"What do you do?"

"I'm the pastor of a new church plant."

[Silence]

This answer is usually met with puzzled looks and often the next question that follows is: "So where is your building."

And being in the initial phase of starting a church, we don't have a building.  We are still gathering people to be a part of a new church.

The idea of planting a church is an unfamiliar concept for many folks.

But aside from the fact that the process of starting a church is a foreign concept to most people, often the biggest question, which is often unspoken, is the motivational question.

"WHY would you start a new church?"  Especially in a city which already has so many churches.  Doesn't Temple, TX have enough churches already?

So we want to be very clear that the reason for planting Redeemer Presbyterian Church is NOT that there are not already many gospel-centered, Bible-loving churches doing great things in this city.  The reality is that God has been at work in this place, long before any of us were around, long before our little denomination decided it would be a good idea to plant a church here, through many faithful churches.  To act like we are the first ones on the scene or to ignore the gospel ministry already taking place with be egocentric and arrogant in the extreme.  We appreciate and give thanks for the faithful churches in this community and want to join with them in the good work that God is already doing.

We believe that planting churches is the most effective means of fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.  Church plants have a unique character that enable them to be an easy place for new people to get connected.  Both people new to a particular region, as well as people who are beginning to explore Christianity for the first time.

We actually don't believe that planting one church is enough.  We want to be a part of the church planting movement in Central Texas.  If God graciously establishes Redeemer in Temple then we desire to multiply.  We expect to hear the same question in the future:  "Aren't there already enough churches in Temple?"  And the answer will still be "No."

Until King Jesus returns, there will always be a need for new churches to be established in every community.  We look forward to being a part of God's great church planting movement.