Jon Stojan
Image credit: Unsplash
Planting a church is a bold and challenging endeavor. Many pastors embark on this journey with a vision, passion, and faith, but the weight of ministry can become overwhelming without the proper support. This is where the Association of Related Churches (ARC) steps in, offering invaluable guidance, resources, and a community of leaders who believe in planting life-giving churches.
Liverpool One Church: A Journey of Faith and Challenges
Luke and Emma Bryant, lead pastors of Liverpool One Church, never envisioned themselves as church planters. Luke, a former police officer, and Emma felt a calling to establish a church in their home city of Liverpool. However, like many new church leaders, they faced significant challenges—lack of experience, financial constraints, and the difficulty of building a community from scratch.
“We planted a church not knowing anybody,” Luke shared. “Ministry was not our background, and we didn’t have a clear strategy in place. While it’s inspiring to hear stories of people who bet everything on their calling, doing it alone takes a toll.”
Their struggles were not unique. Many pastors launching new churches experience isolation, burnout, and uncertainty about the best way forward. However, their turning point came when they discovered the Association of Related Churches.
Why Church Planters Need the Association of Related Churches
The Association of Related Churches is a global organization that equips and supports church planters. Through strategic coaching, financial assistance, and relational networks, ARC helps churches launch successfully and sustain long-term growth.
For Luke and Emma, ARC’s support changed everything. “Before connecting with ARC, we were figuring things out as we went. But when we saw how ARC plants churches—with clear systems, resources, and a strong community—we realized there was a better way.”
One of the most valuable aspects of the Association of Related Churches is its emphasis on relationships. Instead of pastors struggling in isolation, ARC fosters mentorship and accountability. “We used to feel like kids looking through the window of someone else’s home, wondering what it would be like to have that kind of support,” Luke recalled. “Now, we feel like we’ve been adopted into the ARC family.”
The Benefits of Planting with the Association of Related Churches
Many church planters hesitate to seek external support, fearing a loss of independence. However, the Association of Related Churches provides guidance while allowing each church to maintain its unique vision and culture. Some of the key benefits of working with ARC include:
- A Proven Church Planting Strategy – ARC provides a step-by-step process that helps new churches launch effectively and sustain healthy growth.
- Financial and Practical Support – Planting a church requires funding and infrastructure. ARC offers financial assistance and essential tools to set churches up for success.
- A Strong Community of Leaders – Church planting can be lonely, but ARC connects pastors with mentors and peers who share their journey.
- Work-Life Balance and Sustainability – Ministry should not come at the cost of a leader’s health or family. ARC encourages pastors to build sustainable, life-giving churches.
Why Every Church Planter Should Consider ARC
For Luke and Emma, partnering with the Association of Related Churches was a game-changer. Today, Liverpool One Church is thriving, making an impact in the city of Liverpool and beyond.
“If I could tell a church planter one thing, it would be this: Don’t do it alone. If you feel called to plant a church, plant with ARC. It will be better for your marriage, your family, and your church.”
Church planting doesn’t have to be a lonely, overwhelming process. With the right support system—like the Association of Related Churches—leaders can build healthy, impactful churches that transform lives and communities.
About the Association of Related Churches (ARC):
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC’s operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,100 new churches globally.