Why another church in Dothan? As you might imagine that’s a question that we’ve had to ask numerous times. Some of you have asked that question before. Some of you have asked us that question. The answer isn’t nearly as clear-cut as it might appear from the outset. Is there a church on every corner? Figuratively, yes. Are there some great churches in Dothan? Yes and I served at a couple of them for 10 years combined. I’m eternally grateful for their work and gospel witness in our city and county.
But there’s a larger looming question. Are Dothan and the surrounding area reached? No. While we, in the South, have a very religious and churched culture we have a very lost population. On any average Sunday, only eight percent of the county population is in Bible study in a Southern Baptist Church. Southern Baptists are obviously the predominant denomination here in Dothan and Houston County, so let’s add another five percent for the rest of the denominations (and that’s being generous). That equates to 13% of the population attending Bible study on any given Sunday in our area. Those numbers are striking and heart breaking to me.
So what do we need? I think we need three things in particular. First, we need a sweeping revival through our churches and land similar to what took place during the first and second great awakening. Second, as a result of revival, we need our existing churches to focus more and more of their efforts, energies, and resources to the advance of the gospel. Third, this can also come as a result of the first two, we need new churches. We can’t effectively impact the current lostness in our area with the current number of churches that exist.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:10, “[that God] created the church to make known His manifold wisdom.” We desire to see the lostness of Dothan that is masked in religiosity, pushed back and the manifold wisdom of God made known. We want to see the gospel being proclaimed, being lived, being obeyed in the life of every boy, girl, man, and woman in the city of Dothan and around the globe.
That’s one of the many reasons that we are planting a new church in Dothan, AL. We believe new churches reach new people. We believe new churches have the opportunity to reach the dechurched – those that have become disconnected from the local church.
People have asked who is our target. That answer is simple – everyone. When only 13% of the population is involved in weekly Bible study, odds are that most people you meet are not truly committed and Biblically following Christ.
We greatly appreciate your prayers and support as we endeavor to follow Christ. If you would like to partner with us to pray, please email us as info@redeemer.cc. If you would like to financially contribute to the work of Redeemer you can do so by clicking here.
Again please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Email us at info@redeemer.cc.
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