BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Association of Related Churches (ARC) recently hosted a successful ARC Launch church planter training event at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Held on August 20-21, 2024, at one of Southern California’s most renowned churches, this event attracted over 100 church planters, pastors, and leaders eager to learn best practices for starting and growing a thriving church. Saddleback Church, which has 15 locations throughout Southern California, served as the perfect venue to bring together potential planters of ARC churches, existing pastors, campus leaders, and church teams from across the country.
The Association of Related Churches’ Launch event serves as a foundational resource for both church planters and existing churches. The training is designed to equip potential church planters and help established churches enhance their growth, build stronger communities, and develop impactful ministries. Through practical workshops, inspiring messages, and hands-on training, attendees gather a wealth of tools that will help them take their church planting journey to the next level.
This year’s event covered a wide range of topics vital to the success of any church plant. From “Recruiting for a Large Launch” led by Mayo and Kai Sowell, pastors of LIIV Church in Atlanta, GA, to “Marketing Ground Game” presented by Andy and Christy Cass of Echo Church in Rochester, MN, the sessions offered in-depth strategies that participants could immediately implement in their church planting efforts. Additional sessions included Church Planter Finances with Vance Roush, CEO of Overflow, an ARC Resource Partner; Funding the Vision with Jason Laird, pastor of Citizens Church in Franklin, TN; Marriage and Ministry with Jimmy and Irene Rollins, Founders of TwoEqualsONE; Portable and Excellent led by Mark Francey, pastor of Oceans Church in San Juan Capistrano, CA; and Creating an Attractional Weekend Service with Jeff Moors, pastor of Rhythm Church in Oceanside, CA.
The Association of Related Churches’ mission has always been to work alongside church planters and existing churches while offering resources, guidance, and community. The collaborative nature of the ARC Launch training event highlights the importance of support networks in church planting, ensuring that no church planter walks alone. “At the Association of Related Churches, we believe that when we come together as a community, we can make a lasting impact,” said Pastor Dino Rizzo, President of ARC. “This event exemplified the value of leaders helping leaders and churches partnering with churches to spread the message of hope and love.”
Pastor Rizzo also emphasized the long-term vision of the Association of Related Churches. “Every time we host an ARC Launch, we see incredible potential in these future church planters,” he said. “Our goal is to help them not only launch well but to sustain long-term success. Church planting is a marathon, not a sprint, and ARC is committed to walking alongside these leaders at every stage of the journey.”
The next ARC Launch church planter training event is scheduled for November 12-13, 2024, at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL. As one of the Association of Related Churches’ founding churches, Church of the Highlands will continue the tradition of empowering church planters with the resources, knowledge, and support they need to thrive. Interested church planters, pastors, and leaders can register at arcchurches.com/launch.
Dino Rizzo concluded with a message of hope, saying, “We are excited to see how the seeds planted at these ARC Launch events grow into thriving churches that will impact communities for generations to come. At the ARC, we’re all about multiplication; the work done here will have ripple effects far beyond what we can imagine.”
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 1,000 new churches globally.