ascent

Pioneering New Mission in Canada: Learning Together at the Edges of Faith

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 10:00:38 GMT

For Raphael Anzenberger , ministry in Canada means working at the outer edges of Christian presence—and doing so collaboratively. Anzenberger serves as Executive Director of the Quebec Network of Evangelical Churches and Executive Minister of the French Baptist Union, two roles that place him at the center of mission and church-planting efforts across French-speaking Canada.

Quebec, where Anzenberger focuses much of his work, is home to more than seven million French speakers—yet fewer than three percent are connected to Christian congregations of any tradition. That reality makes French-speaking Quebec the largest unreached people group in North America. “Our approach,” Anzenberger explains, “targets four types of evangelical deserts—geographic, ethnic, cultural, and humanitarian.” Across each of these spaces, the goal is the same: to plant reproducible, disciple-making congregations.

The challenge is not only spiritual distance, but institutional resistance. In Quebec particularly, Anzenberger describes an aggressive posture by the provincial government toward religion. His organizations are currently engaged in legal battles to preserve the freedom to practice and express faith in the public square. Ministering in this context requires courage , creativity, and sustained cooperation.

Yet Anzenberger is quick to name the unexpected advantages. In highly secular environments, Christian leaders often find themselves working together with renewed urgency. Across Quebec, evangelical churches and agencies—often separated by tradition elsewhere—are partnering closely in evangelism, church planting, and public theology. “There is an unprecedented level of collaboration,” he says, born not of convenience, but necessity.

That spirit of collaboration shapes how Anzenberger sees the future of ministry. Drawing on the idea of rupture in cultural and spiritual life, he argues that churches must respond collectively to the shift from a Christian to a post-Christian era. He quotes Prime Minister Mark Carney, from his recent speech in Davos, as a warning: “If we are not around the table, we will be on the menu of secularism.” This conviction has led to increased investment in innovation, mission strategy, and new models of theological education.

Anzenberger first connected with Ascent through a Canadian partner ( Canadian Baptist Ministries ) and immediately resonated with its emphasis on collaboration and mission. For him, Ascent reflects a posture the church urgently needs. “Ascent is an opportunity to do ministry not from a place of certitude,” he says, “but from a place of learning—a place for friends to journey together in mission .”

From Quebec and beyond, Anzenberger believes Canada offers a glimpse of what lies ahead for the North American church. In that sense, learning together is not optional—it is essential.

What We’re Building — and Why it Matters Now

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:17:00 GMT

I first heard about the Ascent movement through its founding director, Chris Backert, when he approached me to share about a new kind of missional network that he and some others had been exploring and praying about. The goal was not so much to create a new network as it was to spark a catalytic movement of God among similarly kingdom-minded individuals.

Despite my initial skepticism (I had heard of similar attempts from others that had either failed or were really no different in orientation than other such entities), I became intrigued by what I learned about Ascent. 

Rather than a top-down approach being imposed by a few individuals, I sensed a much more organic, grass-roots reality that closely resembled other times in history where God’s Spirit moved among the people. Rather than Ascent belonging to one denomination, I witnessed a variety of individuals responding to Ascent from across denominational lines through a myriad of gospel-centered tribes and traditions—all with the goal of living out the kingdom of God through the local church. And in a time when division seems to be occurring at every turn, I experienced a wonderful (and refreshing) spirit of unity among those in the Ascent movement. Perhaps most significantly, I have been blessed to observe those seeking to serve God through the Ascent movement do so with genuinely humble, faithful, and focused hearts on the Lord.

I increasingly believe that Ascent is needed for a time such as the one we find ourselves in. I say this because in a time of increased division and religious fracturing, Ascent is proactively providing a wonderful alternative—which is a unifying movement for God’s church focused on the missional impulse of the kingdom of God, grounded in the love of Christ, and enlivened through the Holy Spirit in today’s local church. Ascent is uniquely responding to real needs that today’s local churches are facing, without getting caught up in institutional baggage and machinery. 

I have found there to be a reciprocal relationship between Ascent and its partner organizations in that Ascent recognizes we can do more together than apart. Thus Ascent can provide immediate disaster relief, relevant formational opportunities, significant leadership resources, and meaningful connections for local churches that local churches on their own cannot do. At the same time, Ascent benefits from partner organizations as those organizations invest in the missional movement that Ascent fosters, allowing Ascent to serve as a counter-cultural witness to the world of what is possible when Christians from various backgrounds come together with the commonality of a kingdom-minded approach.

I’ve now had the privilege of serving on the Ascent Steering Council for the last three years. It gives me great joy to be a part of Ascent, because I believe the world needs the encouragement and witness of what can happen when God’s people are motivated by commonality of purpose for God’s kingdom, rather than our own. I look forward to how the Lord will continue to use Ascent in the fostering of God’s kingdom in the days ahead.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Lake currently serves as lead pastor of First Church in Williamsport, PA.

Find the Narrow Way at the Multiply Summit this February 24th – 26th

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:00:15 GMT

Most followers of Jesus have encountered the common perception that local churches and the Christians who comprise them are “narrow minded”. In a world where there are few commonly regarded absolutes in matters of faith and belief, Christians can often be perceived as both exclusive and “old fashioned”. Yet, the historic Christian faith is one of the most inclusive realities that the world has ever experienced. Faith has transcended thousands of years across every continent and received and lived among vastly different groups of people. It knows no bounds of race, ethnicity, or gender, and includes those who have failed both miserably and morally throughout the course of their lives. It is incredibly inclusive – yet in a profoundly exclusive kind of way.

Of course, this is not surprising because Jesus himself, in perhaps some of his most famous words, reminds us that “broad is the road that leads to destruction, and narrow is the way that leads to life”. One of the foundational principles of the kingdom of God is the great irony that the way of Jesus is hard to find, but it is meant to be found.

Within this simple axiom is a directive that stands at the core of the mission of the church, particularly in this moment in history. We must help people discover something that is hard to find. But, of course, we must find it ourselves before we can show others how to get there.

At the upcoming Multiply Summit , held February 24-26 just outside Washington D.C., we will explore the ways of Jesus that lead to life, even though in our modern world they can be hard to find. Yet, life is the goal that we are striving toward, and that pursuit is true at the depths of almost every person. It is that common search that holds the key to more people finding life in the kingdom of God. Therefore, we need to explore every possible way to help our friends and neighbors discover the narrow way.

Rich Villodas, pastor of New Life Fellowship in Queens, NY and bestselling author, will be our special guest for the Multiply Summit . Along with Rich helping us discover the life-giving way of Jesus, we will also have workshops and conversations that address the practical realities of carrying each of us forward in our mission of multiplication within the communities where we find ourselves.

Due to a special contribution from the EverBless Foundation , we are able to make registration for first-time attendees available at the low early-bird price of only $99. Register between now and November 30 ^th to receive this phenomenal price if you are first-time participant.

The Multiply Summit is hosted by both the Ascent Movement and its partner for church planting, the Ecclesia Network . This discounted registration rate is available to those connected with both ministries.

The Latino Church is a Missionary Force, and a Mission Field

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:54:46 GMT

We are living on the epicenter of missiological shifting plates.

Long-held beliefs that once defined mission in the 20th century - theologically clear sending centers, physical receiving fields, established ecclesial structures, and culturally dominant forms of Christianity - no longer align with the shifting landscapes we face.  Migration, demographics, and the decentralization of influence are seismic plates reshaping the mission in every generation.

Mission today is less from the hub to the outskirts and more from the outskirts to the hub. The margins are now bubbling epicenters of global missions - a hotspot of evangelism and discipleship brimming with theological insight, spiritual depth, and missionary innovation. Those from the two-thirds world possess centuries of faithful mission activity behind them, and the missiological tremors they send throughout Christendom demand that the Church reimagine how we together embody ecclesia on mission.

The Jerusalem church experienced a profound transformation as the missionary movement in Antioch ignited a dynamic shift in the mission and life of the early Church. Key assumptions about who sent, who received, who led, and who defined the mission were turned upside down.

The Ascent Movement understands the new dynamic flourishing across the New Testament and throughout church history. For that reason, our Sending and Receiving framework serves as an ecclesiological immediate response. Our framework envisions a reciprocal mission grounded in the Missio Dei. It reflects the realities present in Latino churches across North America, including revival-oriented spirituality, authentic discipleship, apostolic flexibility, and contextual innovation.

