Converge Southwest: Introduction

Church planting isn't something new. It has always been God's way for expanding the influence of the gospel throughout the world. When you think about it, every church currently in existence was once a church plant. That's how the whole movement got started. First in Jerusalem and next in Antioch. Then church by church across the globe.

The church started in Antioch was the real catapult to the church planting movement as we know it today. In Acts 11, the author tells us that some of those who had been scattered by the persecution of early believers went out and took some risks. Some went great distances and spread the word only among Jews. Others crossed cultural and ethnic boundaries -- like the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who began spreading the gospel among Greeks.

They did what no one had yet attempted to do. And God blessed it greatly. "The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord" (11:21). Thus the church in Antioch was born -- and so was the whole movement of planting churches for the next 2000 years.

Church planting was the core strategy of the early church. The early leaders, like Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy went about telling the good news of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God moved in peoples' hearts. Many believed and were baptized. And as they gathered together for worship, teaching, prayer and fellowship, the assembly that was established in each city became "the church."

<h2 align="center">The Movement Continues</h2>

Church planting is still a core strategy in reaching this world for Jesus Christ. Many denominations and associations of churches continue to send out church planters as part of the mechanism by which the church is expanded and people are reached with the gospel. The most effective piece of the strategy is when a local church catches the vision and becomes a reproducing church by training leaders, providing resources, and equipping people with the vision to become part of something new for God.

Converge Worldwide began as a church planting movement among Swedish immigrants in the mid-1800's. Since that time we have grown into an world-wide association of local churches from multiple backgrounds and ethnicities who share a common mission and zeal to reach those yet unreached from generation to generation with the gospel. While we work together as a network of churches for the cause of Christ, the goal is still for the local church to catch the vision of becoming a reproducing church.

<h2 align="center">A Great Opportunity for Church Planting in the Southwest</h2>

The Southwest District of CWW (one of thirteen total) covers all of southern California, Arizona, and southern Nevada, plus a few churches scattered throughout Texas. In all, CSW services 116 churches. With the assistance of the ConvergeUSA system, thirty-nine (39) of those have been started in the past 8 years.

The demographic growth projections for the region are some of the most pronounced in the entire country. Tens of thousands relocate to the southwest virtually every month. The urban areas of Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, and Houston are exploding in population growth.

And with growth comes great opportunity. God is bringing the people. The fields are ripe for a harvest. And the strategy seems clear -- churches planting churches and willingly working together to create a movement that will continue to impact the whole region. The future is exciting and great days of ministry are ahead. We pray that many more will become part of it.