| Why should the conference keep starting new churches?  BY CYNTHIA BELT Why do we start new churches? Its simple. The Baltimore-Washington Conference starts new churches because it embraces the Great Commission to go and make disciples. The world all around us is growing and changing and the church must be ready to meet the demands of new people, communities and challenges. New churches are started for a variety of reasons. Demographics studies may show that there is an increase in the number of new people moving into the area. If existing churches are too small, the decision may be made to start a new church. Additionally, changes in the ethnic makeup of communities or the siege mentality of some churches, which makes them unwelcoming to outsiders, might be catalysts for starting new churches. In these cases, a new church helps to engage new people without threatening the established church and its leadership. All around us there are communities that have been abandoned by public institutions, the church and even, in some peoples eyes, by God. We are called to be like the prophet Nehemiah and rebuild the walls so that individuals and communities can be restored. Nehemiah understood that before you can rebuild a people, you must rebuild the walls. Hope must be built, a standard raised, and the people reminded that God loves them. The city may be in ruins, but God is still in charge. It may appear to be just plain masonry work. Were putting up walls, but were also building hope, restoring dreams, and encouraging faith. We start new churches because God is still in the business of reclaiming Gods people and will go to any length to see that no one is left out. The Rev. Cynthia Belt is pastor of New Beginnings in Severn.
 BY EVAN YOUNG People often point out how many churches there are in the Baltimore-Washington Conference and ask me why do we need more? After reflecting on this issue, I came up with a few answers. First, new churches attract people who are exploring in their faith journey. Its difficult to be around experts when you know you are a novice. These people want or need to explore how they feel about faith, spirituality, and the church in a non-threatening environment. The stained-glass windows, pews and architecture of established churches are strange to them. Its foreign territory. New church starts help bridge that perceived gap. They locate in places that are more familiar, such as schools, warehouses and community centers. In addition, the culture of a new church start is usually simple and informal no strange garments, some familiar rhythms, and intimate settings. And the people attending new church starts are also in the same searching mode as those being attracted. A level of comfort is established. But more specifically, why start new churches in the Baltimore-Washington Conference? We can utilize the creative gifts and graces of those in our midst that have a calling to start new churches. Like Paul, these people want to go forth into uncharted territory and claim it for the Kingdom of God. They possess gifts to build new communities and are excited about evangelism. The Holy Spirit has gifted them to start new congregations and they feel comfortable doing just that. New church starts act as laboratories for innovation. The world is changing rapidly around us. Often mature Christians lose touch with the evolving cultural environment. Close friends, colleagues, and neighbors are all Christians. Since the culture in new church starts revolves around claiming uncharted territory for Christ, church starts try new approaches in worship, evangelism, and outreach. Some approaches work and others fail. But its essential to keep trying to win the pre-believer or unchurched for Jesus Christ. New church starts dont have a history. They create history daily, always trying new methods and becoming a reservoir of new lessons to help other faith communities. New church starts are one tool in our arsenal for Kingdom building. The Rev. Evan Young is pastor of Living Springs in Bowie. | 
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