Zach Doppelt, pastor of the Ghent Grace Brethren Church in Roanoke, Virginia, sends along this update on one of the FGBC’s newest church-planting efforts:
Greensboro Grace Brethren Church, a church plant in greater Greensboro, NC, completed their boot camp training program this May at Camp Tuk A Way in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. Ron and Chery Boehm, church planting coaches with VisionOhio, led the newly formed church plant’s core group of 15 members through a process of casting vision and establishing goals. Greensboro Grace’s church planters, Daniel and Teressa Pierce, say their “passion and the driving force of this church plant is to glorify God and boast in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ron and Chery Boehm guided the team through a process of identifying their core values, writing their mission statement and recognizing key ministry areas in which they need to see tangible results to fulfill their mission. The team also spent some time working on their budget and fundraising strategies. Daniel Pierce led the team in devotions and worship, and he gave several opportunities for reflection and prayer, relationship building, and open group discussion.
During the BootCamp experience, several families testified how God had been working on their behalf providing direction, job opportunities, and the opportunities to sell and buy their homes. They also shared about the open doors God has given them to share the Gospel and make special connections with people in the area – signs that strengthened their resolve to continue following God’s lead.
The church plant core team meets together twice a week at the home of Daniel and Teressa, but have the goal of multiplying small groups in the communities in which they live. These “missional communities” will be organized into future church plants as the core team members strategically settle in their homes in Guilford, Rockingham and Stokes Counties, all in the Triad/Greater Greensboro region.
Many of the core group members have moved from other states, and desire prayer for their transition processes, as well as prayer that they will be effective in spreading the gospel to their neighbors, friends and communities.
If you would like to prayerfully or financially support this church plant, or if you would like to share your stories of God’s work in your community, please contact Daniel and Teressa Pierce at 336-951-3579 or via email at dan.pierce53@gmail.com.