MATCHING FUNDS NOW AVAILABLE
Stretch Your Gift!
Interested in making a gift to the Willson Church Planting Fund? Whether your passion is for church planting or you just want to honor the Willsons or both, there is news you should know. The Foundation will provide from its Undesignated Fund up to $500,000 as matching funds for cumulative gifts given to the Willson Fund by June 30, 2017.
The purpose of this newly established fund is to provide financial support for church planting efforts at home and around the world that are strategic, missional, and reformed in character.
It has been established out of gratitude for the faithful ministry of the Willsons to our church and reflects their passion for the particular ministry of church planting.
You may contribute now or discuss ways in which you can participate by contacting Vicki Simmons at (901) 507-7898 or vicki.simmons@2pc.org.
The Strategic Nature of the Allison & Sandy Willson Church Planting Fund
By Ron Sadlow
It is a fitting tribute to Allison and Sandy Willson and a great worship of God, to grow this fund. Among all his good works on earth, God is biased toward the church, whom He calls his bride. In Matthew 16 Jesus told the disciples, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." Consider these 4 questions:
Who will build the Church?
Jesus will. In Revelation 5 when the question is asked “Who is worthy to open the scroll of eternity?” the song the heavenly host sang was “Worthy are you (Jesus) to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth." Jesus will build his church.
Of what is the Church made?
It is not primarily buildings, but people worshipping together wherever they can. The church in Philippi began with a business lady-Lydia of the purple cloth; a slave girl who lost the power of divination; and a civic employee-a jailer and his family. In the same way He is redeeming people from every tribe, language, people and nation today.
Whose Church?
And I will build “MY” church. God’s plan has people from around the world chosen to be part of his church. When Paul considered leaving Corinth God told him, “Don’t be afraid, I have many people in this city." Paul just had to be faithful to evangelize them. Ephesians 1:4 says “God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world." His gracious election means nothing will stop Him from gathering his sheep.
What will He build?
He didn’t say “hospitals, universities, seminaries, para-church ministries, etc”, but “I will build my CHURCH.” Other things are good, and complementary, but Christ is building first and foremost his bride, the church.
Flourishing Planting History
In founding the Willson Church Planting Fund, the 2PC Foundation is not only honoring Sandy and Allison, but enhancing a commitment that has been part of its character since its inception. Consider the contribution to church planting through the grants that have been made beginning in 2001:
Domestically the Foundation has been a significant partner in:
St. Patrick Church
Downtown Church
Esperanza
Through the Shalom project they have laid the foundation for future church plants and are ready to help start two more churches in under-served parts of our city along with our Home Missions Ministry.
Additionally their contribution has allowed our Home Missions Committee to be strategic partners in our daughter “All Saints Church” here in the city, as well as supporting at least 10 other church plants through our denomination, our missionaries, and our friends.
Internationally they have made it possible for the World Missions Committee to have funds available to help plant churches in Germany, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, and other locations. But the Foundation has also directly initiated church plants around the world by giving grants to:
Ukraine – Several churches from Ukraine to Vladivostok (including Armenia, Novorosiysk, Tatars, Uzbek’s and others) have been planted and nurtured and church planters have been trained.
AWEMA – Arab World Evangelical Ministers Association have planted numerous churches in multiple Middle East countries.
Cambodia – World Relief had planted about 400 house churches when the Foundation partnered with them in 2003. The count is over 1,000 now.
Kacchhwa Ministries India - KTM counts thousands of house churches planted in its network, and thousands of church planters trained for KTM and UPMission.
China Partnership - Several thousand Chinese pastors have been trained to plant churches. We will find out the number of church plants some day.
Redeemer City to City International Church Planter Training - Many new churches have been indirectly planted.
Through directed gifts they have been part of planting churches in major cities around the world including:
Buenos Aires
Athens
Dubai
Jakarta
Prague
Pretoria, South Africa
Rome
Rotterdam, and through them other Multi-national church plants in Europe
Second Presbyterian and the 2PC Foundation are a blessed part of the means that God is using to “Build His Church.”
