Mission to North America’s (MNA) vision for the PCA is to cultivate a grassroots church-planting culture within the denomination, knowing that church planting is essential to the forward movement of the gospel. “One of the key reasons is that more people come to Christ through church plants than through established churches,” explains Fred Marsh, assistant to the coordinator of MNA.

“Our desire is to challenge each [PCA] church to consider how they can be involved in the church-planting process,” said Marsh. “Only in this way will we see this grassroots church-planting culture emerge, but also see a multiplying movement of new churches that are impacting communities and reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ all across North America.”

Planting and Growing

MNA hopes to cast its denominational vision through the theme “every church plant a church.” Marsh outlines a variety of ways that churches can participate in the church-planting process, such as sending families to begin a new church or giving money to help a church planter start his ministry. And for churches not ready to take these steps, he suggests smaller goals, like praying for more laborers for the harvest or offering ministry internships for seminary and college students.

Marsh emphasizes that the importance of planting churches is not merely to grow a denomination. “Where the PCA is weak correlates with where the gospel is weak,” he says. “MNA’s focus is on the less reached areas—we want to be a beacon where the gospel is not shining bright.” In its report to the General Assembly, MNA emphasizes that its activities center on the solitary objective of planting and growing healthy churches.

Progress in Church Planting

Although PCA churches are concentrated among predominantly Anglo and middle- to higher-income people groups primarily in the southeastern U.S., the denomination is making inroads among other socioeconomic, racial, and geographic groups, according to the MNA General Assembly report.

As an example, Marsh indicates that PCA churches are increasingly reaching out to diverse areas surrounding their communities. “The PCA is most effective where we bring an existing church into partnership with an ethnic community, rather than start an ethnic church in isolation,” he explains. “Many churches are succeeding in lay-led ministries such as tutoring and ESL classes that are linked to the existing church. This is the method we’re encouraging as we seek to see people coming to Christ from many diverse communities and people groups.”

While progress is encouraging, the critical need is for additional church planters, says Marsh. “For five years, we have seen the same number of church planters placed—an average of 53 each year,” he says. “However, we continue to identify more and more opportunities for planting churches—our growing list of opportunities exceeds our supply of planters.” With a dramatic need for additional church planters, one encouraging statistic cited in the GA report is that MNA placed 13 church-planting apprentices in 2009, compared with six the previous year. “One year doesn’t make a trend,” says Marsh. “But hopefully this will continue and we’ll see more men pursuing church planting.”

Launch of Prison Ministry

MNA’s newest ministry is called Metanoia Prison Ministries. “The development of Metanoia is an amazing story of God’s grace. We are thrilled to find this comprehensive, full-phase prison ministry,” says Marsh.

Male and female Christian prisoners interested in discipleship through Metanoia are matched with personal instructors who are lay members of local churches. When the day finally arrives for their release, many prisoners are faced with the temptation of returning to old habits, old friends, and old troubles. A mentor from a local church with the support of Metanoia Ministries can help ensure the student's development of new habits and friendships that will lead to a successful transition into the church and community.

“Metanoia is unique in ministering to prisoners through discipleship, mentoring, and reintegration,” explains Marsh. “Lay people can be involved through all three phases.” The MNA report to the General Assembly announces the launch of Metanoia Prison Ministries with 138 active students and 113 instructors in 15 states.