Renew Polk - Winter Update
Renew Polk is a missional partnership of churches that exists as catalyst for church planting in Polk County. Our goal is to plant 20 new churches in the next 20 years. An estimated 80% of residents in Polk County have no affiliation with a local church. That means more than 500,000 people desperately need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ! In 2017, we launched two new churches - Greater Hope church in Mulberry and Good Shepherd in SE Lakeland. We hope you are encouraged to read what God is doing in and through these churches, and the other church planting efforts in our area.
We also hope that as you read you begin to dream about how God might use your gifts and resources to help current and future church plants. One practical way you can help is to begin to support the work of Renew Polk financially. The churches that make up the network set aside a percentage of their tithes and offerings that are distributed to the church plants. This financial support allows the church plants to secure meeting spaces, hire support staff, and do community outreach. 93% of what is given to Renew Polk goes directly to church plants. However, God has given us so many opportunities to plant churches that we are in need of additional funding from . In December our new Development Team, consisting of key leaders from each of our churches, met to strategize about fund-raising in our churches and in the community. Our goal is to raise $75K before the end of the year, and then $120K annually to ensure that we are able to support the existing church planting projects and to continue to plant new churches. In 2018, we hope, by God’s grace, to launch Grace Community church in North Lakeland. There is also an effort to plant a multi-cultural Spanish-speaking church in Winter Haven.
Please pray for this fund raising effort. Where you are able, please give generously. Renew Polk is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible.
Merry Christmas,
Drew Bennett, Executive Director
|
|
|
Strong Tower Church
Parker Street - Planted April 2014
Ben & Nicki Turner (Zoe, Sophia & Maya)
Average Attendance - 160
This year God has had Strong Tower Church on an adventure of growth. We rejoice that he’s blessed us to grow over 25% the past year! It’s been encouraging as we see new families, both from our immediate neighborhood and surrounding areas, come into the community life of our church. Some of these people are coming to Christ for the first time, others are finding a place to establish roots and grow in grace. Pray that we continue to reach the lost and see people trust in Jesus.
Looking towards 2018, we plan to resume the nomination process for officers as we head towards particularization. Pray for God to provide the right men to be trained and ordained as officers in our church.
|
|
|
Redeemer Southwest Church
Southwest Winter Haven - Planted January 2016
Jeff & Marissa Skipper (Jonathan, Isaac & Brooks)
Average Attendance - 95
The highlight of 2017 at Redeemer Southwest Church was seeing many of the folks who visited us in our launch year, 2016, become members and join discipleship groups this year. People are growing deeper in their relationships with Christ and His people. Our biggest prayer request for 2018 is that God would continue to raise up laborers within our Church for the harvest that is plentiful in Winter Haven.
|
|
|
Greater Hope Church
Mulberry - Launched December 2017
Stan & Stacy McMahan (Asher, Kathryne, Madeline & Alexander)
Average Attendance - 90
God is at work in Mulberry! In 2017, Greater Hope Church was born. This was the result of the prayers, support, and efforts of many people who care about seeing Jesus renew our city and county. This year, we raised funds for the first three years of our church’s life, gathered a launch team and trained them to be missionaries in our local community, and launched public worship services on December 3. We’re thankful to see more and more unchurched and non-Christians participate in our lunchtime Bible study, build relationships with launch team members, and come to our worship services. We’re excited about finishing 2017 strong and continuing to show the love of Jesus to the Mulberry area in word and deed.
Our biggest prayer request for 2018 is for faithfulness and fruitfulness as we continue our mission. We want to be faithful—to live our lives, love our neighbors, and follow Jesus because He loves us first. The first phases in the life of church plant can be distracting—so much to do, so many unexpected challenges, and so many high expectations. Please pray that we focus on Jesus and the joy of following Him rather than getting (or not getting) credit, glory, or success for ourselves. We want to be fruitful—to see our neighbors embrace Jesus and new find life in Him. We planted Greater Hope for this very reason. Please join us in prayer for more opportunities to tell the good news of Jesus, for more conversions, and for more people who will find a place to belong in His family at Greater Hope Church.
|
|
|
Good Shepherd Church
Southeast Lakeland - Launching January 2018
Jeremy & Sara Kemp (Corban, Gray & McKendall)
Launch Team Size - 30 adults, 15 kids
The biggest win for Good Shepherd Church in 2017 is that it’s actually happening! All the launch team training, support raising, prayer, vision casting, ministry team development and outreach is now culminating in launching regular Sunday services on January 7, 2018. God has answered our prayer, like Paul in Col 4:3-4, for open doors and clear speech for the gospel in SE Lakeland through relationships in our local elementary schools, restaurants, neighborhoods, and even colleges.
The biggest prayer request for 2018 is that more connections would occur as we launch public worship and the gospel would yield the fruit of repentance and faith for the conversion and growth of God’s people in SE Lakeland.
|
|
|
Grace Community Church
North Lakeland - Launching August 2018
Josh & Liz Floyd (Maddie, Sarah Beth, James & David )
Launch Team Size - 34 (including children)
The biggest win of 2017 was that having only lived in Lakeland for a year and a half and just getting to know people and the area, we have been so blessed that we actually have a Launch Team (9 families - 34 people total)! The projected launch date for Grace Community Church is August 2018 and we have a great place to gather for worship on the Northside (Sleepy Hill Elementary). The biggest prayer request - That the Lord grow that core community from 34 to 50-75 in the next 6 months.
|
|
|
|
|
