Small congregation grows — by planting churches

By Arleen Wixtrom (8/22/04)

A decade ago with church membership declining at an alarming rate, members of First Assembly of God in Green Bay, Wis., knew they needed a miracle to keep going

“We realized how weak and helpless we were,” says church treasurer Bob Lytie, recalling the days when only a dozen cars occupied the parking lot on Sunday mornings. “We had to trust God, depend on Him, no matter how things seemed.”

Despite the small attendance, the congregation decided to reach out to others by planting another church. Within eight years, with sacrificial giving, First Assembly has planted four churches, with a fifth in the works.

When the church sent out around 50 parishioners to start a new place of worship, more than 50 new attendees replaced them. When other groups went out to plant a second and third church, the empty places in First Assembly were more than filled

After planting the third church, First Assembly converted more than 13,000 shares of stock and made a $550,000 down payment on a recently dedicated 27,000-square-foot facility. A congregant had confidentially taken out stock in the church’s name years earlier. In addition to the worship center that seats 800, there are a grand foyer, prayer room, discipleship room café and fine arts room.

“Out of the people’s deep brokenness, instead of protecting and retreating, they fostered a rich generosity and began giving,” says First Assembly Pastor Jerry Lewin.