A New Model for Church Planting

Take a  small dying church in a rural town.  A few people hanging on trying to keep it going.  Their primary resource - a large building in a prime location.   Add a growing church in a nearby town with a vision to fulfill the Great Commission.  A church that is looking to reach people not only in their Jerusalem but in their Judea as well.  A church that sees reproduction as their primary mission. 

What does "church-planting" in the 21st century look like?  If we, the New Testament Church, are truly seeking an unleashing of all of God's resources that we manage then we had better consider sharing those resources with other bodies of believers.  So can a growing church with a passion and excitement carry that resource to another town?  That is the goal of Columbus Road as it considers the possibility of re-planting a church in Pittsfield, Illinois approximately 50 minutes from our current location.  Our aim is to use the resources that God has given us to grow His church in our Judea. 

Specifically, the plan is to run the two churches under one leadership with shared teaching and administration with a long-range plan for an autonomous, Bible-believing, thriving church to be established in Pittsfield supporting its own local pastor.  What will that look like for Columbus Road?  It will require missional thinking.  It will require sacrifice and hard work.  It will require teamwork on the part of not only staff but every member of the body.  It will require running the race with eyes firmly focused on the "prize set before us" and the growth of God's church.  That is something worth striving for!!

First Baptist of Pittsfield     

The Mission Field - Our Judea - Pittsfield, Illinois

Do you feel like your ministries are stuck in a rut?  Lacking excitement?  Maybe you are not unlocking the ministry potential of your congregation.  Take a few moments to listen - God may be bringing someone to you with all of the tools to unleash an exciting new ministry.  Don't miss it.  Read more here.

Reaching Your World For Christ
An Outreach Strategy Seminar for the Local Church

I wanted to see people come to know Christ - desperately.  I felt the need to be culturally sensitive where I was ministering.  So....I attended the conferences and read the books.  But no one - no one - put it together for me in my world. 

The result?  I was forced to take the next step on my own.  I had to build my own bridge between the information I had received and where I served the Lord.  Through trial and error, successes and failures, I spent years developing a strategy in the trenches of ministry.  And God blessed my efforts. 

Reaching Your World for Christ is a story of my adventure with God.  It is a story unfolded in a series of sessions where you receive practical information that could save you hours of valuable time and effort. Why not begin a journey together with me?  A journey of learning, growing, and continuing to share the Father's love with your neighborhood and the world.


Session I - An Introduction
1.  Biblical Foundation
2.  Make a Commitment

Session II - Outreach to Our World
1.  Start a Missions Team
2.  Develop a Strategic Plan
3.  Understand Your Culture

Session III - Know Your Plan - Practical Steps
1.  Develop an Outreach Team
2.  Model Community Involvement

Session IV - Outreach Training & Tools
1.  Preaching
2.  Training & Tools
3.  Discipleship & Follow-up

For information on scheduling this seminar contact:
Dr. Bob Cowman
217-222-5891
pastorbob@columbusroad.org