News 

Since the August 2007 inception of the Matching Fund program through the Church Multiplication Network (CMN) and AG Trust, new church plants have had the potential of benefiting from a secure financial start. The Matching Fund program offers qualifying new church plants up to $30,000 in matching funds to help them successfully launch and move forward in their early stages.

Already recognized as a strong success when viewed by the extremely high percentage of new church plants succeeding when utilizing the fund (above 90 percent), other numbers are also highly encouraging.

According to recently released statistics, since August of 2007 through December 2011, 196 churches have received CMN Matching Funds, with 48 churches receiving the funds in the 2011 calendar year alone.

What's more, of the 13,162 recorded confessions of faith at these new church plants, 4,787 occurred last year; 775 of 1,880 baptisms in the Holy Spirit also took place last year; and the average attendance per new church went from 77 to 88 last year.

In addition, money invested is beginning to see a strong return. The amount given to missions by Matching Fund churches now stands at $1,885,886 ($650,218 in 2011) and the amount "paid-forward" (Matching Fund churches commit to "pay forward" the matching portion of the funds they receive back into the Matching Fund, so more new churches can receive the same benefit) increased to $1,429,742 overall ($670,315.47 last year).

Pike

"It is exciting to see how God is using new church plants to not only spread the gospel in their communities, but to be a significant supporter of spreading the gospel throughout the world through missions," says Steve Pike, CMN national director. "It's also a powerful testimony to God's faithfulness how churches planted not long ago are now investing - paying forward - to plant more new churches!"

Last year, the Assemblies of God planted 368 new churches - tied for the second highest ever recorded for the church - and had an overall gain of 138, as churches closing were down as well.

To learn more about contributing to the Matching Fund program to help new churches have a strong start or to learn how to qualify for the Matching Fund program, click here or call 417.862.2781, extension 3500.