the church enjoys an attractive building able to seat over 300 for worship on five prime acres of land.  However the congregation of saints declined to an average of 20 on a Sunday morning, all of whom are well into their retirement years. To further compound the challenge facing the church, on January 1, 2012, their pastor moved to Georgia. Now without a pastor, and with a very meager income, the future looked bleak.  Many would say this was a hopeless situation. Who would come to such a ministry that is unable to support a pastor, much less maintain their facility? However God! Pg 1-3

 A pastor from Colorado was praying with his wife one day about a new place for ministry. God led him to think “east coast”. After further prayer God impressed on him to consider a ministry in Virginia. As God continued to narrow his search, he learned of the need for a pastor at what was then called Alliance Bible Church.  After a conversation with Dr. Corbin and learning the full picture of the reality of the church, Rev. Todd Cothran said, “God is leading me to the Alliance Bible Church! How can I allow what is not there to keep me from being where He is leading?”  The Cothran family of six will move to Charlottesville to begin pastoral ministry on August 1, This ministry at CrossLife Community Church, their new name, is best described as a church plant to reach out to new people while at the same time, being careful to honor the elderly saints. Pg 2-3

 In the Fall of 2012 a Christian school with a vision to reach the unsaved and under privileged of the community began using the facility. They will bring new life and an exposure to multiple families in need of a relationship with Jesus.  The church has grown to 45 regular attenders. Over 20 men and their sons are attending a father- son outreach ministry, many of whom do not attend the church. All of the new growth is made up of families, with children. A new life has begun, to the glory of God! Pg 3-3

 The Cothran family is on the ground in Charlottesville, Virginia. They have been upgrading the parsonage, getting settled into their home, and meeting neighbors. Pray for God’s strength for the Cothrans.  Earnestly ask the Lord to provide a team with whom the Cothrans can serve to make community ministry connections.  Pray that the saints who currently make up the congregation will clearly know how they are needed to support the massive changes that will be taking place at the CrossLife Community Church as it reaches out to people who do not know Jesus.

Prayerfully consider how you will partner with the Mid-Atlantic District to plant new churches and renew churches that must experience turnaround. Give through your church to “Mid-Atlantic District Home Missions” How to support Church Planting across the Mid-Atlantic

Emmanuel Ethiopian Church Rev. Daniel & Bethel Berhanu (Elson, Elroni, Ellion) 2300 Pot Spring Rd. Timonium, MD Phone:

 In early 2008 Daniel Berhanu came to the District Office asking if he could serve under the umbrella of the Alliance, and bring in a church. Pastor Daniel presented a glorious account of how he has started numerous churches in Ethiopia, and helped these churches to become a network of which he was their leader.  A few months later the Emmanuel Evangelical Church International was embraced into the C&MA family. The focus of Pastor Daniel’s call includes: expanding the Kingdom of God by reaching the lost, identifying and dismantling the works of the devil and evil spirits in the power of the Holy Spirit, leading the saved children of God to become faithful followers of Christ through biblical teachings and nurturing and reaching the needy and the unfortunate with a heart of compassion. Pg 1-3

 The church quickly reflected the heart of its pastor by beginning ministry to the new immigrants from Ethiopia, supplying them with resources to assist them in getting settled in the Baltimore area, and inviting them to Bible studies.  The congregation flourished in its love to draw closer to the Lord, and in numbers.  Sadly the facility it was using became no longer available, causing the church to relocate to Timonium, Maryland. While the new facility is large, its location is outside the easy access for the majority of Ethiopians, most of whom have no transportation. It has taken two years for the church to recover from this move. Pg 1-3

 The church recently baptized 11 and then commissioned a team to undertake an evangelism trip. The church is growing and has an average attendance of 85.  The vision of Daniel is to plant churches among the more than 1.2 million Ethiopians living between Baltimore and Washington DC. Already one church has begun and joined the Alliance. Pg 2-3

 Schooling situation for his children next year-The public schools in his community are not good.  A place for the church to meet between exits on I-695.  Jobs for congregants which will allow them time to serve God as they wish, and attend church regularly.  Patience for his vision to see a network of Ethiopian churches in the DC region.

Prayerfully consider how you will partner with the Mid-Atlantic District to plant new churches and renew churches that must experience turnaround. Give through your church to “Mid-Atlantic District Home Missions” How to support Church Planting across the Mid-Atlantic

Front Royal, VA Rev. Ross Halbersma & Patti Halbersma (Kahri, Julia, Caleb, Anna) Front Royal, VA

 Currently there are three point people for this church plant effort being mothered by the New Hope Alliance Church in Winchester.  One family, with some Alliance background, is a firm supporter of this effort. They have been meeting as a “small group” as a first step toward a goal of establishing a new congregation.

 Pray that the people who are part of the core team will be recipients of God’s protection, provision, grace and favors as they reach people who live in spiritual darkness.  Partner with this church thru prayer involvement, asking God for wisdom, clarity of vision, and contact with key people.  Pray that God will raise up this new point of ministry to bring lost people into relationship with Himself.

Prayerfully consider how you will partner with the Mid-Atlantic District to plant new churches and renew churches that must experience turnaround. Give through your church to “Mid-Atlantic District Home Missions” How to support Church Planting across the Mid-Atlantic