There are only 84 congregations in all religions in Bartow. To adequately serve our county we need to start a minimum of 516 churches.  This is number for needed new congregations is based on a ratio of 100 members per new church.  If these churches were started by traditional means, by purchasing land and constructing buildings and hiring staff (pastor), the cost for planting these needed churches would be $1,032,000,000 ($1.032 billion).

Another method for planting this large number of churches is to do so by non traditional means by starting house churches. In a house church a group of believers come together for worship in someones home.  They may or may not be connected to a mother church where they attend every other week or monthly.  House churches are led by non professional ministers.

There are several strengths of the house church. Many people today are more open to attending a Bible study in a home than in a church.  They are less expensive. House churches are harder for governments to control. They are smaller, and as such their attendees tend to be more involved in service.  Some house churches will grow and become more traditional churches, but many will not.  While most Christians do not think positively about house churches they are an excellent means for evangelizing a population.  As America becomes less and less Christian house churches will become more appealing and necessary.

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:14–17

Pray for those who do not attend a church. Pray that God will call more Christians into the ministry of preaching His Word.  Pray that all those who currently preach His Word will become holy and bold in their proclamation and lifestyle.  Ask God to convict the hearts of believers to stat new churches whether through traditional or non-traditional means.