Matt Chandler-led Acts 29 has announced a bold initiative, in giving up to $50,000 to new churches started through its sponsorship in 2022.
Acts 29 President Brian Howard said the church planting network hopes to plant 30 churches this year.
Each church plant will receive two $25,000 gifts within two years.
The first sum will be gifted to assist with start-up costs, while the second will be awarded once the now-established church reaches a certain funding metric.
In an interview with Christian Post, Brian said: “One of the things that Acts 29 has not historically done is the direct funding of church plants.”
“We've always done peer-to-peer church plant funding, where a church comes in and relationally connects with another church, or maybe connects with another church in their general area.
“While that kind of thing is still going to happen, we're also investing $750,000 this year, initially in North America, in the U.S., and likely Canada, and then we hope to eventually be able to expand this internationally as well.”
"Currently, there are 724 churches in the Acts 29 network, spanning 44 different countries, and there are more than 500 candidates and applicants looking to join the network.
“Acts 29 describes itself as a “diverse, global community of healthy, multiplying churches characterized by theological clarity, cultural engagement, and missional innovation.”
The new initiative, Brian said, is essentially a “church planting mutual fund.”