Sending and Receiving both names what the Spirit is already doing through Latino churches and invites the broader Church to respond in humility, partnership, and openness to being changed by Latino leaders. Latino churches are the miraculous power of revival and are called to multiply that revival , sending not just to receive ministry from others but to generate a gospel movement. Many first-generation Latino churches come to faith, comingled with experiences of displacement, economic marginalization, and cultural negotiation. Other Latino congregations have been prayerfully rooted and gathering throughout generations, centered around familial or cultural ties. What many of these communities have in common is that their faith has been cultivated and stretched through life - driven by Spirit-led resilience.

Leaders emerging from these contexts are forged through life-and-death faith situations and the anxieties of persecution. Instead of relying on an imported discipleship program, these communities have mastered transmitting faith through testimony, discipleship through mentorship, and spiritual practices woven into the fabric of everyday life. Simply put, many Latino churches operate according to ecclesial models that value the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, evangelism at all costs, a highly relational approach, and spiritual formation.

At Ascent, I believe Latino churches stand at the epicenter of missional transformation - redefining what it means to be the Church in North America.

Rev. Dr. Eliseo A. Mejia is the National Director of Ascent Missional Engagement.

The Time is Now

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:38:10 GMT

Over the last two-plus years I have been asked on multiple occasions, “Why Ascent? Why Now?” While the answer to these two questions could be lengthy, it can essentially be distilled around three clear ideas.

First, we are unequivocally in a time of decline and rebirth when it comes to the vitality of the gospel in and through North America. We need fresh attempts at re-engaging the continent with the gospel. It’s clear this is something the Holy Spirit is already doing in our midst; the church must cooperate more fully in this moment.

Second, cooperation has always been essential for a broad and wide impact on the continent. The era of non-denominationalism and congregations and leaders operating in isolation, disconnected from one another, has not had the effect of growing the church on the continent. Yet at the same time, the primary historic means of cooperation that have come through more denominational structures have clearly faltered and are no longer capable of achieving the faithful ends we seek.

Finally, the landscape of church and mission has shifted drastically . In our broader social context, we are in an era of rupture and realignment. This is true just as much ecclesiologically as it is geo-politically or technologically. The old alliances of cooperation have largely died, and we believe the time for new alliances, built on a shared theological and missiological foundation that is not encumbered by former denominational polities or non-denominational impulses, has arrived.

Ascent is an example of the realignment the Holy Spirit is maneuvering throughout the church. In our leadership, and together in presence at this inaugural Ascent Summit, are Methodists and Baptists, Anglican/Episcopalians and Mennonites, Charismatics and Congregationalists. There are Canadians and Cubans, United States Americans, and Latin Americans. There are those focused domestically and those focused globally. We are from large churches and small, urban and rural. Yet, we share a common DNA grounded in a generous and generative joyful evangelical witness, conviction with compassion, and coherence without control.

We invite you to explore deeper engagement with the Ascent Movement. Our hope is that you’ll find encouragement for the mission of re-engaging the continent with the gospel and discover meaningful ways to connect with Ascent’s people and initiatives. If you long to see gospel renewal grounded in a global evangelical witness, consider how your path might join ours in Christ’s mission.

Chris Backert is Senior Director of the Ascent Movement.

Advent Among Ascent

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:00:15 GMT

Although Christmas may still feel a long way off, the season of Advent will be here before we know it. While Christmas is often filled with celebration, traditions, and activity, Advent invites us to slow down and turn our hearts toward a God who has come near - who was present in the past, is with us now, and is still to come.

Advent reminds us that God is near to our wonderings and wanderings, our anxieties and hopes, our hurts and longings. Often, He makes His nearness known through His people. This makes Advent both personal and collective: we draw near to God while also drawing near to the people and places where He is already at work.

This year, we invite you to sign up for the Ascent Advent journey - a daily opportunity to prepare your heart for Christmas and reflect on the God who draws near. Each day, you’ll receive a short devotional and a story from one of our Ascent Global partners, offering a glimpse of how God is at work around the world. Along the way, you’ll also have the opportunity to support this work through a special Advent gift.

Or, perhaps your congregation would be willing to be part of the Ascent Advent Journey and share the daily devotional resource and consider participating in the offering? If so, please indicate your interest here .

Our 2026 goal is $50,000, with the potential to impact thousands of lives. We invite you to join us this Advent as we celebrate the God who has come near and seek to carry His presence into our world.

Chris Backert

Senior Director, The Ascent Movement

New Congregation Profile: Planting with Intention - Purpose Church

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:16:45 GMT

Purpose Church is a young and growing congregation taking root in Magnolia, Delaware, just south of Dover. Planted by Pastor William A. Guy and his wife, Tramaine. Purpose Church was launched with a clear conviction: that every person has a God-given purpose waiting to be discovered and lived out in everyday life.

The church’s early growth reflects that clarity. What began as a small gathering in a local fire hall soon outgrew its space, leading the congregation to relocate to Robinson Elementary School. That move signaled not only numerical growth, but a widening sense of engagement within the surrounding community. Purpose Church has quickly become a place marked by warmth, accessibility, and cultural diversity - intentional qualities in a region shaped by both longstanding roots and steady change.

Pastor Guy’s own journey informs the church’s posture. He came to faith while attending Delaware State University, where he was active in campus ministry and athletics. Over more than two decades of ministry, he has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as an Air Force chaplain and a board-certified life coach. Those experiences shape a pastoral approach that attends to spiritual formation while also addressing emotional and relational wholeness.

At its core, Purpose Church seeks to be practical and invitational . Worship gatherings emphasize clear teaching, meaningful relationships, and a sense of belonging for people from a wide range of backgrounds. “We want to help people uncover their purpose,” Guy explains, “and live it out in their families, workplaces, and communities.”

As an Ascent–affiliated congregation, Purpose Church is part of a broader effort to plant churches that are both locally rooted and thoughtfully supported. That connection provides space for collaboration, shared wisdom, and long-term sustainability as the church matures.

Still early in its journey, Purpose Church is focused on building a healthy foundation—one shaped by clarity of mission, strong relationships, and a steady commitment to helping people live into the purpose God has placed within them.

Learn more about Ascent’s Genesis Church Planters Cohort here .

A Shared Ascent - Why This Work Matters To Me

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:00:01 GMT

As we witness the great unraveling of the Church in the West, the institutions and structures that have held our ecclesial expressions together for centuries no longer feel as sturdy and sure as they once did. In the midst of this slow and painful disintegration, the threads of love and shared mission that weave together the followers of Christ now feel strained at best. We have likely all experienced Christian unity becoming a casualty of competing worldviews.

As I try to do my small part in preventing the shards from splintering further, mostly with little success, I admit there is still a longing for something intangible from our past reality. While the past was likely never as idyllic as my faulty memory suggests, I find myself wondering: What is it that I still long for? I suspect I’m not alone in wishing that the very best parts of who we were might somehow miraculously survive this current fragmentation.

I think it is this: our triune God reminds us that we were made for community . Relationship is not incidental to our faith; it reflects our deep need for one another. We long for companions who will walk with us and pray for us, who will celebrate and grieve alongside us. We need people to learn from and to listen to, people who will offer wise counsel, and people who will love us enough to tell us when we’re wrong. Perhaps some of us who have eagerly stepped into the Ascent Movement have felt the absence of that shared tether - the common rope that binds us together in witness and service in our neighborhoods, countries, and the world as we proclaim and demonstrate our shared faith to build God’s kingdom.

As its name suggests, Ascent calls us toward something higher . As CBM, we have found unexpected fellowship and shared purpose within this network, which brings together a surprising mix of like-hearted churches and organizations united through the task of reimagining possibilities for the Church in North America in this generation and the next. To join Ascent is to make an intentional choice to share life with other disciples, rooted in the conviction that it is still possible to remain bound together by love and hope even amid profound diversity. Together we bear witness to choosing faithfulness over efficiency, committing ourselves to continue saying yes to joining God in the work he is already doing in this time and place, despite our differences. As companions forging a new shared path forward, the road at times may feel unfamiliar, yet we hold on with certainty that God is doing something new and greater than we can possibly hope or imagine.

