August 30, 2023, was one of the scariest days of my life. My family and I packed our moving truck in Dayton, Ohio, and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to prepare to plant a church. We were leaving behind comfort, stability, and most importantly, a wonderful church family that loved us so well. Our transition to Michigan felt like a giant leap into the unknown. Would we find community? How would my family handle the transition? Where would we plant? What if no one goes with us? What if the financial support runs out? Setting out to plant a new church in a new community felt both exhilarating and overwhelming.

If church planting involves such great risk and sacrifice, why should we do it? I would be lying if I said I had not asked myself that question a few times. As I have sought the Lord throughout our journey, He has brought me tremendous comfort and peace by assuring me of three reasons why we should plant churches.

1. Because Christ Calls Us

After Jesus rose victoriously from the dead, he commissioned His disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). Attached to the command to make disciples, Jesus instructed His friends to baptize new believers and teach them to observe all He commanded. Disciples make disciples as the gospel is proclaimed and received by faith. When disciples make more disciples, new churches must be formed to baptize and teach the new believers. Making disciples requires more than getting individuals to "make a decision" to follow Christ. Making disciples requires incorporating new believers into the body of Christ, the church, for their good and His glory. When the gospel advances and disciples make disciples, churches must be born. We need to see church planting as a matter of obedience to Christ and engage in it as an indispensable aspect of making disciples.

2. Because the World Needs Jesus

As we drive through our neighborhood, walk the aisles of the grocery store, and take our kids to the park, we are surrounded by people who desperately need Jesus. If these neighbors and friends were to die without calling on Jesus for salvation, they would spend eternity separated from Him. That reality should shake us to our core. How, then, will they call on Him? Paul reminds us that a person cannot call on or believe in someone they have never heard about (Romans 10:14). For the lost to hear about Christ and trust in Him, someone must share the gospel with them. For someone to share the gospel, a faithful messenger must be sent (Romans 10:15). Paul shows us that faith requires hearing, hearing requires proclamation, and proclamation requires sending. If the world is to receive Jesus, Churches must send out faithful disciples with a burden to proclaim the gospel. As faithful disciples engage the community with the gospel, make disciples, and start new churches, the new churches will be tasked with proclaiming the gospel and commissioning more disciples. As churches proclaim the gospel and send out faithful members to make disciples and plant churches, the world, desperate for Jesus, will come to know Him.

3. Because God is Worthy of Greater Glory

We plant churches out of obedience to Christ and to address the spiritual needs of those around us. But above all, we plant churches for the glory of God. From Genesis to Revelation, God is revealed as the one true God, deserving all praise, honor, and glory for who He is and what He has done. The Lord is great and greatly to be praised (Psalm 145:3). Every page of Scripture proclaims this truth. Therefore, we should do all things for His praise and glory. God has done marvelous things, namely saving us from our sins through the sacrificial death of His Son and reconciling us to Himself. In response to the gracious gift of salvation, we should proclaim the gospel and plant churches so others might experience the joy of salvation and join us in giving Him glory. Church planting is ultimately an act of worship aimed at bringing God glory. Every gospel conversation, interest meeting, vision trip, launch Sunday, and subsequent Sunday is an opportunity to declare His glory and marvelous works.

Church planting involves tremendous risk and demands significant sacrifice. I am sure there will be more scary days ahead. Still, I am confident the risk and sacrifice will be well worth it when we gather around the throne of God one day to glorify Him with those who came to faith in Jesus through this new church. Please pray that we will be obedient to the call of Christ, faithful to proclaim the gospel to the lost, and fervent in our efforts to bring God greater glory.