Plant Churches

Overview

Church plants are carefully grown through processes of pastoral assessment and mentoring, strategic funding partnerships, and parent church support. The vision for Central Conference church planting encompasses diverse new ministries that reach more people for Jesus Christ.

Stages of a Church Plant
Church Planting in the Evangelical Covenant Church
Introduction to Churches Planting Churches
Interested in becoming a Church Planter?

New Churches

Many of our new church plants have developed an online presence and invite people with a heart for new ministries and reaching new people with the gospel to partner with them in prayer and other ways.

The Storehouse Evangelical Covenant Church (Chicago, IL)

Community Evangelical Covenant Church (Lincolnwood, IL)

Berean Covenant Church (Champaign, IL)

Outpour Covenant Church (St. Louis, MO)

Harvest Covenant Church (Milwaukee, WI)

Iglesia del Pacto Vida Plena (Chicago, IL)

Emmanuel Covenant Church (Orland Park, IL)

Redeemer Life Covenant Church (Vernon Hills, IL)

New Community Covenant Church - Bronzeville (Chicago, IL)

Planters Circle

The Planters Circle provides a connection for church planters and planting partners share stories about the real lives of church plants in the Central Conference.

Meet a Church Planter... (reprinted from the Covenanter)

Daniela Flores and Sergio Gonzalez talked with associate superintendent Jolene Bergstrom-Carlson about their journey to becoming church planters. Following is an excerpt of the conversation:

Tell me about you. We married just before immigrating from Mexico City to the United States in 1992, and now have three children. Our home church is Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Grace, Chicago IL.

How did you come to know Jesus? We attended education classes with professor Luis Retamal, who was also a pastor, and he invited us to church.

What led you to church planting? Ten years ago, we were sent to be part of a new hispanic ministry on the other end of Chicago, and since then we have wanted another opportunity to experience church planting. In between, we returned to Grace and ministered with people there.

What process do you go through to become a church planter? Last February, we were invited to attend an assessment center for church planters. There were many affirmations, so we entered training a few months later.

What is your vision for reaching people through a new church? Our vision to reach people is to offer community programs, especially ones that focus on children, marriage, and family and then invite them into our homes to study about God. We want to be part of the neighborhood by offering a food pantry, health fair, and job fairs.

In what ways can established churches be supportive to you? Prayers for us and for the neighborhood people, donations for start-up such as Bibles, instruments, sound system equipment, office supplies, Christian education material. We would like to hear also any Covenanters' experience that could help us begin this new ministry.

This region plants about two new churches each year in conjunction with parent or partner churches, the national Covenant church and individuals. Learn more about new plants this year by calling (773) 267-3060.

Partnerships

Together the churches of this region partner to plant new congregations and expand the Kingdom work to transform lives and introduce people to Jesus.

Become a Partnering Church to a specific church plant or prospective church plant. Contact Associate Superintendent Jolene Bergstrom Carlson at info@centralconf.org for creative opportunities.

Be a prayer partner for the new church plants and send an encouraging message for the church plants through Associate Superintendent Jolene Bergstrom Carlson at info@centralconf.org

Donate equipment, real estate, or materials to help establish a new church plant. Contact a church plant for specific needs.