Reaching People Across the World
At James River Church, our #1 core value is to reach the lost. Planting new churches and investing in missions is an amazing way to reach people and help them meet Jesus! In 2022, we are partnering with the Church Multiplication Network and Association of Related Churches to plant 20 new churches across the United States and 32 New Churches Overseas. We can’t wait to hear all the amazing stories of God’s faithfulness through these church plants this year!
20 United States Church Plants
In 2022, James River Church is partnering with the Church Multiplication Network and Association of Related Churches to plant 20 new churches across the United States. We can’t wait to hear all of the amazing stories of God’s faithfulness through these church plants this year!
32 Overseas Church Plants
In 2022, we will be planting 32 new churches overseas! Twenty of these overseas church plants will be strategically located throughout the closed country of Morocco. We will also be launching churches in key areas of the world where there is a desperate need for the Gospel – France, Uruguay, Slovakia, Thailand, South Africa, Antigua, Mexico, and Southern Asia! We are so excited about our 2022 Missions Projects – as we believe Good is going to use us to bless nations in need!
US Church Plants
Palm City Church
Tampa, FL
Brian & Kristen Bagwell
palmcitychurch.com
Rhythm Church
Pensacola, FL
Vernell & Aisha Adams
ourrhythmchurch.com
Awaken Church
Cartersville, GA
Tyler & Kayla Harris
myawaken.org
Gospel Church Co
Dunkirk, NY
Billy & Randie Heather
gospelchurch.co
The Father's House Elk Grove
Elk Grove, CA
Alfredo & Norma Rosado
tfhelkgrove.org
The Becoming Church
Huntsville, AL
Michael & Katie Hamilton
thebecomingchurch.org
Illuminate Church
Inglewood, CA
Jason & Stacie Shepherd
illuminatechurchonline.com
Keys Church
Kissimmee, FL
Scott & Kirstyn Lawrence
keyschurch.com
Restoration Church
Frisco, TX
Creg & Shannon Darby
restorationchurchfrisco.com
LIIV Church
Atlanta, GA
Mayo & Kai Sowell
www.liivatl.com
The Community Church
New Iberia, LA
Jacob & Grace LeBlanc
communitychurchla.com
Purpose Church
Shreveport, LA
Dusty & Chantal Small
purposechurchonline.com
Thrive Church
Pelican Rapids, MN
Justin & Allison Fure
facebook.com/thrivechurchmn
NewHope Church
San Antonio, TX
Ralph Almaguer
newhopetx.org/
Legacy Church
Anchorage, AK
Travis & Jen Skavhaug
legacychurchak.com
The Ville
Shelbyville, IN
Max & Keisha Southern
Reach Church
San Antonio, TX
Cody & Michelle Laymon
Limitless Church
Springfield, MO
Stone & Madison Moss
limitlesschurch.co
Grow Church
Ankeny, IA
Arjay & Kayla Johnson
growchurch.tv
Axess Church
Glen Ellyn, IL
Garrett & Keilah Black
axesschurch.com
Overseas Church Plants
Morocco
Morocco
a. The need for meeting space for the church in Morocco is great, as the number of house churches shrank from 54 to 18 throughout the pandemic.
b. Business as Missions (BAM) model. Business will be Airbnb in which 20 apartments will be purchased across 20 major cities. These Airbnbs become the “church” meeting space for the Assemblies of God of Morocco congregations.
c. Weekdays, the Airbnb is rented out publicly to provide income and operating costs. Weekends the spaces will be used for the church, which will pay a modest rental fee.
France
George & Debby Flattery are called to plant 2 churches per year for the next 4 years
The Flattery's use a 4-fold church-planting model
i. They provide funds to help a church plant function
ii. They are on site once or twice a month in preaching/teaching at the church plant
iii. They provide coaching and mentoring for the leaders of the church plant
iv. They place the church plant in a sister relationship with a U.S. church
JRC will fund the following church plants in 2022:
i. Antony- church planters Benjamin & Columbe Lamotte-Augris
ii. Saint-Malo- church planters Bastien & Johanna Saint-Ellier
More information about the Flattery’s ministry can be found here
Uruguay
Uruguay- Hope for Uruguay 100 Project (Steve & Jill McCarthy)
a. Uruguay is known as one of the most unevangelized nations in the Americas. This project will bring hope to communities across the secular nation of Uruguay by providing permanent buildings for established, growing congregations.
