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Beginning in the early 1970’s, the area inside the perimeter seemed to be decaying. Church members moved into the suburbs, and churches either followed, planted new churches outside the perimeter, or slowly withered and died. Many buildings once dedicated as venues for reaching people and nurturing believers have been closed, sold, or are in serious disrepair. However, now the trend has changed; people are moving again inside the perimeter (ITP). In fact, the population is estimated to now be above 850,000. One out of every 11 Georgians lives inside the perimeter, a small geographical area about 15 miles wide and 20 miles high. How will we re-church the city of Atlanta? What will that look like? Who will be the workers? How will they be supported?
The Reaching People Team is trying to answer those questions, and we believe the biggest answer is to start new churches, churches of every type--traditionally organized churches, house churches, cell churches, etc. The challenges are great. New churches will be planted without land and buildings--at least for most. Planters will need to live inside the community they are seeking to reach, which is more expensive. Baptists have not been as successful in reaching people with an urban mindset. And there are many others.
There are many ways for us to start churches. Your church can be a part by being a partner!
One of the ways our association is seeking to plant churches is by entering into the Urban Atlanta Church Planting (UACP), whose mission is to start healthy, reproducing churches ITP (inside the perimeter). UACP is a partnership that includes the Georgia Baptist Convention, the North American Mission Board, local churches, and other interested organizations. Joel Harrison has been instrumental in the formation of UACP and serves on its core team. The association has contributed $18,000 to help with the first-year budget of UACP. More about the UACP can be found by visiting uaii.info.
The UACP has conducted several Vision Tours to call attention to the needs. Our hope is that pastors and other church leaders will attend and get a vision for partnering with us as we plant new churches. Interested members of our association are invited to be a part of a Vision Tour.
Part of the challenge of church planting in Atlanta ITP is reaching people in multihousing--areas like condos and apartments. In fall 2008, a learning trip was taken to Singapore that included Joel Harrison, Jim Haskell (pastor of Chattahoochee First), and Fred Pitts (pastor of Clairmont Hills). The trip was planned by David Bunch with assistance from Joel. Other participants were Butch Butcher from GBC and two church planting leaders from San Diego. The purpose was to observe churches in Singapore who have had success in reaching people living in high-rise apartments and condominiums so that we could learn principles and practices that might help us develop strategies for reaching those who live in similar housing in Atlanta. Singapore was an ideal spot for this learning trip because upward of 90% of the residents there live in high-rises, and there are a growing number being built in Atlanta today. Participants will be following up with strategy formation and the beginning of at least one new work in the next year.
If you would like to be involved in some aspect of church planting, contact Joel Harrison through the "About AMBA>Staff" link, and he will give you counsel and let you know who else to contact.
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