by John A. Gross
“Jesus’ central call demands we plant churches. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20 for instance) is not just a call for decisions for Christ, but to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach. Implicit in this command is incorporation into an interdependent worshipping community and involving accountability, care, and spiritual nurture as demonstrated in Acts 2:41–47.
“The only way to be sure you are creating permanent new Christians is to plant new churches, where new believers are simulated into the context of an ongoing worshipping and shepherding community,” says Pastor Tim Hawks, lead pastor of Hill Country Bible Church.
There’s a host of young church planters in the Baptist Bible Fellowship who continue to make us proud, stretching from the east coast to the west coast. Here is a report on a planter doing a fabulous work in our Central Plains Region of Northwest Arkansas.
God moved Mike and Lori Brinson to Northwest Arkansas to start, from scratch, Lifepoint Baptist Church. Their sending church is Cherry Street Baptist Church in Springfield, MO. Upon arrival in Centerton, AR, God quickly allowed the Brinsons to establish a friendship with two Christian households who wanted to help establish a brand new church. These three families started with a Bible study. That Bible study group grew enough that the members launched Lifepoint on Easter of 2009.
The church currently rents three storefronts but has recently paid off a loan for five acres of land. Members of Lifepoint sacrificially gave to pay off the five acres in one year. This new ministry site is located near an existing 700-pupil elementary school, an under-construction 2,250-seat high school, a developing 19-acre recreation complex, and several new housing developments.
The Baptist Builders will be assisting with construction. This project will be the first second-generation building project for the Builders. The Builders assisted in construction when Mike Brinson’s father, Ray Brinson, planted Victory Baptist Church in Nixa, MO.
Lifepoint is seeking ministry partners to help them complete their first ministry facility. Perhaps you or someone you know can send laborers for the construction. Maybe you or someone you know could send some type of gifts in kind for this new facility. Another avenue to help this ministry is to become financial partners and help this young striving church become a thriving church in their local community. Lifepoint would be delighted for you to discover more about God’s work in Northwest Arkansas. Please visit their ministry project website at www.4KingJesus.com.
I can personally attest to the vibrancy and energy of this young church. The services are alive and the people are excited about winning their community to Christ. Pastor Mike and Lori have done a fabulous work establishing a solid biblical church in Centerton.