b. Hope for Uruguay 100 is an initiative to build 100 churches in 10 years in Uruguay
c. The McCarthy’s have set a goal with the national church to build 6 new churches this year.
d. Video here
e. More information about the McCarthy’s ministry can be found here
Slovakia
Slovakia (John & Daralena Bean, Ryan & Hope Summers)
John & Daralena Bean
Ryan & Hope Summers
a. Jarovnice is home to largest Roma village in the country with an estimated population of over 7,000 living in space of ½ sq. mile (Roma are traditionally nomadic peoples with no country of their own)
b. Per missionary John Bean, as of Jan. 2021 there were around 200 converts with revival fires spreading
c. This newly established community of Roma believers in the village of Jarovnice is led by Roma Pastor Marek Olah. After being led to Christ through the Word of God by a divine encounter with believers in Switzerland, Marek has dedicated his life to sharing God’s Word in his Roma language. He is now a part of a team that has translated the New Testament and is currently completing the Old Testament. For the first time in Roma history, they will be able to hear the complete Word of God in their heart language!
d. Video here
e. More information about the Bean’s ministry here
f. More information about the Summers’ ministry here
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa (Greg & Sarah Owens)
Greg & Sarah Owens
a. Last term, the Owens’ helped plant a church in Durban, South Africa with Urban Tribes.
b. Urban Tribes is a top three priority within AGWM Africa with the goal of strategically planting influential churches in every major city in the continent of Africa. Because Africa is the fastest urbanizing region in the world, Urban Tribes was birthed out of an urgent need to have healthy, life-giving churches planted in the cities to reach this massive population shift.
c. Their church launch in Durban went so well that within the first two years they were already running 220 people per week, had 70 water baptisms and 150 first time salvations
d. AGWM leadership has asked their family to now help plant another church but this time in Cape Town, South Africa.
e. planting People’s Church Cape Town- a high-impact, life-giving and racially-reconciling church. They will run a Bible school along with the church launch and their church will be a hub to send out leaders and pastors throughout Southern Africa to plant new churches.
f. Video here
Antigua
Antigua (Billy & Havilah Roman)
Billy & Havilah Roman
a. The Romans have served for 5 years in Antigua.
b. Their ministry is to help plant churches in a region of over 20 islands in the West Indies where there are no AG churches. They are called to reach large populations of unreached and Spanish-speaking immigrants with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
c. Their church, New Life Assembly, has been meeting under a big, white tent in a space that is too small.
d. They’ve experienced great revival, especially among youth, and feel led to build a permanent building on at least 1-acre of land.
e. Working to purchase a 1.1-acre property that will be the site of their permanent structure. This will be the very first AG church and Youth Center in Antigua.
f. More information about the Romans’ ministry can be found here and here
Aguascalientes, Mexico
Aguascalientes, Mexico (Shawn & Caroline Sislo)
Shawn & Carolina Sislo
a. Shawn and Carolina are serving in an area known as The Last Frontier of Mexico. This geographical area is known as the least evangelized in Latin America.
b. With God’s help and in partnership with the Mexican Assemblies of God, Shawn and Carolina’s focus is to mobilize the church to form a movement of disciple-makers that results in new churches.
c. Living in the city of Aguascalientes, they are planting an upper middle-class church. Through community engagement and disciple making, they are forming a new church called Iglesia Vida.
d. Video here
e. More information about their ministry can be found here
Southern Asia
Southern Asia (Business as Missions)
a. In a Southern Asia country where proselytizing is illegal, a team of workers run a sports training facility that allows them to connect with locals, build relationships, share the Gospel, and plant the church in a non-traditional way.
