The Joys and Challenges of Being a Church Planting Church

Ben Midgley

Ebenezer Baptist Church is an intergenerational, multi-cultural (FIEC) church in North East Wales. We are near the border, close to Chester and Wrexham – and no, Ryan Reynolds isn’t in our congregation… yet! Over time, with God’s help, successive gospel pastors and faithful members have built up the church. In the past, we started mission stations, supported other churches, and contributed to overseas missions. Recently, church planting has become a major concern for us.

Historically, our region had a thriving array of denominational chapels and churches, but they began shrinking and closing as industries shut down, people left for cities, and theologically, the gospel became lost in other concerns. Revival days turned into folklore. Over the past decade, we have attempted three church plants.

1. Pantymwyn: Our first plant has become an independent congregation of about twenty people who meet monthly in one of the outlying villages.

2. Denbigh: Our second plant recently became an independent CIO-registered church. Their first pastor (our former assistant) begins in November, following ten years of church planting efforts. About sixty people attend, and they now have elders and deacons.

3. Buckley: Sadly, our third plant struggled after COVID-19 and eventually closed for various reasons, which I’ve covered in a podcast for FIEC. However, the good news is we are now supporting another church in Chester, which intends to pick up where we left off. They are sending Ben Peterson to plant in Buckley next year, which thrills us.

What’s next?

We have set our sights on Ruthin as a potential location for future planting. We are also dedicating 3% of our income to a fund for future church plants, wherever they may be needed. One of our elders and I are involved in ‘Reach North Wales’, which supports church planting across the region. We convene prayer meetings with other church leaders to keep this mission front and centre and to seek God’s guidance.

We are praying for:

• Gifted and called church planters and evangelists.
• Soft-hearted members of small, struggling congregations who are open to handing over leadership for new work in their communities.
• Welsh speakers with a heart for ministry.
• God’s provision of wisdom, resources, and open doors. Above all, we seek His presence, grace, and power to save.

We believe that church planting in North Wales needs a ‘local movement’. It cannot simply be about adopting urban or suburban models from elsewhere, such as the States. We need to build relationships, learn as we go, and draw people into a living, unfolding mission.

Many great things are happening across North Wales. Though it involves trial and error, we are encouraged by the movement of God’s Spirit. At ‘Cant i Gymru’, things are progressing at pace and scale, whereas we are moving more slowly, but we are grateful for the fellowship.

Please keep us in your prayers, especially as our assistant, Ben Slatter, heads to Denbigh. We now seek someone with vision and energy to help us move forward at Mold. Thank you for remembering us.

Ben Midgley