Jennifer Lau is executive director of Canadian Baptist Ministries and serves as a council member for Ascent.

Raising Up the Next Generation of Music and Arts Leadership

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 10:01:13 GMT

Across generations, music has been one of the Church’s most enduring teachers. It carries theology, shapes imagination, and binds worshipers together across time and culture. For leaders like Adam Stadtmiller, Lead Pastor of Sea Change Church in La Jolla, California, that continuity matters deeply. “When we sing hymns,” he notes, “we’re not just singing old songs—we’re joining voices with believers from decades and even centuries ago.” Worship keeps the Church rooted in what God has done while remaining expectant for what God is still doing.

The landscape shaping music and arts leadership, however, has shifted. Stadtmiller came of age in a season when Christian music reflected wide creative expression—rock, alternative, and pop—which helped young believers see faith engaging the whole of life. Over time, he observes, economic realities reshaped that world. As worship music became easier to license and distribute, the industry gradually focused more on songs created primarily for church settings, narrowing the broader creative ecosystem.

Yet both Stadtmiller and Michael Glenn, Minister of Contemporary Worship at First Baptist Church of Arlington, Texas , see encouraging signs among emerging leaders. Glenn notes that many in the next generation are asking deeper questions—not simply how to lead worship, but why the Church sings at all. In a de-churched culture hungry for authenticity, music and the arts continue to serve as bridges, drawing people toward God through sincerity rather than performance.

Both leaders stress that worship ministry is inseparable from mission and formation. Glenn cautions against equating polish with faithfulness, calling instead for Christ-centered, Spirit-led worship grounded in Scripture and shaped by reverence. “Heart and authenticity will always matter more than any skill or ability,” he says. The need, then, is not just for talented musicians, but for shepherds who are spiritually and theologically formed.

The two churches where Stadtmiller and Glenn serve participate in Ascent, where they find meaningful support. Through shared learning environments, churches gain access to comprehensive training in worship leadership development and formation pipelines they often cannot build alone. Young leaders are exposed to a broader Christian community, reinforced in theological depth and healthy leadership models, and are afforded a safe space to discern calling alongside peers. For congregations seeking to develop and encourage the next generation of music and arts leaders, participation in Ascent creates both structure and support—helping ensure that emerging voices are not only skilled but grounded, connected, and sent with purpose.

Together, leaders like Stadtmiller and Glenn envision a future where music and the arts once again cultivate depth, courage, and continuity—raising up a generation prepared not merely to lead worship, but to shepherd souls.

Formation for Mission: Why Theological Education Still Matters

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:00:04 GMT

There is a quiet but important shift happening across the Church in North America. Congregations are asking new questions about leadership, calling, and formation -not because the mission of the church has changed, but because the context in which that mission unfolds certainly has.

The “why” of theological education remains constant. Todd Still, dean of Baylor’s Truett Seminary , observes, “When done well, theological education can serve as a bridge from call to competence. Put differently, a call to ministry is a call to prepare for ministry.”

Yet the “how” is experiencing subtle changes. In this moment of re-engagement with the gospel across the continent, theological education is rediscovering its role not as an isolated institution, but as a partner in a larger ecosystem of formation.

Greg Henson, president of Kairos University , describes theological education as an ecosystem of interconnected and interdependent parts. Local churches, ministry networks, seminaries, and followers of Jesus all play essential roles in cultivating disciples who flourish in their vocations.

“Theological education works best when local churches, networks, seminaries, and followers of Jesus work together to cultivate followers of Jesus who flourish in their vocations for the life of the world,” Henson said. In that vision, seminaries are not the whole body, but neither are they optional. The church forms leaders best when each part contributes what it uniquely offers.

Dr. Ingrid Faro, interim president of Northern Seminary, points to integration as one of theological education’s most important contributions. Northern Seminary provides space where intellectual engagement with scripture meets spiritual transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. “Seminary has the unique responsibility to integrate intellectual knowledge of scripture with the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives to serve God’s kingdom more effectively,” Faro said.

That integration matters, because the mission field itself has changed. While earlier generations often imagined mission primarily across geographic or cultural distance, today’s ministry leaders increasingly recognize that mission begins much closer to home. “The mission field begins in our home and continues outside our door,” Faro said. “Every follower of Jesus is a minister of the gospel.”

Theological education, then, is not preparing people for ministry somewhere else someday. It is helping them live faithfully where they already are.

Brent Sleasman, president of Winebrenner Theological Seminary , sees seminaries adapting to meet that reality, especially as fewer students prepare for traditional full-time ministry roles and more pursue bi-vocational or locally rooted forms of leadership.

“Those serving in full-time ministry roles are decreasing,” Sleasman said. “Schools need to have affordable and flexible options for students working multiple jobs with limited finances.” That shift has prompted many theological institutions to rethink how they deliver education - expanding hybrid learning, lowering financial barriers, and creating pathways that connect more directly with local church ministry. But accessibility alone is not the goal.

The deeper purpose of theological education remains formation: shaping identity, character, and calling within a community of learning and discipleship. Faro sees that transformation regularly in the classroom. “Every term, every class, I see someone being set free from bondages or abuses that hobbled them from seeing their identity in Christ as beloved and valued,” she said. “They walk more freely and confidently in their calling as a disciple.”

Sometimes the impact of theological education becomes visible in the simple reality of access. Sleasman recalls a student whose opportunity to study theology became a turning point in her life. “The fact that she was able to find a school that accepted her as a mother and follower of Jesus was a huge encouragement,” he said. “For her, access to theological education was an answer to prayer.”

Stories like this reflect a broader shift in how seminaries and other theological education institutions understand their partnership with churches and ministry networks. “The Body of Christ is a body,” Henson said. “Theological education that doesn’t involve the local church is like the body saying it doesn’t need a foot. Theological education that doesn’t include the seminary is like the body saying it doesn’t need an ear.”

This partnership language reflects a growing desire to move beyond seeing a seminary primarily as a credential-granting institution. For decades, theological education was often reduced to degree completion rather than discipleship formation. Henson names that misunderstanding directly. “When ‘going to seminary’ became reduced to ‘getting a degree,’ we turned deeply rooted journeys of discipleship into commodities,” he said. “If we start with a degree, we may never get to formation. If we start with formation, we can always get to a degree.”

That reframing invites both churches and seminaries to recover a shared understanding of formation as a communal process - one that includes study, spiritual growth, and lived ministry experience.

Across seminaries, universities, and other theological training institutions which are connected to the Ascent Movement and beyond, educators are experimenting with new models of accessibility, partnership, and contextual learning. These changes are not simply institutional adjustments; they are responses to the Spirit’s ongoing work in the church.

Still’s comments reflect his agreement and add an important nuance. “I never cease to be amazed at how the Lord uses theological education not simply to inform God-called men and women but also to form them into more fully devoted Christ followers, he said. He further explained, “It is sometimes suggested that seminary study is too costly in terms of time and money. While not denying that study may well be costly, I have observed over time that failing to prepare adequately for ministry is more costly still."

And as Faro puts it, the calling to ministry begins with obedience. “Pray and ask God to lead you to how he wants you to serve more effectively,” she said, “not if he wants you to serve.” Sleasman echoes that encouragement with a reminder from Jesus’ words that the harvest remains plentiful. Regardless of the path someone takes, the church continues to need leaders willing to join the work of the gospel.

The future of theological education will likely look different than its past. Programs may be more flexible. Learning environments may be more distributed. Partnerships between seminaries and churches may grow deeper. But the core calling remains unchanged: forming followers of Jesus who are prepared to participate in God’s mission in the world. In that sense, theological education is not standing apart from the church’s renewal. It is participating in it.

And as churches, networks, and those who do the theological training walk together in that shared mission, the ecosystem of formation continues to grow and cultivate leaders whose lives bear witness to the gospel for the life of the world.

Contributors to this conversation include Dr. Ingrid Faro, Interim President and Professor of Old Testament at Northern Seminary; Greg Henson, President of Kairos University and Professor of Organizational Formation; Dr. Brent Sleasman, President of Winebrenner Theological Seminary; and Dr. Todd Still, Charles J. and Eleanor McLerran DeLancey Dean and William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures, Baylor University, Truett Seminary.