Thailand
Dannok, Thailand (Thailand Field- Assemblies of God)
a. Church plant in Dannok, Thailand, on the border of Malaysia and Thailand.
b. Dannok Romyen Church celebrated its 7th anniversary in 2021 and Pastor Chianarong is looking to take the ministry in Dannok to the next level with both a new church building and a skill center.
c. The property is strategically located on the outskirts of town to be a haven for both Muslims and Buddhists who come to faith in Jesus. The skill center allows the church to teach valuable trade skills in this commercial hub and also allows for outreach to women in prostitution. They have rescued 8 girls so far and the skill center will increase their impact dramatically.
d. Video and more information about this church plant here
Durban, South Africa
Durban, South Africa (Joel & Amy Slater)
Joel & Amy Slater
a. Joel and Amy serve in Durban, South Africa and are currently assigned with Urban Tribes, establishing transformational churches in gateway cities of Africa.
b. Planting Northplace Church Durban, currently averaging between 160-205 people each Sunday (adults and children)
c. AGWM owns the building where the church meets. The team is establishing a Business as Missions (BAM) strategy by opening the church building as a Business Center and café available for rental through the week. This will allow the church to make connections in the community. The funds generated will go towards planting other churches in Africa through the Urban Tribes Initiative.
d. The first floor of the building has been renovated. Funding needed to complete the full renovation and equipping of the Business Center.
e. Video and more information about the Slaters’ ministry can be found here
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (Nathan & Christine Alfaro)
Nathan & Christine Alfaro
a. Nathan and Christine pastor a mother church in Managua that has directly planted 10 daughter churches.
b. One of the church plants is 4-years old and is currently meeting under a tent on rented property. They have grown to the point of needing a permanent facility.
c. They have found a corner lot in the city and are working on checking the legal status of the property. Will be ready to purchase property in spring 2022.
Upcoming Missions Trips
Appalachia (Jolo, WV)
Cost: $700
In partnership with Convoy of Hope Field Teams.
In West Virginia’s Appalachian mountains, a pastor who has served in countries all over the world felt called to lead in his hometown of Jolo. Through Convoy of Hope’s Rural Compassion Initiative and Field Teams, we’re honored to partner with Pastor Charlie and the work he’s doing.
Jolo is a remote area with no cell phone service and limited internet access. Despite its seclusion, Convoy of Hope’s Field Teams are committed to helping fight poverty and hopelessness in the area. Team members help the local church by serving widows, the underprivileged, children, and those impacted by opioid addiction. For many, this will be a cross-cultural experience that allows those from various walks of life to connect and learn from each other.
Bayamo, Cuba
Cost $4,000 (cost is only an approximation)
You are invited to join us for an unforgettable construction trip in Cuba. The revival fires of Cuba continue to burn brightly and this trip to the island will give you an opportunity to use your skills and strengths to serve the Lord in construction and to experience the revival spirit of Cuba. This is a unique missions experience that will change your life.
*Note: total price is estimated and will likely change.
Rockaway Beach, MO
Cost $500
In partnership with Convoy of Hope Field Teams.
We are honored to partner with a growing local church (Bridge of Faith), whose pastor is fighting for the soul of his community. Field Teams work with him and his congregation in transforming this former resort town — filled with deep poverty, methamphetamine use, and broken families — into one where citizens flourish and understand their true identity.
The church purchased an abandoned resort and is working to renovate buildings into local businesses that provide new jobs and opportunities. We will assist the church with renovating the site, engaging local citizens through church programs, and assisting with the church-run thrift store.
Monjas, Jalapa, Guatemala
Cost $2,000
NOTE: Price is estimated and will likely change.
If you have a love for children and a heart for missions, then a trip to Guatemala is what you need! This trip is one of the most popular trips offered at James River Church, because of the opportunity to minister in a variety of areas (construction, nursing home, the dump, feeding, orphanage, etc.) and the heavy interaction with kids. At the Shadow of His Wings Orphanage, you will meet and fall in love with some of God’s most precious children as you serve alongside missionaries, Bryon and Tiffany Applegate. We will end the trip with an amazing cultural experience as we visit the market and various historical sites in the beautiful city of Monjas.
Santa Ana, El Salvador
Cost $1,400
One week in El Salvador can change your life. If you are a young adult, age 18-27, join us in making a difference in the life of a child, single mother, or someone facing poverty through this ministry opportunity. On the trip, you will be working with missionary Kenton Moody in his church plant, La Puerta Abierta, in which you will have the wonderful opportunity to build homes, work in prison ministry, and evangelize in the rural church. Most of all, though, you will love and be loved in return. At the end of the week, you’ll want to say, “The hardest thing I ever did in my life was leave El Salvador.”
For more information contact the Missions Office at (417) 581-8756 or sabrina.braswell@jamesriver.church
