Ministry Focus
Church Planting
The mission of Jesus cannot be fulfilled apart from the establishment of local churches.
At ABWE, we are driven by the belief that fulfilling the Great Commission involves not only making disciples of all nations but also establishing thriving local communities of believers—churches. Church planting lies at the heart of our missions agency as we strive to follow Jesus’ call to go and make disciples of all nations.
Since our first missionary, Dr. Raphael Thomas, arrived in the Philippines, we have been committed to winning new believers, nurturing them through discipleship, and establishing local churches. These churches become centers of spiritual growth, fervent evangelism, and eventually, they send their own missionaries throughout the world. Our church planting efforts provide the foundation for the advancement of the gospel to every corner of the earth—to the unreached and beyond.
The Biblical Mandate for Church Planting
Church planting finds its foundation in the teachings and examples set forth in the Bible. Throughout the New Testament, we see the apostles and early believers actively engaged in church planting, establishing vibrant Christian communities in various regions:
- The Great Commission: In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus commissions his disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that he commanded. The formation of churches is integral to this process of making disciples, nurturing them in the faith, and fostering a Christ-centered community.
- The Apostle Paul’s Ministry: The apostle Paul exemplified the essence of church planting during his missionary journeys. He established churches in cities like Corinth, Ephesus, and Thessalonica, where he preached the Gospel, discipled new believers, appointed elders, and provided pastoral oversight (Acts 14:21-23, Titus 1:5).
- The Early Church in Acts: The book of Acts provides numerous accounts of church planting efforts. The apostles and early Christians planted churches in response to the transformative power of the gospel, resulting in the rapid expansion of Christianity (Acts 2:41-47, Acts 16:5).
Church Revitalization: Strengthening Established Churches
In addition to our focus on church planting, we recognize the critical role of church revitalization efforts in contexts where established churches exist but have grown weak in terms of vitality, effectiveness, doctrinal integrity, spiritual health, and missional living. We understand that these once-strong churches are now facing the risk of collapse, and their communities are in need of restoration.
Our missionaries play a crucial role in bringing much-needed revival to such struggling churches. By working with local believers and leaders, we address the challenges faced by these churches and provide support to strengthen their spiritual foundations. Church revitalization efforts encompass a range of activities, such as:
- Doctrinal Integrity: Ensuring that the foundational teachings and beliefs of the church align with biblical principles and theological truths.
- Spiritual Health: Fostering an atmosphere of spiritual growth, discipleship, and prayer within the church community.
- Leadership Development: Equipping leaders and pastors with the necessary training and resources to lead the church effectively.
- Missional Living: Encouraging the church to actively engage in evangelism and outreach to impact their local communities positively.
- Worship and Fellowship: Cultivating meaningful worship experiences and nurturing a strong sense of community among believers.
- Community Engagement: Involving the church in various ministries and outreach programs that address the practical needs of the community.
Join Our Church Planting and Revitalization Teams
If you possess a passion for starting new churches or restoring struggling ones, we invite you to join our church planting and revitalization teams. As part of these teams, you will have the opportunity to engage in various ministries, including:
- Bible studies
- Business ministries
- Church restoration
- College ministries
- Coffeehouse ministries
- Hospitals
- Music ministries
- Sports ministries
- Women’s clinics
- Youth camps
We are looking for individuals who are bold in their love for Christ, patient in their endeavors, and deeply committed to living out their faith. If you feel called to serve in church planting or revitalization efforts internationally as a missionary, we would love to connect with you and explore how your passion and skills can make a lasting impact in the kingdom of God.
Is God calling you to use your skills on the mission field?
Opportunities
Agricultural Development
South AsiaServe as a coordinator for developing agricultural programs that help tribal people move from slash-and-burn farming methods to stable hillside gardens and orchards.
Assistant Church Planters
NicaraguaThe church planting movement in Nicaragua is growing rapidly. Come work alongside national pastors with both new and existing church plants in a variety of locations both urban and rural.
Assistant Community Church Leader
United StatesThe church-planting team in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania is looking for long-term community group leader to help with their thriving church plant.
