The Bonus Family
The Morris Family
Adam, Kim, Emily, Nathan, Abby
Jacob, Beth, Jessa, Miley, Lincoln
Jacob & Beth Morris moved from Washington state to Texas in 2009 to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. During their time here Jacob served as director of the small groups ministry at New Life Fellowship. He also led a Spiritual Formation group for other Dallas Seminary students. Jacob will graduate in May 2013 with a Masters of Theology degree (ThM, Historical Theology). Both Jacob and Beth have seen the need for churches in the Tri-Cities area of Washington, and have sensed the Lord calling them to this important work. It is with great joy and enthusiasm that they look forward to planting a church in their home state.
Adam & Kim Bonus moved from Colorado to Texas in 2007 to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. During their time here Adam served as Assistant Pastor of Chapel in the Woods Bible Church for three years, discipling young adults and overseeing church outreach. Since then Adam has taught an Adult Bible Class at Grace Bible Church. Adam will graduate in May 2013 (ThM, Cross-Cultural Ministry). Both Adam and Kim desire to bring the gospel to unbelievers, and see Washington as a particularly strategic location for ministry. It is with great joy that they have chosen to partner with Jacob & Beth.
our team
a new church for washington
W
Photo used with permission, “Flight Reflections” by John Clement
e are partnering together to establish a church in Wash-
ington state aimed at reaching families and communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In June 2013, Jacob & Beth Morris and Adam & Kim Bonus will move their families to the Tri-Cities area to engage in this work. Starting a new church is a daunting task. With only 19 percent of the population of Washington regularly attending religious services, it is one of the three most unchurched states in the nation. Those who do attend church are usually from the older generations. Young and growing families typically have no church involvment. The people of Washington state desperately need godly fellowship and community. While our education at Dallas Theological Seminary has equipped us to boldly proclaim the gospel, it is only the Lord who can change the hearts of men and women, boys and girls. We’re relying upon the Lord to bring results. From start to finish, this is an act of faith.
Goal To reach young families in Tri-Cities Washington
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endorsements Dr. Maurice Pugh
Senior Pastor, New Life Fellowship, Arlington, TX I am excited for the work of God in the life of Jacob Morris and the ministry of Reliance Fellowship. Jacob is a spiritually passionate leader who is committed to seeing people experience a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. He will provide
sound biblical teaching, visionary leadership, and pastoral care to the members of Reliance Fellowship. With his wife Beth walking by his side, Jacob and Reliance Fellowship will faithfully serve the families of Richland, Washington.
Pastor Trace Michaels
Lead preaching and teaching elder, South Pointe Church, Abilene, TX “Over the last four years I have had the pleasure to walk alongside Jacob as we worked together on our Master of Theology degree at Dallas Seminary. We met when he was assigned to be the leader of the Spiritual Formation Group in which I was placed. His leadership skills and pastoral heart were obvious from day one. When he informed me that he would be church planting upon graduation, I immediately knew that this was a man, a ministry, and a family that our
church looks to support. Without hesitation, the church I pastor (South Pointe Church, Abilene, Tx.) jumped on board the Reliance Fellowship bandwagon. If I know one man who can and will make a difference in the lives of people in Tri Cities, Washinton, it is Jacob Morris. We are both proud and honored to be part of this church plant and I am excited to see how God uses this man and his family to make a difference.”
Pastor Andy Wileman
Lead Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Dallas, TX As I have observed Adam Bonus and his family, I have become convinced that God has great plans for them. Their training, character, skills, and vision point to a great future of service for Christ. I believe deeply that the church must be involved in reaching the unreached around the world--the Great Commission requires it. Too often American churches have sent missionaries abroad but have neglected the unreached communities at home. That’s why today’s church planting movement is vital to the future of our nation, as well as required by the Great Commission itself.
demographics & trends
Photo used with permission, “Cable Bridge” by John Clement
• The Tri-Cities are Richland, Pasco, and Kennewick. They are neighboring cities on the Colombia River in southeastern Washington. • The Tri-Cities have a combined population of over 300,000 people. • The population of the Tri-Cities area is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, increasing by as much as 100,000 over the next decade. • The number of families in Richland has increased by 17% in the past two years, mostly due to financially motivated migration to the area. • Adults in this area have a high level of education, with approximately 70% holding white-collar jobs. • The average household income is over $80,000, increasing the likelihood that a self-supporting church could be established in a brief time. • Only 2 out of 10 people attend church, while more than 50% of the population considers themselves spiritual.
