WhyAtlanta

THERE ARE 7,000,000 REASONS TO PLANT A CHURCH IN ATLANTA, LET ME NAME 3

The US Census divides the country into 4 different regions: the West, Midwest, Northeast, and the South. From 1990 to 2000, “the total gain for the South (nearly 14.8 million) was the most of any region.” “With a 26 percent gain, Georgia was the most rapidly growing state in this region.” Upon examining Georgia, it is clear that Atlanta is the powerhouse of Georgia’s growth.
Metro Atlanta (28 county MSA) has a current estimated population of over 5 million souls. Most of these are not from the South, The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce notes, "Atlanta has drawn more in-migration than any other area in the nation over the last two decades."
By 2030, the Atlanta Regional Commission is expecting 7 million people to live in Metro Atlanta. With a 64% gain, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania projects that Metro Atlanta will have the largest percentage of growth of all the metropolitan areas in the United States (from 2000 to 2020, based on Census 2000 population).
This trend has already begun to take course. As the chart to the right demonstrates, metro Atlanta has drawn more people than any other major metropolitan area in the US.
If we narrow Atlanta’s 8,376 square mile area down to it’s individual counties, we come across some startling figures. The US Census Bureau reports that Metro Atlanta has 18 out of the top 100 fastest growing counties in the United States.
Fulton County is expected to add 331,074 more people in the next 15 years, a 40.5% increase. Gwinnett County anticipates another 443,177 people or a 74% increase.
In North Fulton, just above Gwinnett County is a city called Alpharetta. Here, in what is arguably the center of growth for the entire country, God has called us to plant His church.

REASONS

The Coutinhos are

Atlanta:

Atlanta:

ATLANTA HAS IT ALL, BUT DOES IT HAVE SUFFICIENT CHURCHES?

Atlanta is the Southeast’s hub for business. It has been rated the number one city for business and entrepreneurs in numerous publications. The city has the largest aquarium in the world. It has the Braves, the Falcons, the Hawks and the Yellow Jackets. It is the New York of the South, a fast paced boomtown, bustling with activity, and bursting at its seems. Atlanta has it all. But does Atlanta have enough churches?
When I tell people that God has called my family to start a new church in Atlanta, I always hear about how mega-churches are reaching people in Atlanta. I can appreciate why that would seem to be the case from the outside, but I don’t agree with that conclusion. There is no doubt that there are some tremendously gifted speakers in Atlanta. But just because a man can fill the pews does not mean that he is really disciplining or even pastoring his flock. How does a man responsible for 25,000 people effectively pray for them, disciple them, or even know what they look like? He can’t. Atlanta will not be reached by herding people into buildings to hear a sermon. Just as with any other group of people, evangelism and discipleship happens one on one.
People also assume that if a city has one good church, then it does not need another. That is like saying New York City only needs one church. Ridiculous! The numbers will obviously drive the need. Even if you plant 500 independent Baptist churches in Atlanta, each church would need an auditorium with over 10,000 seats to house all of the people of the Metro area! I assure you that there are not enough good churches to meet the need.
I have spoken with multiple pastors from the Metro-Atlanta area. My first question for each was, “does Atlanta need another church?” The resounding response was, “YES! But not just another church, another GOOD church.” There already way too many consumer driven, pragmatic TV churches in Atlanta. What they are saying is Atlanta does not need another mega-church. Atlanta has a tremendous need for balanced, Bible preaching, Gospel centered churches--a lot of them!
Alpharetta is a perfect example of this need. In Alpharetta’s 3 zip codes there are 122,857 people. To my knowledge, there are no established, independent fundamental Baptist churches.
It is our desire to go to Alpharetta and reach the unchurched, used-to-be-churched, and the poorly churched with the Gospel of Christ. Our vision is to build a church that builds churches throughout Atlanta. We want to see a God-centered church planting movement explode on the scene in Metro Atlanta.
We are raising short term financial support so that in the next five years we can fund and nurture a new independent Baptist church to a self-supportive status. Once that is achieved, we want to see that church birth other new congregations in the Atlanta area, with that goal that each congregation is actively fulfilling the Great Commission. We believe that by this process of multiplication we can most effectively fulfill the Great Commission.

Atlanta:

THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON: GOD’S CALL.
There are amazing statistical forecasts, great demographic trends, and an obvious need for the Gospel, but every reason pales in comparison to God’s will. Atlanta is where God wants us; He has called us to go.
Any time a believer is trying to find God’s will there are three essential things to keep in mind. First, the believer should look for a burden from the Lord. Second, he should look for others to confirm that burden. Third, there must be an opportunity.
Our Burden: I have known that God has called me to preach since just after I was saved, but I did not know where or in what capacity. All I knew was that I wanted to go where I would be the most usable, and where I could minister to the greatest need. Over the last six years, Christa and I have been praying that God would lead us to the ministry where we could be most effective for Christ’s sake. Willing to go anywhere and do anything, we put our future in God’s hands.
Over time, God began to clearly direct us toward domestic church planting. Our love for the United States and the overt depravity in American culture added to our burden. We want to reach the unchurched, poorly churched, and used-to-be churched in our country. Atlanta is such a place where the need is obvious and where we can be most effective for the glory of God and the furtherance of the Gospel. I believe with all of my heart that God has wired me and Christa for this city.
Our Confirmation: Picking a city for a church plant is a staggering task. Thankfully God has aided our search. I have spoken to dozens of pastors and godly counselors as well as scads of Atlanta residents/former residents. The overwhelming response was “pick a place--throw a dart at a map; everywhere needs a good church in Metro-Atlanta.” One of the greatest confirmations for me (besides my wife) is from the pastor of our sending church. Pastor Chuck Bonadies has rallied behind us with an excited, almost overwhelming support for what God has called us to do. God has given Pastor Chuck and me a matching burden to plant churches where the people are--in the South, that means Atlanta.
Our Opportunity: Burdens and confirmations are wonderful, but they both need an opportunity from the Lord to be put to work. God has given us the opportunity to follow His direction in Atlanta. First, there is a vast number of people in Metro-Atlanta. Specifically, Fulton and Gwinnett County are the centers of growth for the whole Southeast and arguably the whole country.
Alpharetta, the city God has led us to, is no exception. For an area so big and with so much growth, there is an insufficient number of Independent Baptist Churches. What an opportunity for the Gospel! Second, Suber Road Baptist Church has given us the opportunity to plant this church with their blessing, help, and accountability. We look forward to ceasing this opportunity for God’s glory and seeing His hand at work in Alpharetta!

PRAY: Please pray with us as we take the Gospel to the unchurched, the poorly churched and the used-to-be churched in Atlanta. We firmly believe that those that pray with us are our fellow workers in the ministry. Praying for the ministry IS working in the ministry. To receive our prayer letter, please send an email by clicking here.
GIVE: We are raising short-term support so that we can get the church off the ground in Alpharetta. Many have already given to God’s work in Atlanta. Could God be leading you to partner with us by giving?
GO: God has already blessed us with another family that will be moving to Atlanta to help plant our first church in Alpharetta. We are praying that God would send a total of five families to work along side us. Maybe God is calling you.
PARTNER WITH US! If God is leading to participate in this ministry in any way, please let us know! Email us by clicking here.

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