Projects
Project Fit
Project Fit includes a CrossFit Gym (LIFT) and church (Rx Church). We use the gym as a way to build community and relationships with middle-class Thais. Rx Church was started as our gym members began to follow Jesus. Our goal is to start more gyms throughout the city within the next 5 years.…
Crossroads Baptist Church – Ukraine
In 2014 God brought together a team to plant a new church in the Luzanivka region of Odesa Ukraine. This is a poor region where alcoholism, drugs and crime are a part of the culture. Crossroads Baptist Church began in a small rented space using a variety of ministries to reach out to the community and there is now a thriving church there.…
The Global Gospel Fund: Celebrate Christmas by Sending Missionaries
God created humanity to know and enjoy him (Isaiah 43:7). Yet billions remain lost in sin, with over two billion people worldwide who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus commissioned his church to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).…
Project Fit
Project Fit includes a CrossFit Gym (LIFT) and church (Rx Church). We use the gym as a way to build community and relationships with middle-class Thais. Rx Church was started as our gym members began to follow Jesus. Our goal is to start more gyms throughout the city within the next 5 years.…
Crossroads Baptist Church – Ukraine
In 2014 God brought together a team to plant a new church in the Luzanivka region of Odesa Ukraine. This is a poor region where alcoholism, drugs and crime are a part of the culture. Crossroads Baptist Church began in a small rented space using a variety of ministries to reach out to the community and there is now a thriving church there.…
The Global Gospel Fund: Celebrate Christmas by Sending Missionaries
God created humanity to know and enjoy him (Isaiah 43:7). Yet billions remain lost in sin, with over two billion people worldwide who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus commissioned his church to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).…
El Roi University Center Togo
El Roï was created to reach a specific population of unreached/under-engaged Islamic Students who currently study at the University of Kara through various services who are then invited to join a bible study group with the ultimate goal of a church plant in their own village or city by their own people group.…
Bible and Life Church Kyiv Support
Bible and Life Church in Kyiv led by Pastor Yevhen develop leaders and reach the community with the gospel since 2000. Since the war escalated in 2022, this church has assisted the internally displaced Ukrainians who have fled from more dangerous or destroyed towns.…
Ayvalik Church Building
We want to purchase a building that will enable the Ayvalik Church to have a more secure future under local leadership. The house church model has not proven to be very workable in this area. Most organizations have reached this conclusion.…
Ensenada Discipleship Center
The establishment of the Ensenada Discipleship Center is far from just a physical structure and represents a vision to further amplify our ministry efforts in Puerto Varas, Chile. The goal is to purchase a 2.5 acre property with a house and ministry building on it to use for discipleship and training purposes.…
Sorriso Church Property Purchase
This project is the first phase of a project to eventually construct a church building in the west central Brazilian city of Sorriso. Sorriso is the agri-business capital of Brazil and located in one of the fastest growing regions of the country.…
Cabanillas Church Building
Iglesia Evangelica of Suanzes (the mother church) is in process of purchasing a building for the team to use as a church space. We need to raise $200,000 to complete the renovation and make the space usable. …
Africa (Togo) Anniversary Fund
This coming spring, ABWE will be celebrating 50 years of ministry in Togo. There will be government officials, current and former missionaries, along with pastors and other ministry leaders from all over the country. $35,000 is needed for this wonderful celebration.…
Ghana Ministry
Ongoing church planting and discipleship ministry in HO, Volta Region of Ghana.…
Church Planting in Varna George and Ann (Bulgaria)
Great things are in progress on the mission field through this ministry! Our missionaries will be sharing more project details shortly and look forward to how you might get involved. If you need to get in touch immediately, let us know at info@abwe.org…
Project Esperanza Viva Colombia
We propose the purchase of a building for the purpose of church, community center, and counseling center. We have a vision of seeing these ministries be part of the local church and a vital aspect to the community where the church is located.…
Bay Life Baptist Church with Andrew Pryce (Jamaica)
Bay Life Baptist Church exist to meet people at their point of spiritual need, move them into a right relationship with God through His Holy Spirit and His Son Jesus Christ, and to mature them in their walk with God. The church evangelizes the unsaved by proclaiming of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, educates believers in a manner consistent with the requirements of Holy Scripture, protects the church from false teaching according to Titus 3:9, provide foods and household items to those in their community, and engages the youth as the next generation of ambassadors for Christ.…
