TROY \u2013 Matt Bartig, lead pastor of NorthRoad Community Church, appreciates the sacrifice of First Baptist Church (FBC) Troy to plant NorthRoad. Senior pastor, Richard Rhea, of FBC Troy was more than just supportive of the new church start located about three miles from his church. FBC Troy sent almost 100 people to help NorthRoad.<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard is a humble, amazing man,\u201d Bartig said. \u201cHe encouraged the cream of the crop to come help us. Leadership of Troy came with us. The teacher of the largest Sunday School class came with us as well as deacons and members of many committees.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Brent Campbell, director of missions for Twin Rivers Association, FBC Troy is a mission-minded church. \u201cRichie Rhea has a heart for church plants,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cTroy has planted churches in Wentzville and Lake St. Louis; church planting is just a part of their DNA.\u201d<\/p>\n
NorthRoad Community Church launched in September, and now on a typical Sunday it has 225 in attendance. Fifteen people were baptized this year. The church, located outside Troy in the nearby town of Moscow Mills, meets in a building that once housed a Chrysler dealership.<\/p>\n
Bartig said that he also has financial support from several large Southern churches who wanted to take part in the North American Mission Board\u2019s Send St. Louis program. In addition, the Missouri Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Program provide financial and training support.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur church is a perfect example of what Southern Baptists can do,\u201d Bartig said, \u201cwhen they come together and believe in one vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rhea sees this church plant as an answer to prayer. \u201cA year ago, I was preaching about reaching our community for Christ,\u201d Rhea said. \u201cI said we could just continue to grow or we could start new church plants and reach even more people.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur theme verse for the year is Acts 5:28,\u201d Rhea continued. \u201cI want our church to be accused of the same thing, \u2018that we have filled Jerusalem (our area) with His teaching.\u2019 We want to reach every person in the community with the gospel. We had about 650 attending before this church plant, now with their 250, we are reaching about 850.\u201d<\/p>\n
Troy had several leadership vacancies as NorthRoad began. \u201cWe had to focus on recruiting and replacing leadership,\u201d Rhea said. \u201cBut, that was good for us in terms of equipping the saints.\u201d<\/p>\n
NorthRoad is focused on reaching young families. \u201cWe want to meet the needs of young families,\u201d Bartig said. \u201cWe\u2019ve offered sports ministry and we\u2019ve gotten four or five families from that outreach. We have a lot of children in the area. We have the largest middle school here.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Rhea, the attitude of the new congregation will increase the Lord\u2019s blessings. \u201cThe newness is creating an excitement in them,\u201d Rhea said. \u201cThey are praying and looking for every opportunity to share the gospel. They are reaching a number of new people because of that passion.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TROY \u2013 Matt Bartig, lead pastor of NorthRoad Community Church, appreciates the sacrifice of First Baptist Church (FBC) Troy to plant NorthRoad. Senior pastor, Richard Rhea, of FBC Troy was more than just supportive of the new church start located about three miles from his church. FBC Troy sent almost 100 people to help NorthRoad. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[41,17],"tags":[108],"yoast_head":"\n