By Morrie Lawing I
From Managing Decline to Gospel Advance: A Call to Presbytery Action
Standing before General Synod, I felt a profound mixture of sobriety and hope. The day had already been long—nearly four hours of earnest discussion—yet the work before us
remains distinct and urgent. As the Director of Outreach North America (ONA), I did not committed to igniting gospel growth from within our presbyteries.
Facing Our Reality Our mandate at ONA is twofold. First, we exist to actively partner with presbyteries in
ground labor alongside local churches and courts. Second, we must face our data honestly. Across the ARP, we currently close more churches annually than we plant. While some clo- - ing. If this pattern continues unchecked, we risk merely managing a slow retreat rather than
This is explicitly not a counsel of despair. The local church is the engine of our entire denomination. We may build impressive institutions, support excellent Christian education, and send vital resources overseas—all noble endeavors—but without vibrant, multiplying congregations, the vehicle will eventually stall. We are called to advance, not merely maintain.
Signs of Life in the Presbyteries
prayed, and set ambitious goals for church planting and revitalization. In Grace Presbytery, the ONA committee gathered for a day of prayer and planning where the energy was palpa- self-evaluation and planning.
These examples show that when elders gather to pray, assess their context, and strategize
faithfully, spiritual momentum builds. To every presbytery, I extend this invitation: Do not be concretely about how your region can advance. We stand ready to help schedule retreats and
Ordinary Faithfulness in Little Rock
Since our last Synod, we have witnessed three churches organized and three missions ac- tively laboring. To illustrate what God can do through ordinary faithfulness, I invited the Rev. James Ritchey, pastor of the newly organized River City Reformed Presbyterian Church in Lit- tle Rock, Arkansas (MVP), to share their story. Their approach has been refreshingly simple: prioritizing the ordinary means of grace—faithful preaching, prayer, and sacraments—with - aged us: “To established churches, I ask: consider supporting a plant. To fellow planters: do -
established, mature congregations eager to sponsor and parent new church plants, but we desperately need more laborers for the plentiful harvest.
A Bold 10-Year Vision
To that end, we are casting a bold 10-year vision. We invite each of our eight presbyteries to commit to planting at least one new church per year. If we move forward together, by 2036 gospel footprint.
Planting, Strengthening, and Evangelizing
This vision requires prayer. In addition to the week of prayer already approved, we are asking the denomination to observe four additional days of prayer and fasting—one per quarter—focused on prayer, fasting, re- vival, and reformation. Please mark your calendars forAug. 7, 2026; Nov. 6, 2026; Feb. 5, 2027; and May 7, 2027. We will provide plead with the Lord of the harvest to raise up workers, breathe life into weary congre- gations, and awaken fresh zeal for the mis-
Pastors, elders and members of the ARP, the time has come to stop managing decline and to pursue genuine advance. The Lord who promised to build his Church has not changed. Let us labor prayerfully and ex- pectantly, trusting him for the increase. If your presbytery is ready to take the next sovereign hand, we can see the ARP thrive for the glory of Christ.
Outreach North America
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