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DALLAS The face of ministry is changing in America as a growing need for revitalizing dying churches and planting new works requires new pastoral skill sets.
“Almost 90 percent of church jobs today are either in a church needing revitalization or in a church plant,” according to Aaron Meraz, director of the Church Planting and Revitalization (CPR) Center at Criswell College.
To meet this need, Criswell created the Bachelor of Arts in church planting and revitalization in the fall of 2012.
“The goal of the CPR major is to prepare students to make disciples resulting in the development of churches,” Meraz said.
“With the United States being the third-largest mission field in the world, the CPR major also prepares students for international and domestic missions. With two practicums in the program and field assignments in every course, students who complete the CPR major will have at least four semesters of practical experience in church planting and/or church revitalization.”
Meraz spent 10 years revitalizing churches and another nine years in church planting before coming to Criswell. Administrators asked him, along with others, to create a curriculum for the CPR major, which was eventually approved. Meraz taught the first two CPR classes in 2012 and became the official program director of the CPR major in fall 2013.
Recently, the CPR major celebrated a milestone as the first three students, Tim and Katrina Stone and J.T. Riley, graduated from the fledging program and set out to impact Texas and the world with the gospel.
The Stones have served for two years in youth ministry at Stepping Stones Church in McKinney, an SBTC church plant. Upon graduation, Tim was promoted to an associate pastor role, and Stepping Stones plans to send the Stones to plant a church in the next couple years, Meraz said.
“J.T. took his education and planted Providence Baptist Church, which is the first Baptist church in the new township of Providence, Texas. The church is funded [through] SBTC,” Meraz said.
Riley believes his work at Criswell enhanced the skills he needed to become a church planter.
“Criswell provided me with the tools to proficiently research demographic information on my own, which is critical for a planter to know prior to moving into an area,” Riley said.
Riley said the program strengthened his understanding of fundraising strategies, provided him a support network, and challenged him to remember the biblical foundations of church planting, including the importance of prayer.
A relationship with Meraz also added to the Riley’s experience at Criswell.
“Dr. Aaron Meraz is a man with a sincere passion for the lost. He will personally invest himself in your life and your work. You can guarantee that he will be praying for you and for the lost you are trying to reach,” Riley said.
In addition to the skills he acquired at Criswell, Riley is also grateful for the training, funding and ongoing support from SBTC.
“The SBTC has been a priceless resource in regards to prayer and friendships above all else,” Riley said. “The financial support is nice, but without the support of others who have walked in your shoes, it would be very hard to walk this path.
“They also have coaches that are extremely knowledgeable in the work of church planting, and they have a genuine passion for planters, their families and the lost.”
For more information about Criswell College’s CPR program, visit their website at criswell.edu/cpr. Learn more about SBTC church planting at sbtexas.com/missions/church-planting.
