Come to ‘One Day’
On Thursday, October 23, Cities Church has the privilege of hosting a regional Send Network event called “One Day.” This mini-conference is designed to do one thing:
Inspire and equip planters, pastors, and church members to join in God’s work of expanding his kingdom through church planting.
Together with Joshua Whetstine, who serves church planters across Minnesota and Wisconsin, we’ve been prayerfully shaping the schedule and inviting leaders to speak. I’ve thought specifically about who I’d want our church to learn from, and I’m excited to announce what we’ve got —
Main Speakers
Steve Treichler, Senior Pastor of Hope Community Church, is like the “grandfather” of church planting in the Twin Cities. Since Hope was planted by Bethlehem in the 1990s, Steve has helped launch several churches and mentored countless leaders. Personally, he was my planting coach back in 2015, and I’ve never stopped learning from his wisdom and his heart to reach the lost, or as he says it, “trash the kingdom of darkness.”
Ryan Johnston is a veteran of both global missions and church planting in the Midwest. He beautifully holds together a deep trust in God’s sovereignty with a steady commitment to the ordinary means of gospel work. It was our theological ancestor William Carey (1761-1834) who published the influential pamphlet, “An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens” — and Ryan embodies this truth.
Kenny Stokes, humanly speaking, Kenny is a big reason Cities Church ever came into existence. Kenny has served as a pastor at Bethlehem for years, and when I was an apprentice back in the day, he directed church planting. I first told him about my church planting hopes in 2011, and he patiently, generously shepherded me until the elders commissioned us out in 2014. Kenny has remained a constant encourager, not just for our church, but for several churches spread throughout the country who are united by a heart to spread a passion for the supremacy of God through Jesus Christ. I’m eager for you to hear Kenny share more of the story we’re a part of.
Why This Matters
Beyond our main speakers, there will be at least five breakout sessions on topics like rural church planting, church revitalization, disciple-making, and leadership development (including two sessions in Spanish!). There will be a bookstore, food trucks, a pop-up coffee shop, and worship through song.
If possible, I’d love for you to plan ahead and make arrangements to be part of this unique event. Through the generous support of the Send Network, this event is completely free-of-charge.
While I’m honored that we get to host it, I’m even more excited about the opportunity for us to learn, grow, and be encouraged together around the topic of church planting.
