This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a church planting residency summit in Irvine, California, with 42 passionate peers. The summit, hosted by Cru Fellowship for Church Multiplication (CFCM), was a rich time of equipping and fellowship, all centered on expanding God’s kingdom through church planting and evangelism.

The highlight of the summit was day three, when we mobilized into the community for street evangelism. We were divided into three teams, each assigned to partner with a local church: Temple Calvario (Pastor Danny), Hope Alive (Pastor Tommy), and Cross of Grace Church. God moved powerfully during our time of outreach. As a collective group, we engaged 112 people, shared 69 gospel presentations, and witnessed 21 decisions for Christ! Each new believer was connected to one of the partnering churches for follow-up and discipleship.

On a personal level, I had the privilege of working alongside my co-laborer, Emmanuel. Being bilingual, Emmanuel was the key to engaging many of the Spanish-speaking individuals we encountered. Together, we presented the gospel to 13 people, and by the grace of God, 11 of them made decisions for Jesus! It was such a humbling and powerful experience to share this moment with Pastor Tommy of Hope Alive, seeing firsthand how God is at work in his community. God truly gave us favor, and it was a joy to partner with such a vibrant ministry.

This entire experience reminded me of the words in Acts 6:7: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Just as the early church saw a multiplication of disciples through the spread of God’s word, so too do we witness that same multiplication today.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

This residency ignited my passion even more for seeing the gospel reach the 168 million people in the U.S. who have yet to experience Jesus. Our mission is clear: plant 168,000 churches so that every 1,000 people can be connected to a faith community and raise up 1 million multiplying leaders to close the missional gap in America. It is a daunting task, but one that we are committed to, knowing that God has already gone ahead of us to prepare the way.

As I reflect on the time spent with my peers and the churches in Irvine, I’m filled with gratitude for how God is moving through His people. This journey from prison to pulpit has given me a unique perspective on the urgency of the gospel and the critical need for church multiplication. Together, we can see His kingdom expand, one community, one church, and one life at a time.

To God be the glory!