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Don’t give up on Northeast, Northwest


Last month The Christian Chronicle listed nations in Africa, Europe, Asia and South America with few or no Churches of Christ — nations in desperate need of church-planting efforts.
This month we add the United States to the list of underevangelized nations — specifically New England and the Pacific Northwest. Church members have known about the needs in these two regions for decades. Look at the front page of this issue,º and you’ll see not only that the need remains great, but also that Churches of Christ are losing ground.
Empty pulpits plague the Northeast. Small congregations struggle to attract experienced ministers to a part of the country where the cost of living is high and the salaries are humble.
The same problem exists in the Northwest. The closing of Cascade College next year will be a huge loss in a region where the church cannot afford such losses.
A few Christian universities and ministry training schools have attempted church-planting efforts in the Northeast and Northwest. These must continue — with renewed interest and vigor from areas where churches are strong.
Now, more than ever, we need self-sacrificing believers who are willing to move to unfamiliar territories, study the local culture and find new ways to reach potential seekers.
We must also be aware that we can’t carbon copy churches from the Deep South in these regions. Our efforts must emphasize indigenous leadership.
 We must not abandon these difficult places, home to millions of souls who need Jesus.

  • Feedback
    I have lived in many parts of the country, after 25 years in south Florida I can tell you that the church in the south Florida area is probably comparable to the northeast. We are struggling down here too….overseas evangelism is great but in an area like Miami with immigrants from all over the world…we don’t need to go anywhere..they are here. You can help out down here!!!
    Alphonso Gill
    Southern Heights
    Miami, FL
    usa
    April, 9 2010

    My husband is in the School of Preaching, it was very hard to find support maybe for that reason there it is not much new Preachers, the Church is not helping to this ministry, if the Churches not know you they not support you to go to the school of preaching, but they are helping more overseas than the people that want to go to School of Preaching here in America.
    Mary Brown
    Los Angeles Church of Christ
    Los Angeles, CA
    USA
    October, 21 2009

    Well my wife and I aren’t going ot give up. We would love to work in the vineyard no matter where it’s at. We just need out basic need met and that is good enough for us.
    ,
    December, 3 2008

Filed under: Editorial Staff Reports

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