Our church plant, Ethnos New Brunswick, aspires to follow Jesus into the urban area surrounding Rutgers University. Our budding network of churches is called to plant multiethnic, economically diverse churches in the urban areas next to major global universities. Why this emphasis? A number of developments in these areas have been appearing since the mid-1900s that make them prime areas of need and potential – changes in immigration and civil rights legislation, university expansion due to needs in the areas of research and technology, and the boom of medical research for an increasingly aging population. All these factors and more have created a diverse landscape in need of new churches that can address the wide ethnic and economic diversity.
Our church began Core Team gatherings in the fall last year, and has steadily built a team reflecting the Latino, African American, Asian, and White communities of our neighborhoods. We look to meet publicly on a weekly basis starting in the fall of 2016.
Partnership with World Impact has been a great encouragement. Knowing that an organization believes in you and the church plant is not only validating, it’s empowering. A week before entering into the relationship, I had been seriously asking God for a mentor and the Lord answered in sending a World Impact missionary. Engaging in the coaching process with World Impact was truly an answer to prayer.
Yucan Chio is a World Impact Associate.
