According to www.catalystconference.com, each year an average of 3,500 to 4,000 churches close their doors.¹ The church, as we know it, is quickly becoming a relic of American history rather than a centerpiece of its future. Thankfully, there are a few trends seeking to stem the tide. One is the sharp increase in American church planting. For the first time in many years, the number of new churches planted has slightly outpaced the number of those that closed their doors.² Another trend that stems this tide is healthy churches are becoming multi-campus. They are becoming one church that meets in more than one location.

The number of churches that are multi-campus is on the rise with more than 1,500 churches already meeting this way.³ Experts predict that within the next five years that number will swell to 30,000.⁴ Multi-campus churches are even coming to rural America as larger churches try to reach into outlying rural communities.
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Tags: CrossWinds - Spencer, CrossWinds - Spirit Lake

Jordan, and his wife Krystal, visit Faith Church on March 22-24. On Friday and Saturday, they will spend time with Faith Church leadership, Faith Church members from Spencer and be familiarized with the schools and community of both Spencer and Spirit Lake.

The congregation will meet them on Sunday March 24th. Pastor Kurt will introduce them in both worship services. The Faith University hour will be a time of Q&A with Jordan and Krystal sharing in the church worship center.

Jordan Gowing has two primary ministry goals --- faithfulness to Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission. “I desire to be a faithful and a good steward in all I do --- my personal walk with the Lord, with my family and in my ministry,” he said. “In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus gives us the mission of the church, to make disciples of all nations. In whatever way that God calls me, I want to make disciples.”

He sees the opportunity to help start a Faith Church campus in Spencer as a chance to help make disciples. “Leadership development is a crucial part of the church,” Gowing said. “Making disciples is important, but elsewhere we are called to make disciples who in turn will make disciples who --- you guessed it --- will make disciples. This is how the church will continue to faithfully grow.”

Gowing grew up in a Christian home in Clarinda, IA, but he had a large step of spiritual growth when he was a junior in high school, helping in a ministry to troubled youth. It was soon after that commitment to Christ he sensed God calling him to the pastorate. “What gets me most excited about serving God’s church as a pastor is found in Ephesians 4:11-13, where Paul tells us why God has ordained that there should be pastoral leadership in the church --- to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and for building up the body of Christ,” Gowing said.

He believes in preaching straight from the Bible. “I preach text-driven, relevant sermons,” he said. “The most important thing about a sermon is for it to be faithful to the text. At the same time, the sermon is unhelpful if it isn’t brought into the context of the hearers. I prefer a more ‘contemporary’ preaching style.”

At 24, he is a young pastor that is looking for the chance to serve and lead. “I want to provide the congregation I serve with humble, servant leadership. In 1 Peter 5, Peter reminds pastors they are shepherds under Jesus. It is Jesus’ church, and it is a humbling responsibility to serve a part of his church.”

Biography:
Jordan Gowing graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern College in Orange City in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in religion. He will graduate magna cum laude in May from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School with a master of divinity. He is currently interning at Faith Community Church in West Chicago, also having served there in various capacities throughout his seminary training. Gowing married his college sweetheart, Krystal, in 2011. You can find out more about Gowing on his blog: www.jordangowing.wordpress.com.

Tags: Easter