For more than 24 years, the ARC Church network has helped plant 1,187 life-giving churches across the United States and around the world. Each of these churches represents countless stories of people discovering faith, families finding community, and neighborhoods experiencing renewed hope. As the Association of Related Churches (ARC) enters a new season of opportunity, Pastor Dave Patterson of The Father’s House in Vacaville, CA, is urging believers and churches to recognize the eternal impact of continuing to invest in the next generation of church planters.
A Call to Keep Planting
In a recent message, Pastor Patterson expressed deep gratitude for those who give toward church planting. “I just want to give a quick shout out to those of you who are investing in church planting,” he said. He thanked supporters for “sowing some precious seed where you haven’t seen a harvest yet,” reminding them that generosity plays a direct role in helping people find Jesus in places where a life-giving church does not yet exist.
Patterson underscored a truth supported by decades of research: the primary way people come to Christ in any city is through a local church when partners give, whether monthly, annually, or through sponsoring a church plant, they are making a way for people to encounter the gospel in communities that need it most.
A Story of Seed and Harvest
In his message, Patterson shared a vivid example of what investment in church planting can produce. Several years ago, his church sowed generously into planting a church in San Francisco, a region he described as “spiritually hard ground.” The Father’s House gave financially and sent people to support the launch. “Here’s what we’ve seen in just a few years,” Patterson said. “That church plant has grown to over 2,000 in the city of San Francisco.”
The story illustrates the heart behind The Next One: every gift becomes a seed with the potential to transform an entire community. What begins as generosity today becomes a thriving church tomorrow that reaches thousands for Christ.
Preparing Future Leaders
The Next One Campaign exists to ensure that future planters have the support they need. As ARC, the Association of Related Churches provides coaching, assessment, financial assistance, training events, and relational networks designed to help leaders launch healthy churches. These elements give planters practical tools and a strong foundation while fostering a sense of community that continues well beyond launch Sunday.
The campaign emphasizes readiness and being prepared to say yes whenever God calls a new leader or opens a door in a new city.
A Shared Mission for the Road Ahead
Patterson encouraged believers to “keep giving, keep sowing into some new cities, some fresh church plants,” and to look ahead with expectancy as God moves. His words capture the essence of this moment for the ARC Church network: a season marked by expanding opportunity, increasing interest, and a renewed focus on reaching people through the local church.
Whether through a one-time gift, recurring generosity, sponsoring a planter, or partnering as a congregation, supporters play a key role in helping ARC say “yes” to The Next One.
Why We Plant
Communities continue to express a desire for local, life-giving churches, and leaders across the country are stepping forward with passion and calling. ARC believes that every new church launched represents the possibility of salvation, restoration, and spiritual renewal.
About The Association of Related Churches (ARC)
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) is a global family of independent congregations providing assessment, training, coaching, and financial support for church planters. Since 2000, ARC has helped establish 1,187 churches through a collaborative model designed to equip leaders and serve communities.
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