This is a guest post by Bethany Dzielski from Reach Northeast.
Northern New England is the most unchurched region of the United States. According to a Gallup poll, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine have the country’s lowest church attendance rates, with an average of 25% within the three states. The Northern New England District of the Assemblies of God (AG) and CityReach Network partnered together to make an impact on this region and begin to change this statistic. On one day, September 20, 2015, the two organizations planted 10 new churches in Northern New England.
“We have had a hard time finding church planters willing to plant in this difficult mission field,” says Pastor Dennis Marquardt, Northern New England District superintendent. “But, CityReach had church planters in the pipeline, and we had the resources. It has been a hugely beneficial partnership.”
“We were honored to partner with the Northern New England district to plant these 10 new churches,” says Pastor Brian Bolt, CityReach Network president. “It was a historic day for the Northern New England District and for the kingdom of God.”
The beginning
The first CityReach Network church planted in the Northern New England District was CityReach Bangor in Bangor, Maine, planted in 2013. Pastor Bobby Bledsoe and his wife, Jade, have seen their church grow from a prayer meeting with five people to a 300-person congregation in Bangor. “We’ve seen many lives changed and people set free,” Bobby says.
Bobby, Dennis, and Brian met in 2014, with the goal of reproducing the success of CityReach Bangor.
“Can you help us? How many churches do you think we can plant in 2015?” Dennis asked.
“2 or 3,” Brian responded.
“Oh. 5 or 7?” Dennis said with a smile.
“No, two or three.”
“Okay. 10 will be good!”
What started as a humorous conversation quickly became a reality. Dennis went before his Presbytery, asking for the finances needed for this ambitious endeavor. “They were bold in their faith, and said, ‘let’s try it!’” Dennis says.
