Boot Camp Prepares Church Planters for New Church Launches

Matt Johnson and Brian Ebel, along with some of their team members, recently attended the Church Planter’s Boot Camp led by Rev. Jim Griffith. Jim has planted four churches and coaches numerous annual conferences in their church planting ministries.  The purpose of the boot camp is to help prepare newly appointed church planters for their new ministry. Persons who attend boot camp have been assessed and selected to be church planters and have been matched with their church planting location. As time nears for the appointment to begin, it is critical for planters to “hit the ground running.” The boot camp focuses on the “nuts and bolts” issues and concerns church planters will face in their first months, such as how to make new contacts, raising funds for the church plant, recruitment and discipling of leaders, as well as self-care in light of the daunting task of planting. 

Bishop Davis has appointed Matt Johnson to plant a new church in the Hebron area of Boone County and Brian Ebel to plant a church in eastern Jefferson County. The churches of the Covington District are partnering with Matt in his new ministry, and St. Paul UMC is the anchor church for Brian’s new church start. We are thrilled that God has called these two young pastors to this ministry. They have participated in a thorough assessment process throughout this past year and have also participated in training events. Both planters are already engaged in a coaching relationship which will help focus and guide the ministries in the early years of the church plant. 

NCCD (New Church & Congregational Development) celebrates that these two geographic areas, which have been identified for some time as high population growth areas, will now have United Methodist church planters deployed to them to purposefully focus on reaching unchurched and dechurched people for God’s Kingdom.

Brian and Mandy Ebel and Matt and Beth Johnson need our prayers and encouragement, not only from the Louisville and Covington Districts, but from all across the conference.

Matt and Beth Johnson, along with Kevin Burney, Covington District Superintendent, at Boot Camp in Georgia