Inside the Genesis Cohort - Forming Church Planters, Not Just Church Plans

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:56:51 GMT

Each year, a small group of church planters, some with launch teams already numbering dozens, others still praying over an apartment lease in another town, logs onto a Zoom call together for the first time. They don't know each other yet. But over the next several months, they will come to know each other quite well.

That's the Genesis Cohort , a church planting training sponsored by Ascent and its church planting partner Ecclesia . Its defining conviction is evident from the very first session: this isn’t primarily an information-transfer course. As facilitator Dr. Bob Hyatt tells every new cohort, the goal is personal and spiritual formation, helping people become the kind of leaders God can actually use, not simply handing out a planting playbook.

"You're not primarily a church planter," he tells them. "You're a disciple maker. Church planting is just an outgrowth of that."

The format reflects that priority. Participants work through pre-recorded teaching from a rotating slate of experienced equippers, then gather every other week for a 90-minute live discussion that’s part debrief, part group coaching, and part support group.

The topical arc moves from the inside out. Early sessions focus on the character and competencies of a planter: identity, patience, contentment, and the gap between the "church of the mind" and the "church of reality.” From there, participants turn to core team building, using a green-light/yellow-light/red-light framework to discern who belongs on a launch team, and when.

The cohort then moves through missional mindset and strategy, discipleship, vision, mission and values, and the work of exegeting a city’s culture, needs and “dirty little secrets.” One deceptively simple question anchors the discipleship conversation: “What do you hear God saying, and what are you going to do about it?”

Later sessions explore models and approaches (traditional, missional-community, and big-launch), examined with unusual honesty about each one's tradeoffs, plus worship as formation, apprenticeship culture, children's and youth ministry, and a closing session on pastoral health. The final session addresses burnout's typical years-five-to-seven onset and the difference between being responsible to people and being responsible for them.

Guest equippers bring real stories to the table. Pastors who've planted in inner-city Indianapolis, suburban Denver, and post-Christian Portland share what actually worked and what they'd do differently. The thread running through nearly every session is the same one Hyatt keeps returning to: hold your plans with an open hand, because "while we overestimate what God might do within one year, we underestimate what He can do in 5-10!”

Participants come away saying as much about the community as the content. "It was an incredibly helpful and encouraging experience," one wrote. "There was a great balance between strategic discussion and tending to our hearts. The opportunity to connect with church planters from around the country was exciting and edifying." Another described coming in "a little nervous and overwhelmed" and leaving "feeling extremely equipped and a lot more knowledgeable and encouraged," adding that "Genesis has done such a great job covering a multitude of topics." A third said the cohort left them "more equipped about how our team is going to make this idea of a church plant into a reality, and more excited about this mission that God has given to us."

That's really the aim in a nutshell: not a finished blueprint, but planters who are a little more formed, a little less alone, and a little more ready to build something that will outlast their own effort.

This year, sessions will run from late September through mid-March, with pre-work a month before the cohort starts and one-on-one coaching debriefs after it ends. Early bird pricing runs $299 for Ascent and Ecclesia Network members and $350 for non-members, rising to $350/$400 after September 8th. Register now at Ascentmovement.org/genesis-church-planters-training .

New Congregation Profile: Taking Root in New Soil/The Spring Church

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:00:54 GMT

The Spring Church began with a clear sense of calling: to create a welcoming, modern worshiping community that could reach people often overlooked by traditional church models without losing sight of the generations who laid the foundation.

For Israel Crawford, one of The Spring’s pastors , the heart of the church has always been about hospitality and belonging. “The Spring started from a group of people determined to offer a more modern worship experience in our small town,” he says, “something that would appeal to younger generations, yet honor our heritage and our elders.” That balance remains central to the church’s identity. From the beginning, leaders sensed a responsibility to meet a need in the community - a place where people who didn’t quite fit the traditional church mold could still encounter Jesus and feel genuinely at home.

What has been most encouraging, Crawford notes, is the spirit of unity that has taken root across generations. Support from elders, both in age and spiritual maturity, has helped bridge gaps that often divide churches. “There’s no ‘us and them’ here,” he says. “We’re all trying to be the body and work together.” That shared posture has shaped a culture marked by prayer, encouragement, and mutual investment.

The challenges, however, are real. The Spring regularly welcomes people with little or no church background, and Crawford describes the careful work of protecting space for grace to take hold. “It’s challenging protecting people from ‘religion’ long enough for them to experience the Lord,” he explains, emphasizing the importance of loving and ministering to people without requiring them to fit a predetermined mold.

As an Ascent congregation, The Spring has found encouragement in relationships that value action over talk and vision over nostalgia. Crawford describes Ascent as a partner willing to step in, support multigenerational expressions of church, and invest in young leaders. For a congregation still taking root in new soil, that kind of partnership has proven both timely and sustaining.

Learn more about Ascent’s Genesis Church Planters Cohort here .

Called to Rocky Soil

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:30:56 GMT

Jesus described the work of God’s kingdom as seed scattered on many kinds of ground. Some soil is rich and ready. Other ground is rocky - harder to till, slower to yield fruit, yet no less worthy of faithful care. For many pastors today, that description feels less like metaphor and more like daily reality.

For Todd Willard, Senior Pastor of First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, Connecticut, the concept of rocky soil hits home. A native New Englander serving a congregation nearing its 400th anniversary, Willard ministers in a region shaped by deep history, intellectual rigor, and a healthy measure of skepticism. “It takes time to build trust here,” he says. New Englanders value education, family legacy, and regional identity, and their assumptions about churches often run deep.

First Church is woven into the fabric of the community. Many residents still consider it their spiritual home, even if faith no longer shapes their everyday lives. Willard notes that the idea of needing a savior can feel foreign when Christianity is understood primarily as cultural inheritance rather than lived commitment. Leading in that context requires patience, thoughtful engagement with difficult questions, and relational skills that can navigate subtle but persistent spiritual resistance. Willard’s own family roots in the congregation—stretching back to the mid-1600s—give him trust and credibility while also placing him at the center of the work of helping a historic church re-engage Jesus’ mission in fresh ways.

Nearly 3,000 miles away, rocky soil takes a different form. Corey Laughary, Executive Minister of Mission Northwest, serves as a pastor to pastors across a largely unchurched and independent region. His leadership supports more than 130 churches across Washington, Idaho, Montana, and beyond. While the Northwest is known for its breathtaking beauty, that same culture of independence and busyness often leaves little space for church engagement.

“The Northwest is stunning,” Laughary says. “God’s handiwork is on full display.” That beauty creates opportunities for reflection and awe, but it also shapes a context where many people are post-Christian—not wounded by faith, but unfamiliar with it. Effective evangelism, Laughary explains, often begins slowly, through healthy relationships built on trust rather than programs.

After more than 20 years pastoring a small-town church, Laughary has seen ministry change alongside broader cultural shifts like rising loneliness, anxiety, and division. His congregation responded by developing mental health and suicide-prevention ministries that serve both the church and the wider community.

Though their settings differ, Willard and Laughary describe the same need: companions for ministry in difficult ground. For both these pastors, Ascent has provided relationships, perspective, and encouragement for leaders learning to plant faithfully where growth is slow.

Rocky soil may demand more patience and deeper trust. But as these pastors affirm, it is often there that the roots of faithful ministry grow strongest.

Joined Horizon: Partners for a New Era in Global Mission

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:13:15 GMT

For many churches, global mission has long followed a familiar pattern: identify an agency, send support, and trust the system to carry the work forward. John Upton, a member of the Ascent Council and Project Lead for Church Engagement, explains that today’s Church calls for something more collaborative—and more formational.

Through the work of Ascent’s Global Mission Task Force, Upton and others have been asking a defining question: What unique contribution can Ascent offer churches engaging mission today? Rather than creating another sending agency, the task force envisioned a framework that connects churches to trusted partners while offering multiple, meaningful ways to participate. The result is Joined Horizon, a global mission initiative built around clearly defined pathways.

“At the heart of this,” Upton explains, “are three well-respected mission organizations who’ve come together within the Ascent network.” Each brings deep experience and a distinct approach. Restore Hope focuses on holistic restoration, TMS Global provides extensive infrastructure for missionary sending and care, and Canadian Baptist Ministries equips and empowers indigenous leaders to serve within their own cultural contexts.

