You don’t have to be at Summit very long to figure out that church planting is at the very core of who we are and what we want to accomplish. Here’s what our next church planter, Andrew Hopper, has to say about why he’s taking his family and team to Greensboro in 2012:
“Taking the apostle Paul as an example, we believe churches should be strategically planted in large cities because of their influence, sending capacity, and diverse population (Acts 16:12; Titus 1:5). That is not to exclude work in rural areas but the city serves as a primary focus within a targeted region. Almost all of our team is from the South and therefore have considerable experience with its religious climate. With the largest percentage of decline in evangelical churches happening in the South we see Greensboro as a strategic place for launching churches in North Carolina, the South, and beyond.
The Need – Less than half of its residents claim any religious affiliation and among those most are not radically changed by the gospel. Greensboro is a city where lost people reside and Southern moralism reigns. In short, the city needs more gospel-centered churches. Furthermore, 20% of Greensboro’s residents live in poverty, thousands are experiencing homelessness (many of these being children), and each year the city ranks well above the national average in the violent crime category. Greensboro is a city that needs gospel transformation.
The Influence – Greensboro is a very strategic city for North Carolina and the South. Greensboro is called the “Gate City” for its strategic location to all the other major cities in North Carolina and many of the South’s large cities. This is due in large part to the intersection of four major interstates in Greensboro, I-40, I-85, I-73, and I-74. Greensboro is right in the heart of the Piedmont Triad region which is home to more than 170 foreign-owned businesses. High Point, which is just minutes from Greensboro, is nicknamed “North Carolinas International City” and the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World.” Among businesses Greensboro is known as a strategic city for its sending capacity. We want to use this sending capacity to plant churches and send the gospel throughout North Carolina, the South, and beyond.
The People – Greensboro is one of the most diverse cities in the South with 50% of the population being Caucasian, 40% African American, 7% Hispanic, and the remaining 3% Asian. Furthermore, there are 72,000 college students in the Piedmont Triad region. Many of these students will move to other places in North Carolina and around the world after graduating. It is our hope that after being changed by the gospel they will take its message to the ends of the earth. Lastly, this region is home to 1.6 million people, with 250,000 being in Greensboro. Many of these people need to hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ for the first time.”
Here are two links to hear more about the Hoppers and Mercy Hill Church: