Why Northeast Franklin County (Columbus), OH?

The following is a letter I wrote to Pastor Martin Guerena, Associate Pastor of Missions, at the northwest Chapel Grace Brethren Church in late November. I include it here so members of our prayer team can understand what and why we have sensed God's leading in this direction. God has been faithful to clearly communicate with us on our calling to church planting and His location for our work. Please, PRAISE HIM with us.


Dear Martin,

Thanks for your assistance in helping us confirm God'’s calling on our life for church planting. We are at the point of confirming God'’s leading to a specific location. We have spent much time visiting several different locations that were either of interest to us or brought to our attention by trusted advisors.

For a variety of reasons, it seems like God keeps pointing us to New Albany/Northeast Franklin County. As I sense God revealing His will, I'’d like to outline these indicators for you (as you requested):

Including our breakdown adventure with you, we'’ve been to the New Albany area 4 times in the last 4 weeks. Each time, we'’ve been impressed with:

• The number of newer homes that indicate explosive growth in the last 5 years or so. It is clear that this area has grown and continues to grow rapidly. There is clearly need for new, relevant, disciple-making churches to reach this growing population.
  
• This is a place we would enjoy living. At first we were concerned that we couldn'’t connect adequately with the exclusive nature of New Albany; but as we looked father, we realized that when you consider the greater community of New Albany and then factor in the eastern areas of Westerville and the northern areas of Gahanna, there are tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of middle-to-upper-middle-class people and young families that we feel we would connect well with. We feel we could develop a ministry that is missional in this context.
  
• There seem to be numerous connecting points for meeting people. We observed countless neighborhoods, community functions, community pools, pre-schools, schools, libraries, Starbucks, restaurants, fitness centers, shopping, sporting activities, etc. where we could participate and build relationships with unchurched people.
  

In addition to the community, there are other factors for us that point to God'’s calling for this opportunity.

• We are excited about the opportunity to team with Northwest Chapel in this adventure of faith. From our assessment results, prayer, and introspection, we understand that to be successful in this exciting challenge, we will greatly benefit from a strong relationship with a mother-church that truly understands and has a strong commitment to do what is necessary to plant a healthy, new church. I can'’t think of better people to work with. I'’m excited about learning from Terry and Martin (who both have been instrumental in our journey already!) and with a church that is proactively reproducing itself (a value our new church will adopt). We look forward to the structure, accountability, assistance in strategy development, and resources (people, teams, finances) that a strong mother church can provide. We recognize our need for assistance in these areas and desire to partner for Kingdom results.
  
• We recognize that God has led us to pursue a journey of faith that involves an aggressive time schedule. We consider the fact that our time table is fast (wrapping up our current ministry and getting on site for a new venture) AND the fact that God has led Northwest Chapel to target northeastern Franklin County in an aggressive fashion TO BE PROVIDENTIAL. God has brought our path together with Terry in training and Martin in assessment and our timetable and Northwest Chapel'’s targeting of this area-- perhaps it could be because He is ordaining a marriage of all these factors for a new, disciple-making venture.
  
• Factoring in some family, relational contacts from the past, and the fact that Tricia grew up close to this area (Worthington), of any of the areas that we examined, the New Albany area is the place where we would begin with the remnants of a support network already in place. We are familiar with the area and feel comfortable there.
  
• I would be excited and privileged to be a part of the NorthCentral OH district ministerium and would find much encouragement from fellowshipping with the good men there. I believe there is also potential for my wife to enjoy good relationships with godly women in the district as well.
  

There is probably more I could say. In a nutshell, this is how we see God moving. In sum, we are interested in talking further and taking a next step to confirm God'’s leading. Please let us know what this would be.

Blessings,
Andy Wirt