Pathway One is the most immersive. It invites churches into a three-year journey of formation and engagement. Participants begin with training designed to help congregations reach beyond themselves and cross-cultural boundaries in their own communities. In the second year, churches spend time in deeply secular contexts, learning firsthand what ministry looks like where Christian presence is minimal. The third year culminates in a hands-on mission experience alongside one of the partner organizations. This pathway is designed not only to send people, but to shape how a church understands mission itself.

Pathway Two focuses on supporting and sending missionaries. Churches may come alongside missionaries already serving through one of the partner organizations, or support individuals raised up from within their own congregation who sense a call to cross-cultural mission. Through this pathway, churches remain relationally connected while benefiting from the training, infrastructure, and care provided by experienced mission partners.

Pathway Three centers on supporting local nationals - leaders already embedded in their own cultural and linguistic contexts. Rather than sending outsiders, this pathway equips and sustains those best positioned to lead gospel work where they live, offering training, resources, and long-term partnership.

For Upton, posture matters as much as structure. “Ascent is an opportunity to do ministry not from a place of certitude,” he says, “but from a place of learning.” Churches interested in Joined Horizon can learn more at the Ascent Summit directly from leaders and one or more breakout sessions, with additional information becoming available on the Ascent website soon.

Church in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:00:28 GMT

A unique co-evolution of parallel technological developments in artificial intelligence, robotics (as embodiments of AI), and biotech has facilitated an epochal global revolution more rapid than anything heretofore known in human history. This transformation is so accelerated that humans in the developed world are unable to understand what is occurring or adapt quickly enough to changes they can only intuit. The natural social reaction to this shifting reality is collective fear and uncertainty, and its byproduct is a wicked stew of individualism, pragmatism, polarization, nationalism, authoritarianism, and the like.

The typical ecclesial responses to AI and broader technological advancements seem to come in three forms: assimilation, rejection, and denial. Some churches and church leaders are rushing in with untempered enthusiasm, regarding AI as if it were like prior technologies - which it is not - and asking only how it might be used in the service of the gospel. Others regard AI as an attacking beast that must be vanquished, most of them unaware that they are already being discipled by AI through their interactions with media, social media, their phones, etc. The most common response is to pretend that any real changes are many years off and unlikely to result in major cultural upheavals. In varying degrees, each of these responses is inadequate at best, unproductive at least, and dangerous at worst.

Instead, churches and church leaders should be seeking to understand the epochal shift that is well underway and adapt in Spirit-led ways that are hopeful, biblical, relevant, and healthy. As we seek to respond faithfully, there are a number of questions that can guide our inquiry, two of which have proven helpful to me, my church, and the various ecclesial and secular leaders and organizations with whom I have consulted on this matter.

First and most generally: What does it mean now to be human and thus humane? This question matters both because the lines between human soul and effective intelligence are becoming fuzzy, and because the emerging cultural conversation is around “sentience” rather than being (or soulfulness). These questions naturally lead followers of Jesus to ask subsequently: Who is God, still, when technology can feel so divine?

Second and more specifically: What can redeemed people be that AI can never be? Since AI will always exist within the limits of time and space and in the image of its fallen human creators, our answers to this question will carry us into the spheres of theology, revelation, and biblical truth. Taking cues from church leaders like Augustine at the time of the last epochal shift, I have begun to rephrase the question: What does it mean to be virtuous (godly) in a virtual world?

I see some answers to these questions beginning to emerge, though exploring them in depth requires more space than this article provides. Suffice it to say here that the best of them lead quickly to non-anxious considerations of how the church will adapt faithfully and creatively as the world order we have known deconstructs, and the Western or Modern Epoch winds down. What I am hearing from a small-but-growing tribe of faithful church leaders inspires hope for such a time as this.

Rev. Dr. Jim Baucom is a pastor and consultant who has served as pastor of Columbia Church in Falls Church, VA, for 24 years. He is one of the founding leaders of Ascent and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Ascent Council.

Inaugural Pentecost Offering Exceeds Expectations

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:38:58 GMT

We are excited to share that, in response to the inaugural Pentecost Offering, churches and individuals came together during the weeks between Easter and Pentecost to contribute over $40,000 to special projects advancing the growth of the gospel throughout North America. Accompanied by a weekly devotional resource from best-selling author J.R. Briggs, stories were shared of the impact Ascent-related ministries are making from Cuba to Canada and many places in between.

Ashley Berryhill, Discipleship Minister at First Church Arlington, TX, expressed her congregation’s rationale for supporting the Pentecost Offering. “We give to the Pentecost Offering because we believe God’s Kingdom grows through seeds faithfully planted. Pentecost reminds us that when the Holy Spirit moves, the gospel doesn’t stay in one place - it multiplies. That’s the kind of work we want to invest in: planting churches, equipping leaders, and opening new doors for people to encounter Christ. We’ve found in Ascent partners who share this heartbeat, and we’re grateful to join in praying and giving toward a harvest that reaches across North America and, ultimately, the nations.”

The primary focus of the Pentecost Offering in 2026 was related to church planting and other areas of pioneering ministry that are specifically oriented to breaking new ground for the gospel. For instance, Purpose Church, located just outside Dover, Delaware, is reaching new families and current military members through their high-impact, high-touch ministry. Further north, New micro-churches are being seeded throughout French-speaking Canada and new missional leaders are being placed to generate multiplication hubs in key cities. The 2026 Offering supports ongoing efforts to engage the Latino community in upstate New York (Rochester and Buffalo) as well as efforts to plant a new bilingual congregation called The Boulevard Church in south Charlotte, NC.

Chris Backert, Senior Director of the Ascent Movement, shared “I’m grateful for the generosity of all those who contributed to our initial giving campaign and to the team of people who came together to make it happen. Such a response only a few weeks after the announcement at the Ascent Summit and before Pentecost is a clear demonstration that we are in a moment when people recognize God is doing something in North America. Like many, I will stop short of calling it a revival or awakening, but there is clearly a spiritual temperature that is rising throughout the continent.”

Adam Stadtmiller, Lead Pastor of Sea Change Church in La Jolla, CA, shared, “Earlier this year, just before Pentecost, I was struck by Numbers 18: 26-28, where God instructed the Levites to give a "tithe of the tithe" back to Him. It reminded me that those who receive God's provision should also lead in generosity. As a church, we committed to giving approximately 15% of our general fund to trusted mission partners. Supporting Ascent was an easy decision because of their vision, mission, and the integrity of their leadership. I hope more churches will join us in supporting this incredible ministry.”

For those who missed participating in the Pentecost Offering, Ascent is planning the launch of a similar Advent Offering this fall. The Advent Offering will focus on supporting ministry that represents the theme of God coming near through the tangible presence, proclamation, and demonstration of the gospel. It will have a special emphasis on the global witness of the broader Ascent Movement, while the Pentecost Offering is focused on North America. It will also feature a daily devotional resource from J.R. Briggs and is made possible, in part, by a gift from the EverBless Foundation.

To receive the daily devotional resource, please follow the links below.

Seasonal Resources for Churches

Seasonal Resources for Individuals

Theological Affirmations and Awakening

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:18:46 GMT

We are praying and working for awakenings that will touch the whole person and the whole community. As we worship the Holy Trinity, we are also invited to join the Trinity on the divine mission of reconciliation and restoration (2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2).

Ascent participants share a commitment to the Great Commission locally, regionally, and globally. We gather and work rooted in the historic, orthodox heart of the Nicene Creed of 381 and the 2010 Capetown Commitment (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). We aim for a dynamic, Jesus-centered orthodoxy that is faithful to scripture and the historical Christian faith, affirming timeless truth in a timely matter.

Specifically, we counter post-modern subjective thinking with a commitment to truth that transcends our personal or cultural narratives. We respond to the gender and sexual confusion of this moment with biblical celebration of humankind created in God’s image, invited to dwell with God and do the works of God as male and female. Our commitment to our Creator and the new creation found in Christ leads us to affirm complete equality of women and men, with full access to all of God’s callings and gifts for both sexes. Put simply, we are biblically egalitarian.

We believe that the global church is prophesying to the West, calling on formerly Christianized nations to repent and rediscover the gospel. What used to be the margins are now new centers of vital Christianity. We reject the syncretism of human ideologies that lead to moral and theological compromise. There is no place for any kind of classism or racism in the church.