Fact One of America’s top 10 fastest growing housing markets
Fact Expected to grow by 35% over the next ten years
our strategy
O
ur goal is to make disciples. We want to see lives transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ. We want to see a community of believers demonstrating love for one another in tangible ways. We want to see God’s people reaching out to unbelievers in mercy and kindness. But this type of vitality in a church rarely exists
apart from intentional, strategic efforts from the leaders of the church. The following page offers a brief look at how the future ministries of Reliance Fellowship have been grouped around three essential aspects of the Christian life: embracing the gospel, remaining in fellowship with Christ, and expressing our faith.
“What does it mean to live the Christian life well?” Many believers today struggle to answer this question. Our philosophy of ministry at Reliance Fellowship is that every member of the church should clearly understand what is expected of them. We are asking people to take intentional steps toward becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ. And those who desire membership in the church should demonstrate that they are actually doing those things. This means carefully defining our identity from
the very beginning. Every prospective member will be given a clear understanding of what it means to join Reliance. It’s a call to discipleship. At Reliance Fellowship, the call to discipleship will be explained as follows: • Disciples are those who embrace the truth of the gospel • Disciples are those who grow through remaining in Christ • Disciples are those who express their faith through service and evangelism
Jacob Morris will serve as Lead Pastor, with responsibility for preaching, overseeing the Sunday morning worship service, and providing direction for the church staff. He will also be a de facto member of the Board of Elders, with the Elders functioning as a safeguard to limit and correct Jacob if necessary. Jacob’s passion is to see unchurched families experience new life through Jesus Christ. Adam Bonus will serve as Adult Discipleship Pastor, with responsibility for overseeing the process of assimilation and discipleship. He will be in charge of developing and appointing leaders for the various Bible Studies and Life Groups. Adam’s passion is to see believers come to a place of maturity in their walk with Christ, and to demonstrate this through service and evangelism.
Embracing the Gospel Worship
Remaining in Christ Discipleship
Expressing our Faith Service & Evangelism
We envision a church experience on Sundays in which people of different backgrounds, both saved and unsaved, are given the opportunity to embrace Christ. We desire to be a church in which believers embrace Christ through meaningful worship and a growing appreciation for the implications of the gospel. We also desire a place where our unsaved guests can experience and ultimately embrace Christ for the first time.
We envision people being developed to maturity in our church. Jesus showed us the key to living the Christian life when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you; you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
We envision a community where people live out their faith through service and evangelism. The Bible is clear that authentic faith is accompanied by Spiritled activity. If a person really knows the love of Christ, he or she will express that same love to others. God expects action.
Our discipleship process will include two primary components. • “Grapple” Bible studies will meet after hours in a local coffee shop to study the Scriptures and wrestle with the difficult questions. • Life Groups will meet for the purpose of leading small communities of believers through a process of intentional growth in Christ.
Every active member of Reliance will be expected to serve in some way. Our aim is to help people find their role in the body of Christ. Here are just a few ways people can serve • Hospitality & Care ministries • Worship musicians • Sunday set-up crew • Life Group & Grapple leaders • Kids’ ministry volunteers
The purpose of these groups is not to simply “hang out” or even to acquire more information. The purpose is to make obedient, self-reproducing disciples.
As the ministry grows, opportunities for service will as well. Our desire is to see a thriving community of believers responding well to the needs the Lord brings our way.