PABWE Project Care
As PABWE missionaries only receive minimal regular support, project care is intended to address emergency cases and assist PABWE missionaries upon retirement.…
PABWE Building Maintenance
Supporting PABWE Headquarters and Missions Guest House ongoing projects and maintenance so it can be a place for meetings, trainings, and more.…
Holy Trinity Baptist Church in Bals with Ionut
This project is to support a Live Global national partnership in Romania.…
PABWE President
Eddie and Jan Rayos Eddie Rayos hailed from the highlands of Malaybalay Bukidnon, Mindanao Philippines, where one of the first Fundamental Baptist Churches (Bethel Baptist Church) was planted by ABWE. God called and enabled him into pastoral service for more than 30 years.…
Moldova Institute of Church Planting
We are teaching national students and leaders the fundamental aspects of strengthening existing churches with the goal of starting new daughter churches. Some of these leaders are now involved in starting new churches and we are providing the biblical tools necessary to help them.…
Lomba Grande Retreat Center and Church Plant
We desire to support a church plant and retreat center in Lomba Grande, Brazil. The objective of lgreja da Esperanca is to evangelize the local community, disciple believers, and train future church leaders. The objective of the Sitio da Esperanca is to provide a location for local churches to evangelize, disciple, and train people for ministry and leadership in the local churches through conferences, retreats, and day camps.…
Church Planting with Felix & Oana (Romania)
Felix and Oana are church planting in Bucharest, Romania. They are part of the young team working to grow the church and send others to the ends of the earth. Meet the Leaders: Felix and Oana Felix Tamaș is married to Oana and together they have two daughters.…
International Church in the Balkans
The International Church is a newly established community of around 30 members, committed to multiplying and equipping gospel-centered disciples, small groups, and churches that bring blessings to their city, region, and the world. Located in a country where fewer than 0.2 percent of the population identifies as Christian and still bears the scars of a war 25 years ago, this church serves as a vital light in a spiritually and physically needy area.…
Mobilizing to Unreached People Groups (Myanmar)
A group of indigenous evangelical leaders in Myanmar have mobilized to strategically reach unreached people groups in the country. An "unreached people group" or "UPG," is a people group that has less than 2% Christian adherents. For this project, indigenous missionaries are based at community mission stations throughout Myanmar where they provide services like teaching music, motorcycle repair, a barbershop, agriculture, and teaching English.…
Live Global | International Student Ministry (Ukraine)
In Ukraine there are 540 universities with two million students. These schools are home to future society influencers from all over Ukraine and all over the world. Sagar and his wife Nina work to primarily reach international students from places like India and the Middle East who are studying in the big Ukrainian city.…
Live Global | Reaching the Indian Diaspora (Philippines)
Leaders of this project have a vision to reach the unreached with the gospel of Jesus, make disciples, and plant churches in every barangay of the Philippines where Indian people live. They focus on the Indian diaspora, specifically Sikh and Punjabi people who have migrated to the Philippines for business and opportunities. …
Discipleship w/ Pastor Meo (Philippines)
Pastor Meo and his team and church are working to reach out to more towns and municipalities in their province of the Philippines. They focus on small group discipleship to edify and equip our members to become disciple-makers who start churches in their communities.…
Missionary Training with Sergio and Becky
Both Sergio and Becky are second-generation missionaries! Sergio’s family has ministry roots in Paraguay and Chile. His parents are missionaries in Paraguay. Becky’s parents served in Ecuador and now in Argentina. They each responded to God’s call to ministry during their teens.…
Sodwana Bay Leadership Ministry
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Orillia, Ontario, Canada, has been partnering with Pastor Shadrack Khumalo who launched Khanyisa Leadership Development, under Sodwana Bay Leadership Ministry. Cornerstone Baptist Church is committed to Biblically and Practically training African Rural Servant Leaders who in turn will train Faithful Men and Women with sound Biblical teaching.…
Timothy & Leandra Hawes – Bible Clubs
Watch Video Reaching the nation of Papua New Guinea through Bible Clubs in the public schools. God graciously allowed us to reach our goal of 5k in 5 days in 2023 and once again in 2024. Our new goal for 2025 is 8k in five days by May of 2025.…
Mobilizing to Unreached People Groups (Myanmar)
A group of indigenous evangelical leaders in Myanmar have mobilized to strategically reach unreached people groups in the country. For this project, indigenous missionaries are based at community mission stations throughout Myanmar where they provide services like teaching music, motorcycle repair, a barbershop, agriculture, and teaching English.…