Our Theological Affirmations are biblical, pneumatic, and prayer infused. While affirming objective truth rooted in the Bible, we also confess our radical dependency on the Holy Spirit who makes Christ our contemporary, enlivens the word, and empowers our service. All of God’s callings and gifts are present for the church to grow into the fullness of Christ and carry out the mission of God (Acts 2; Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16).

We agree with John Wesley that, “Prayer is where the action is.” God has decided that our cries and hopes, intercessions and petitions matter for the mission. This is why Ascent focuses on prayer as foundational (Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 1:19). We aim for the integration of orthodoxy, orthopathy, and orthopraxis. Intellectual acumen united with prayerful affections and obedient actions are all necessary for the display of God’s glory to a watching world (Ephesians 3:10).

Dr. Charles “Charlie” Self is a Visiting Professor at The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (2006-present, 2009- 2016 as a full-time professor) in Springfield, MO, where he teaches courses in church history, mission history, leadership development, and discipleship.

New Congregation Profile: Reimagining Church for a New Generation – inSPIRE Church

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:33:27 GMT

inSPIRE Church in Canmore, Alberta

Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, inSPIRE church is a new congregation taking shape in a place known more for outdoor adventure than religious life. Led by Pastor Rick Lamothe, inSPIRE is planting roots in Canmore, Alberta—a scenic mountain town of roughly 17,000 residents that swells with weekend visitors but has long seen minimal participation in church life.

Canmore’s beauty is undeniable. Surrounded by peaks, trails, and recreation, the town draws people from around the world seeking rest and inspiration. Yet for Lamothe, that setting also presents a unique ministry challenge. Many residents and visitors describe themselves as spiritual but disconnected from Christian community, and traditional church expressions have struggled to gain traction. In that sense, ministry in Canmore begins not with assumptions, but with listening, presence, and patient relationship-building.

inSPIRE officially launched in September 2025 with a small but committed core group. From the outset, the church has focused on creative and relational engagement with the broader community. During the Christmas season, inSPIRE participated in the town’s well-known Festival of Trees, offering a visible and thoughtful Christian witness in a public setting. The congregation also hosted a Christmas Eve gathering at a local historic venue, welcoming far more people than anticipated and signaling a hunger for meaningful connection and hope.

Lamothe describes the church as intentionally pioneering—seeking to speak clearly about Jesus while meeting people where they are. That posture shapes both worship and outreach, as the congregation works to form a community that is accessible, authentic, and missionally focused.

As an Ascent–affiliated congregation, inSPIRE is part of a wider family of churches committed to innovation, collaboration, and faithful witness in complex cultural spaces. For a young church in a spiritually diverse environment, that connection provides encouragement, shared learning, and a sense of belonging beyond geography.

Still early in its life, inSPIRE church is learning what it means to reimagine church for a new generation—trusting that faithful presence, planted carefully, can take root even in unexpected soil.

Learn more about Ascent’s Genesis Church Planters Cohort here.

Mustard Seed Faith in Rural Places

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:35:07 GMT

Spotlight on Florence Carlton Community Church

In the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana, faith often begins small—quiet acts of presence that take root long before they are noticed. David Blackwell, Senior Pastor of Florence Carlton Community Church , serves in a rural context where ministry rarely starts with programs or crowds, but with the slow work of cultivating community.

Florence is a small, unincorporated bedroom community—no main street, one stoplight, and few shared gathering places. “Without a town center,” Blackwell explains, “there are few points of common connection. In order to minister in our community, we often have to first create community.” In that setting, the church’s work often looks like planting seeds—showing up consistently, building relationships, and trusting God for growth that cannot be rushed.

The scale of rural life, however, brings distinct advantages. Smaller communities are more personal and relational, allowing trust to form naturally. People are known, not anonymous, and churches are evaluated by presence rather than reputation. Blackwell notes that Florence Carlton Community Church is welcomed as a partner alongside the local school, fire department, and other organizations. That trust lowers barriers and opens doors for shared service.

Over time, the congregation has shifted from an inward focus to a deliberately missional posture. The church has embraced the call to “represent Jesus well” in tangible ways—often becoming one of the largest gathering spaces and volunteer bases in the community. In rural places where resources are limited, faithfulness often looks like availability and reliability rather than visibility.

That emphasis on mission is also what drew the church into relationship with Ascent, first encountered through Mission Northwest. As denominational connections strain under competing priorities, Ascent has provided what Blackwell describes as a “new wineskin”—a way to collaborate with theologically aligned churches around shared mission, even when structures and polity differ.

“For us,” Blackwell says, “Ascent is the next step for like-hearted congregations and leaders to collaborate on mission for Jesus.” In rural places, mustard seed faith rarely draws attention at first. But planted carefully and nurtured together, it grows—quietly, steadily, and with lasting impact.

Ascent sponsors monthly Mustard Seed Meetups for pastors to connect with other leaders like those from Florence Carlton Community Church. The next Mustard Seed Meetup is July 23 ^rd at 1.00. You can find the link to join here - Monthly Meetup.

For more information or to get connected with our efforts to fuel vital mission for small churches and churches in small places, contact Kathleen Blackey at Kathleen.Blackey@ascentmovement.org .

Webinar- Raising People Up: Leadership Development for Small and Rural Churches

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:40:23 GMT

What if leadership wasn’t just about keeping things going?

What if leadership in the church wasn’t just about keeping things going, but about intentionally investing in people?

When nearly half of pastors are facing burnout, it is easy to feel stuck managing what is instead of developing what could be. And yet, the mission we’ve been given was never just to maintain what is, but to raise up and empower others to step into it with us.

This webinar grew out of conversations we had at the Ascent Gathering in March—especially during the workshop on rural churches and the breakout focused on small church ministry. Again and again, we heard a shared desire: to move beyond simply sustaining ministry and toward developing people.

The Mustard Seed Initiative is excited to host a webinar with David Blackwell and Kris Beckert on Leadership Development. Our hope is that this conversation will help your church build simple, realistic pathways for people to grow into the leadership God is calling them toward.

In this 75-minute webinar, David and Kris will each share insights from their own churches and ministries, with a focus on what leadership development can look like in small and rural contexts. There will also be time for interaction and questions, so we can engage the real challenges and opportunities you’re facing.

If you’ve been sensing the need to invest more intentionally in others, this is a great place to start. Join us next month as we explore how leadership development can become a natural part of your church’s life and mission.

May 4 ^th at 1pm ET

Zoom Link

 David Blackwell

David is currently the senior pastor of Florence-Carlton Community Church, a mid-sized congregation in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, where he’s served for 21 years. David has spent 40 years of ministry in small town and rural settings, and his passion is helping both churches and pastors embrace outwardly-focused ministry in those contexts. In addition to his work at Florence, he currently serves as the Mentor Pastor for Mission Northwest in western Montana. David earned his M.Div./R.E. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and was ordained in 1986. David and his wife Beth married in 1985. David loves music, 19th century American history, and any sport with a scoreboard. Beth loves reading and almost anything with an artistic bent. They have four adult children and six grandchildren.

Kris Beckert

Kris is pastor of Table Life Church. She completed the M.Div. at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC and has served at churches in the Baptist, United Methodist, and Nazarene traditions. Prior to being called to ministry, she received an M.S. in environmental science from the University of Maryland, where she also worked in the field, researching coastal environments and enhancing science communication. Kris is an avid runner, cartoonist, and archer and enjoys cheering for her Carolina TarHeels and Philadelphia Phillies.

Purpose Church Launches in Magnolia, Delaware with a Vision to Help People Discover God’s Purpose for Their Lives

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:54:16 GMT

Magnolia, DE-

A new and growing congregation, Purpose Church , has officially launched in Magnolia, Delaware, marking an exciting new chapter for the region’s faith community. The church, planted by William and Tramaine Guy , represents a collaboration between the Ascent Movement , the Ecclesia Network , and the American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware (ABCOPAD) .
Recently, Purpose Church moved into Robinson Elementary School after outgrowing its original meeting space in a local fire hall—a testament to the growing enthusiasm and participation among residents in the Magnolia area, just south of Dover.
Pastor William A. Guy , the founding and lead pastor of Purpose Church, describes the church as a vibrant, multicultural community centered on helping people “experience God’s love, discover His purpose for their lives, and live it out daily.”

