Partners
Ascent is a collaboration of like-hearted partners who share a common call and culture around the Great Commission. We are composed of local congregations, regional denominational families, national ministry networks and communions, mission agencies, non-profit ministries, and theological institutions.
Wherever and whenever possible, we collaborate with our partners regionally or in their specific areas of expertise.
Networks
Partner Ministries & Mission Agencies
Seminary & Theological Education Network
The Church in North America requires a deep well for theological education and the flexibility of creating pathways for leadership preparation in innovative ways. We are proud to have a growing number of affiliated and cooperating seminaries and theological institutions part of the Ascent Movement. Many offer discounts and particular benefits for Ascent affiliated churches and leaders.
Partner/Supporting Churches
Cooperating Partner Churches
These congregations are the most invested participants in the ministry of Ascent. They are engaged practically, cohere theologically and missiologically, given financially, and have taken a proactive step within their own church context to be affiliated with the Ascent Movement.
Engaged Churches
These congregations are involved practically in some aspect of Ascent’s work and have signaled a common purpose and calling with the Ascent Movement.
Partner-Affiliated Churches
While not specifically engaged in the ministry of Ascent, these congregations largely express a similar heart for the gospel and a shared theological and missiological perspective with the Ascent Movement. They are connected to Ascent through one of our partners.
Supporting Churches
These congregations financially support the ministry of Ascent overall, or a particular aspect of Ascent’s work throughout North America. We are grateful for them and their sacrificial giving.
Initiatives & Projects
The call of Ascent is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in growing the life of the Gospel throughout North America and beyond. We believe this is a multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-faceted task that necessities a wide array of strategies and approaches. Here are some of our current Mission Initiatives & Projects.
Catalyzing the Latino Witness
The gospel is growing in power among the Latino community, both in North America and around the world. Within a few decades, it is highly possible that the Hispanic community will be the largest single demographic comprising the church in North America. We believe that a faithful gospel witness in North America will not only support the Latino church in reaching the Latino community, but will help empower the Latino church into influence within the broader Christian movement in North America.
Church Planting & Multiplication
It has been well documented that new churches are one of the most effective approaches to reaching new people. Challenging as starting a new faith community can be, Ascent continues to believe that it is critical to the work of the gospel in every generation. After all, every church was once a church start. Within Ascent we uphold a theologically based, missiologically attuned, contextual approach to planting and multiplication that is steeped in the best wisdom of multiple generations and varied models based on context.
Congregational Vitality & Renewal (The Renew Center: Future-Fitting Congregations for the Mission Ahead)
If God were to call forth a new generation of missionaries throughout North America, they would be called from mostly existing churches and they would not need to necessarily leave their current vocation to respond to this call. With this in mind, renewing the mission of the local church in practical ways that catalyze congregations to become outward agents of the gospel is essential to the future of mission.
Global Relief, Disaster Response, and Humanitarian Aid
Throughout the centuries, the Christian witness has been propelled by an ongoing effort to meet need in the lives of individuals facing difficulty and communities facing challenges. Ascent supports robust efforts to meet human need in the name of Christ wherever and whenever possible.
Ministry Discernment and Recognition
Ascent celebrates and affirms the call to ministry and service of men and women who seek to extend the life and witness of the Church throughout North America. We offer wisdom, guidance and support for clergy seeking ministry contexts and churches seeking leadership.
Mustard Seed Initiative
nspired by the message in the parable of the mustard seed, the Mustard Seed Initiative seeks to empower small churches and churches in small places across North America, enabling them to grow in faith and impact within their communities. The smallest seed can grow into the largest of garden plants, offering shelter and sustenance, and churches can do the same. Our mission is to cultivate these seeds of potential, transforming them into thriving centers of spiritual growth and outreach.
Receiving the Global Gospel
The Gospel is growing in power around the world and key parts of the church where the Spirit of God is moving in power are coming to North America. In addition to a continued focus on sending the gospel around the world, Ascent believes that it will be essential that we learn to receive the Gospel that is growing in Power around the world into the core life of the North American church.
Vital Pre-Schools Project: Starting & Strengthening Child Development Centers for Kingdom Impact
Generation Alpha is the least churched demographic in North America and their Generation Y and Z parents are not far behind. A vital gospel witness will not happen without an effective concentration on children and youth. Yet, many churches are missing out on some of the lowest hanging gospel possibilities immediately in front of them – Preschool and Child Development Centers. The Vital Pre-Schools Project aims to help churches that have CDC’s making them more fruitful in evangelism and disciple-making both for the church that are part of them and the parents that bring them. It also envisions helping churches start CDC’s if they don’t have one presently.