A hunger for hope
Scott Ridout
Former ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· President
Point Magazine // May 2021
Since Easter weekend 2021, seven new ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· congregations opened their doors for the first time, bringing the total number of openings this year to 17 (as of the publishing date for this issue of Point). We are trusting God to see before 2026. If each of those churches grows to just 200 people, they will impact at least 62,000 people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray with us that all our churches join us in our EACH ONE START ONE focus ― trusting God to see every ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· church have a part in intentionally starting a new congregation.
Reports of God’s faithfulness are also coming in from around the world. At present, ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· has 179 global workers leading 15 initiatives in 31 countries. Many of these global workers are helping to start new churches. Stories of gospel expansion and community impact remind me of God’s power as we follow in obedience to his command to make disciples of all nations.
There is a hunger for hope in our world today and a desire for a different way of living.
And there is a need for the church to unify around our shared mission. We are witnessing answers to prayer in these areas and experiencing unprecedented collaboration across organizational and denominational lines. We are hearing stories of people coming to Christ among some of the most faraway, least-accessible and least-reached peoples of the world. We see a renewed boldness among ordinary believers.
Whether in the most remote parts of the world or here in the United States, communities and people of all colors, cultures and classes need more gospel-centered, community-reaching, Bible-preaching, multiplication-minded churches. I’m thankful for the many people from our movement whom God uses to advance the gospel and encourage his laborers. This issue of Point is filled with stories of people who are providing hope by helping people meet, know and follow Jesus. I pray you will be as encouraged while scrolling through Point as I have been.
Let’s keep sharing God’s love and the hope found only through Jesus!
Scott Ridout, Former ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· President
Scott served as president of ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· from November 2014 through August 2022. Prior to that he was the director of generosity for ºÚÁÏÀúÊ· from 2007-2014, concurrently with his time pastoring at Sun Valley in Gilbert, Arizona, for 22 years. He serves on the boards of Axelerate, Bethel University and The Timothy Initiative. Scott also serves the Finish the Task initiative working with denominations worldwide. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married since 1988 and have three adult children, Jon, Ashlyn and David. He loves God, the local church and simply wants to help people meet, know and follow Jesus.
Additional articles by Scott Ridout