Pastor Guy’s journey to ministry began during his time at Delaware State University , where he came to faith in Christ and began leading a campus ministry while also competing on the men’s track team. It was there that he met his wife, Tramaine, who now partners with him in ministry. Together, they have four children and one grandchild, and they make their home in nearby Dover.
With over two decades of ministry experience, Pastor Guy brings a depth of leadership and pastoral care to this new work. In addition to his role at Purpose Church, he also serves as an Air Force Chaplain and is a Board-Certified Life Coach —roles that reflect his passion for helping people grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.

“Purpose Church is built on the belief that every person has a God-given purpose,” Pastor Guy shared. “We want to be a church that helps people uncover that purpose and live it out in their families, their workplaces, and their communities.”
Chris Backert , National Director of both the Ascent Movement and the Ecclesia Network, expressed strong support for the launch.

“We are excited to be part of the journey of Purpose Church and their calling in Central Delaware,” Backert said. “William and Tramaine have tremendous experience in connecting with people far from God and opening up the life of faith with them. I believe there is great promise for their mission locally and the impact it will have in the community and beyond.”

The Ascent Movement, Ecclesia Network, and ABCOPAD partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting healthy, sustainable church planting efforts that are locally rooted and missionally focused. Purpose Church’s story is already inspiring many as an example of what can happen when collaboration, calling, and community come together under God’s leading.
Purpose Church currently gathers weekly for worship at Robinson Elementary School in Magnolia. Services feature engaging worship, practical teaching, and a welcoming environment designed to help people from all backgrounds encounter the hope and love of Christ.

For more information about Purpose Church—including service times, upcoming events, and ways to get involved—visit www.purposechurchde.org .

Vital Preschools- A Movement in the Making

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 18:09:36 GMT

In a crowded room at Columbia Church in Falls Church, VA, a BGAV-participating congregation, something powerful was taking shape—more than a training, more than a gathering. It was a movement.

On March 18, 2025, as part of the Ascent Curators meeting, 31 church leaders from seven states and four denominations gathered for the first-ever Vital Preschools Project immersion. The pre-conference event focused on equipping churches to see their weekday preschools and Child Development Centers (CDCs) as mission-critical tools for evangelism and discipleship. Participants included senior pastors, children’s and family ministers, teachers, center directors, and others who invest their lives in ministering to young children and their families.

“We began praying and meeting monthly on Zoom,” explained Lora Gravatt, co-curator of the initiative. “Today is our first in-person immersion, and it’s amazing to see what God is doing.”

Affirmation, Alignment, and an On-ramp for Discipleship

For Holly Wilson, associate pastor at University Methodist Church in San Antonio, the event brought deep affirmation.

“Every conversation confirmed we’re not alone,” Wilson said. “We’ve felt like we were out there by ourselves, trying to make our preschool ministry central to our mission. Now, I know there’s a whole network of churches doing the same. We’re not just teaching kids what good people do; we’re introducing them to who God is.”

University MC Lead Pastor Ben Trammell said preschools are often an untapped resource for connection and formation. “It’s a challenge to get some senior leaders to see preschool as a strategic ministry,” he said. “But I can’t think of anything that provides greater long-term access to families. There’s no other ministry that gives us instant, trusted access to families who may not attend church on Sundays—but will walk through our doors for the sake of their children. If you do this right, preschool becomes a decades-long on-ramp into the life of the church.”

A National Vision

The vision behind Vital Preschools is rooted in a fundamental question: what if the future of the church isn’t about bringing more people to Sunday services, but about bringing the mission of the church into the spaces where people already are—especially families with young children?

This question resonated deeply throughout the Vital Preschools Project gathering.

“Preschool is where the most unchurched families walk through your doors every day,” commented Gravatt. “That’s 80% of the battle.”

Across workshops and hallway conversations, participants reflected on how their preschools had become doorways for spiritual connection in an increasingly secular world. Instead of waiting for parents to cross the threshold of the sanctuary, churches were finding ways to meet them in the drop-off line, at parent-teacher conferences, and during weekday chapel services.

Participants attend the first Vital Preschools Project immersion event as part of the Ascent Curators meeting in March 2025.

The impact of these interactions ofte n went beyond the classroom. As one participant shared during the final session, “We had a mother who lost both her parents in the span of a year. The preschool staff and church team were the first people she turned to—not because she was a member of our congregation, but because she trusted us with her child. That relationship opened a path for hope and healing, and eventually, for her to explore faith.”

Stories like these were common. What began as simple care for children often grew into multi-year relationships with families. Parents who might have felt nervous about attending a worship service would show up for a preschool Christmas program or an end-of-year chapel. Grandparents who moved into town to help with childcare found themselves welcomed into the life of the church. Over time, a spiritual community formed—sometimes quietly, always intentionally.

Much of the success of these ministries lies in the careful and creative planning by church teams. From curriculum to chapel rhythm, from family engagement strategies to teacher support, churches were encouraged to view every element of the preschool as a space for formation. Rather than relying solely on Bible storybooks or holiday programs, leaders spoke about crafting holistic experiences that shaped the way children and adults alike encountered the love of God.

As Gravatt put it, 'We’re not just planting seeds in kids—we’re watering the ground their families walk on.'

Expansion Strategy and Open Invitation

Looking ahead, the Vital Preschools Project isn’t simply about strengthening existing programs. It’s about casting a vision wide enough to inspire churches who have never considered weekday ministry as part of their evangelistic outreach. Organizers hope to create a national network where churches at all stages—from planting to revitalization—can learn from one another, share resources, and serve as hubs of transformation in their communities.

Leaders of the initiative have a bold strategy to expand this model across the country, organized around three concentric circles:

· Teaching Churches – serving as mentors and models

· Transitional Churches – looking to re-integrate existing CDCs into their mission

· Pioneering Churches – utilizing space to launch new ministries

The initiative is open to churches who already have weekday preschools or are interested in starting one. Through peer connections, consultant support, and resource sharing, the network helps churches imagine and implement spiritually formative preschool ministries.

Different Contexts, Same Calling

Jim Baucom, co-pastor of Columbia Church, emphasized that this is not a one-size-fits-all program. 'What we’re building is a community of practice,” he said. “Every context is different, but the mission is the same. Whether you're in a rural town or a major city, whether you’re running a full-day center or a part-time preschool, the goal is to help children and families meet Jesus in everyday life.”

That sense of calling echoed in the room as the event came to a close. Participants lingered over coffee and conversations, exchanging contact information, comparing notes on classroom design, and sharing dreams for what might come next.

It was clear that for many, this gathering wasn’t just a training—it was a turning point.

“We don’t need another program,” concluded Wilson. “We need a mission. For many churches, it’s already under our feet—it’s our preschool.”

For more information—or to join the movement—contact Lora Gravatt at lgravatt@columbia.church . Future opportunities include Learning Labs for Vital Preschools at BGAV’s Annual Meeting, November 10-12, 2025.

New Disciple-Making Project Launching in Rochester, NY!

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:13:54 GMT

Hope in Every Heart, Purpose in Every Life

Ascent is excited to be partnering with Rev. Carlos and Rosa Laguer in starting a new mission initiative in the heart of Rochester, NY. Carlos is a former District Superintendent of the Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church and brings decades of experience and gifts to this new role. Ascent leaders are grateful for the opportunity to work with a leaders of Carlos and Rosa's experience, humility, and capacity.

Jesus Living Hope is a ministry inspired by the heart of God, dedicated to seeking and restoring people who have been marginalized and displaced by traditional structures and religious culture. They will focus on reaching the second and third generations of believers who have felt distant from the Gospel and they are committed to reaching and healing men and women who are wounded and, in many cases, have felt abandoned in their spiritual journey. With a simple message deeply inspired by the manifold grace of God, Jesus Living Hope seeks to awaken the restoring and sanctifying power of God in each life, revealed in Christ Jesus.