To accomplish this, our Sunday morning services will be gospelcentered. Just as the entire Bible points to God’s amazing grace, so will we. We will create an environment where distractions are removed and the gospel is given priority. • Gospel driven preaching • Creative worship experience • Enthusiastic kid’s ministry • A strong culture of volunteerism
timeline “The mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps” - Proverbs 16:9 “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower
January 2013 • • • • • •
Commit to the Work Establish Partnerships Choose Church Name Purchase Domain Name Create Logo Define Mission Statement
March 2013 • • • • •
February 2013 • • • • • •
Create Website Principles of Ministry Articles of Incorporation Write a Prospectus Set-up Church Bank Account Join ACTS 29 Network
Photo used with permission, “Bridge 7” by John Clement
Build a Prayer Team Raise Financial Support Constitution/By-Laws Partner with Accountant Begin Filing for 501c3 Status
April 2013
Summer 2013 • • • • • •
Graduate from DTS Move to Washington Lead “Grapple” Bible Studies Cast Vision with Community Build Relationships Locate a Large Facility
September 2013
•
Updates to Prayer Team
• •
Attend ACTS 29 Training Select Ministry Leads
•
Find Local Housing
•
•
Connect with ChurchPlanting Coach
•
Select and Train Life Group Leaders Community Wide Event
•
Continue Recruiting Leaders
•
Establish Assimilation Process
planning
A
fter our initial planning phase, we began seeking out a team of people to partner with us, both through prayer and financial giving. Once we arrive in Washington, we plan to make use of our partnership with the owner of a local coffee shop. He has asked us to lead “Grapple,” an after-hours Bible study that he started in his coffee shop in 2012. We will also be starting several local Life Groups, with the goal of building a population of new believers who fellowship together on a regular basis. In these groups we will work to develop a culture of evangelism and discipleship. Our plan is to have at least 75-100 people ready to join us when we have our official “launch” of the church on Easter Sunday, 2014. This size will allow our new church a greater likelihood of experiencing natural growth in the days that follow.
October 2013 • • • •
Gather a Worship Team Plan Leadership Retreat Set up Google for Non-profits Life Groups begin meeting
• • • •
Weekly Prayer and Evaluation Winter Retreat for Youth Christmas Party Continued Leadership Training
November 2013 • • • •
April 2014
December 2013
Leadership Retreat Purchase Necessary Equipment Begin Corporate Gatherings Youth Group Begins Meeting
• • • •
Official Launch on Easter Membership Assimilation Life Groups Grapple
January-March 2014 • • •
Two Community-Wide Events Master Sunday Mornings Advertize for Easter
Q: Are you part of a particular denomination? A: Reliance Fellowship is a non-denominational church affiliated with the Acts 29 Network. Acts 29 is a network that helps plant Gospel-centered, missional, church-planting churches to a postmodern mindset.
Q&A
Q: Who will act as your sending agency? A: New Life Fellowship of Arlington, TX will act as our sending church. As such they have given Reliance Fellowship their blessing, support, and future ministry advice. Q: What type of financial acountability measures are in place? A: The church finances will be handled by a licensed CPA. All checks will require dual signatures. The annual budget will be reviewed and agreed upon by a board of elders.
what we need Simply put, we can’t do this without you.
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inancially, our plan is to raise support to cover our basic expenses for the first three years. We’re not asking for a lifelong funding commitment. We’re asking for three years of support to allow us to invest ourselves completely in the work of establishing this church. At the end of three years, we expect Reliance Fellowship will be able to pay our salaries. Sending people out with financial support is the Biblical model (1 Cor 9:14). We’re asking you to consider giving to the Lord to support this work. We’ll need money to provide a modest salary for both Jacob and Adam, as well as to cover specific ministry expenses. If we were able to find 100 people to generously give $100 per month, we could fully fund this ministry. Some may choose to give $25 or $50 per month. Some may choose to give more than $100. We’re asking you to partner with us in this ministry through a financial investment. Will you help us take the gospel to families in Washington?
“... Whoever sows generously will also reap generously ... God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
“remember the words of our Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” - Acts 20:35
“they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord” - Acts 14:3
Sign up at reliancefellowship.org/donate
how to give Sign up online at reliancefellowship.org/donate. Our secure server can accept both credit cards and automatic bank drafts. You can also mail a check to Reliance Fellowship, 1811 W 8th Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. Reliance Fellowship is a registered non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible, with giving reports to be mailed at year-end.
Photo used with permission, “Turbine Bow” by John Clement
Prayer is essential. Nothing of lasting significance will happen without prayer. We’re looking for at least 100 people who will commit to praying for us on a regular basis. We’ll provide regular updates so you can pray for specific needs along the way. Throughout church history, every great move of the Holy Spirit was preceded by significant prayer. The state of Washington is in need of something great. Will you commit to praying with us? Sign up at reliancefellowship.org/prayer
summary We need at least 100 people to pray. We need financial support for this ministry. We’re inviting you to partner with us in this work.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12
“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” – J.R.R. Tolkein, The Hobbit
to know Christ and make Him known reliancefellowship.org