In church planting terminology, we speak of “zero to one.”  This refers to the time and effort it takes to start a church from zero and grow it to be a self sustaining congregation.  This past year over 16 Miskito churches were planted in Honduras and Nicaragua.

One church is a great example of “zero to one.”  The last week of august of 2007, a experienced medical team from Burnt Hickory Baptist Church, Kennesaw, GA visited the village a Santa Isabel.  The village is one of the last villages in the upper Coco River region, before a major series of rapids and waterfalls. There was no evangelical witness in Santa Isabel. On the second night of the week, after just about everyone in the village had been care for, the team presented the Jesus Film in the Miskito language.  The villagers were moved to see how Jesus suffered for them. Members of the Georgia team share testimony of the power of Christ in their lives. Several people came forward to confess Christ as Lord.  The following morning our Miskito pastor leaders meet with the new believers for discipleship. Over 30 people showed up and after several hours of teaching, we went down to the river and baptized 22 people. 

The group of new believers wanted to know if we would send them a pastor. We explained that it would be better if they selected one or two young people from their group to begin to train to be the pastor. They agreed and chose a young man named Clemensio.  Over the next six months Clemensio attended our Bible Institute classes in a village several hours down river. The congregation grew and new believers were baptized and discipled as our pastor-leaders made return visits to San Isabel.  The congregation built a small lean-to shed out of split bamboo. Under this structure, they gathered to worship. They began to haul sand and gravel up from the river to make concrete blocks needed to build a chapel. 

In July, 2008, a group of believers from Flint River Baptist Church, AL made the two day trip up the Coco River to assist the new believers of Santa Isabel in building their chapel.  The church had worked for weeks to haul sand, make blocks, dig foundations, and transport materials.  The folks from Alabama provide additional skills and resources.  Working together as the body of Christ, they were able to erect a simple 24x40 foot building to serve as a permanent worship center for the new congregation.

 In spite of the cultural and linguistic barriers between the hills of Alabama and jungles of Nicaragua, the body of Christ is one.   During the partnership week, the two groups work, witnessed, and worshiped together. 

“Zero to One” in eleven months is not normal.  However, when God’s spirit works in the lives of new believers and mature Christians anything is possible.

OVERVIEW OF CHURCH PLANTING PROCESS

MINISTRY – Burnt Hickory Baptist Church medical ministry.

GOSPEL SOWING – Jesus film presentation.

EVANGELISM -  22 baptized believers.

CHURCH PLANT – Local believers meeting together regularly under self constructed shed.

DISCIPLESHIP – Three trips by Miskito pastores.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING – Local lay leaders attending regional bible institute classes.

PARTNERSHIP MISSIONS – Flint River Baptist Church partnership – Local congregation able to construct first unit building.