Rev. Carlos shared that they have a particular heart to extend their mission to thousands of single-parent families and those with non-traditional family structures throughout the Rochester metro area, bringing hope and spiritual renewal to those who need it most. Jesus Living Hope has been in the process of building a core team for the last several months and began monthly preview services this Fall. Please pray for Jesus Living Hope as they grow their public presence throughout the Advent Season and into 2025! If you have an interest in becoming a mission partner with Jesus Living Hope, please reach out at info@ascentmovement.org

Our Theological Foundation: Introducing Ascent’s Affirmations

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:01:11 GMT

By Dr. Charlie Self

Introduction

Ascent is a movement of the Holy Spirit focused on re-engaging North America with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are praying and working for an awakening that will touch the whole person and the whole community. As we worship the Holy Trinity, we are also invited to join the Trinity on the divine mission of reconciliation and restoration (2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2).

Ascent is a new kind of "missional connectionalism" for the Church in North America—a movement of congregations, leaders, ministries, networks, associations, and theological institutions sharing a common goal of living out the Great Commission locally, regionally, and globally in an increasingly post-Church culture. We gather and work rooted in the historic, orthodox heart of the Nicene Creed of 381 and the 2010 Capetown Commitment (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

Truth and unity in a polarized, post-modern, and globalized world. We aim for a dynamic, Jesus-centered orthodoxy that is faithful to scripture and the historical Christian faith, affirming timeless truth in a timely matter. Such commitment liberates God’s people from ideological captivity and cultural and religious syncretism. In the Nicene Creed of 381 and the Capetown Commitment of 2010, we find resources for a clear and inclusive and unifying summary of our theological affirmations.

Our posture is one of centrist, confessional historic faith. We consciously aim at avoiding the polarizing ideologies infecting public conversations and dividing the church. We counter post-modern epistemological anarchy with a commitment to truth that transcends our personal or cultural narratives. We respond to the gender and sexual confusion of this moment with biblical celebration of humankind created in God’s image, invited to dwell with God and do the works of God as male and female. Our commitment to our Creator and the new creation found in Christ leads us to affirm complete equality of women and men, with full access to all of God’s callings and gifts for both sexes. Put simply, we are biblically egalitarian.

We believe that the global church is being empowered to prophesy to the West, calling on formerly Christianized nations to repent and rediscover the gospel afresh. What used to be the margins are now new centers of vital Christianity and we rejoice in the progress the evangelization in the past two centuries. The global church is also calling on many Christian movements to rediscover biblical truth and reject the syncretism of human ideologies that lead to moral and theological compromise. There is no place for any kind of classism, ethnocentrism, or racism in the church.

Our Theological Affirmations: Biblical, Pneumatic, and Prayer-Infused

Rooted in historical orthodoxy and the Capetown Commitment, we have refined our affirmations for fidelity to the truth and clarity for contemporary belivers and seekers. Faithfulness comes before originality (Thomas Oden), yet every generation must articulate the “faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” (Jude 3 cf. I Corinthians 15:3-8 and Philippians 2:5-11)

While affirming objective truth rooted in the Bible, we also confess our radical dependency on the Holy Spirit who makes Christ our contemporary, enlivens the Word and empowers our service. All of God’s callings and gifts are present for the church to grow into the fullness of Christ and carry out the mission of God (Romans 12:1-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12-14; Acts 2). Our vision for awakening included revitalization of every belivers and each local church and such joy overflowing to every arena of the community.

“Prayer is where the action is.” (John Wesley) God has decided that our cries and hopes, intercessions and petitions matter for the mission. This is why Ascent focuses on prayer as foundational for awakening, mission progress, and transformation of persons and communities (Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 1:19)

Orthodoxy, Orthopathy, and Orthopraxis

Intellectual acumen united with prayerful affections and obedient actions are all necessary for the display of God’s glory to a watching world (Ephesians 3:10). Out Theological Affirmations are thoughtful and represent the serious consensus of diverse leaders committed to Ascent’s mission. These Affirmations also engage the heart, calling for new dispositions of compassion and conviction, forgiveness and hope. For God’s people of all traditions, right theology/worship must lead to the obedience that springs from faith (Romans 1:5).

The prophetic poetry of Micah 6:8 is a clarion call to integration: doing justice rooted in loving mercy is the fruit of humbly walking with God. We are calling on God’s people to be “contemplative activists” (MaryKate Morse and Charlie Self), equally at home sitting at the feet of Jesus and washing the feet of all in need of grace (John 13:1-6).

In our listening to young (20s and 30s) Christian leaders in North America, we discovered three vital points of consensus for fruitful mission going forward: 1) Stay faithful to Scripture and historic, consensual theology; 2) Avoid the ideological cliffs of Left or Right political ideologies; 3) Always integrate the declaration of the gospel along with the incarnational apologetics of doing good works that change people and communities.

Back to the Future: An Invitation

We invite leaders and movements to find a home with Ascent as we join Jesus on his mission. We are hopeful realists, aware of extraordinary grace of God and challenges of ordinary life. May we be an answer to the prayer of Jesus and walk in joyful unity (John 17:21).

For more of Ascent’s theological foundation, please visit our affirmations here.

Calling Multipliers & Missional Leaders

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 23:57:59 GMT

Re-Claiming the Great Commission in Today's Context

How many new followers of Jesus have been made through your church in the recent past? Do you wish it was more?

Before his Ascension Jesus left his followers with the last words that would echo throughout church history. In Matthew 28, Luke 24, John 20, and Acts 1 we are given the accounts of what is now called “The Great Commission.” These words have provided the foundation for the purposes of the church throughout the ages. Most likely, when you sensed a call to ministry, this commission played a role in your call. When you planted a church or worked toward renewing an existing ministry, it was these words that compelled you to count the cost and say yes to the task at hand. Yet, in spite of all their power, over time it’s easy for the focus of the church to stray away from the basic instructions Jesus gave us.

As church leaders in North America, we are being called back to the Great Commission. We are living in a moment in history when our churches must center again on the main task that Jesus left for us to do with the power and wisdom that Jesus left for us to do it. At Multiply 2025 , we’ll turn our attention back to Jesus' famous final charge. We will consider afresh what they mean for the churches we lead and the context we serve. We will invite the Holy Spirit to visit us with power for the calling before us. We will open our hearts and ask the Father to will them with love and passion for the world we are called to.

Along with notable Ecclesia leaders like J.R. Briggs and Kevin Nderitu, we are delighted to be joined by Ascent guests such as Miriam Swanson, Paul Maconochie, and Eliseo Mejia. Miriam is one of the most sought-after speakers and contemporary evangelists currently in North America. She is the Executive Director of Fusion USA, a ministry focused on reaching college students and raising up the next generation of Christian leaders. Paul Maconochie is the National Director for Uptick. Uptick is a disciple-making and leadership development ministry dedicated to training leaders to carry out the Great Commission through local churches. Paul is a pastor at Grace Gathering in Fort Wayne, IN and has previously been involved in training leaders through 3dm in multiple countries around the world. Eliseo Mejia is a seasoned pastor and church planter now working with the Ascent Movement in the area of mobilization.

*Multiply 2025 is hosted by the Ecclesia Network in partnership with the Ascent Movement and sponsored by the Everbless Foundation .

Winebrenner Seminary Celebrates Historic Graduating Class

robert@solidcreative.media (Robert Frazier) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 20:55:58 GMT

By Dr. Martin Robinson

This past summer, thirty-nine students graduated from Winebrenner Theological Seminary with master’s degrees in Clinical Counseling, Practical Theology, and Divinity as well as three who received their doctorates in Ministry. It was not an ending as much as a culmination of one phase and a beginning of a new phase—a new phase of leading, service, giving to others, and continuing growth.

Here are a few reflections from those who participated in the ceremony and are Winebrenner graduates from a few years past:

Sometimes a graduation feels like the end of something; the end of study, of assignments, of prescribed reading, of tight schedules. It’s actually much more.

Winebrenner graduates move into roles in strengthening marriages, families, and relationships, building into others with unconditional love, discipleship, spiritual formation, and more. They serve as counselors, pastors, teachers, and mentors; as leaders, chaplains, servants, and role-models, and in so many other careers too numerous to list here.

We are blessed to have played a part in their development and formation, and we celebrate that God continues to work in them and through them to change the world.

As part of the festivities, Reverend Doctor Robert Turner, a founding member of the Ascent Council, delivered the Commencement Address. You can view the full ceremony, including Dr. Turner’s address, by clicking here .

Winebrenner Seminary is a founding member of the Ascent Seminary Network