Conversation: Rob Seagears and Andy Casper

MX9 is multiplying churches

Three years after Pastor Rob Seagears planted Christ Chapel Mountaintop (AG) in Gainesville, Va., the church is starting a church plant, South County Mountaintop, under the MX9 national initiative. Andy Casper, church planting associate at Christ Chapel Mountaintop, will pastor South County Mountaintop, which is set to have its grand opening Easter Sunday in Lorton, Va. Recently, Seagears and Casper spoke with Assistant Editor Jennifer McClure about their church planting efforts and the role MX9 is playing.

tpe: What challenges have you faced so far?

CASPER: We have to keep pressing through the reality this is the kingdom of God and that there are no territories — no church owns a certain area. There can be three Assemblies of God churches easily in this area, and we still wouldn't reach everybody here.

SEAGEARS: I don't necessarily call it a challenge, but preparing a church planter requires a great investment of yourself. We view Andy Casper as a son in the Lord. My wife, Linda, and I kind of mother and father Andy and his wife, Cindy, in this process.

tpe: How does being part of MX9 make this church plant different from others?

SEAGEARS: The $30,000 in funding, which is paid back interest free, is not only a great blessing for starter funds, but it is also a source of encouragement. Because of MX9 funds, our district, the Potomac District, sees itself as a partner with the national Church Planting and Development office to also provide additional funding. The home church, Christ Chapel Mountaintop, provides matching funds and possible additional funding.

CASPER: MX9 creates a partnership where we are funding church planting while getting off the ground quicker. MX9 says: "You're not alone. We affirm the call God has on your life, and we're partnering with you to see it happen." It's really what the kingdom of God should be — working together to reach people who don't know the Lord.

tpe: How do you feel about giving 10 percent of the church plant's income to missions as a requirement for participation in MX9?

CASPER: Missions is what establishing a church is all about anyway. I believe a church should be doing more than the 10 percent required. Missions is part of our budget — it's already part of our DNA. We look forward to giving to missions — giving back into church planting, to home missions and world missions. That's part of who we are; it had better be or we're in the wrong business.

SEAGEARS: The requirement creates an opportunity to invest back into the kingdom of God, and it's an incentive for church plants to have a missions mind-set. It's very important new churches develop that missional DNA early in the life. A missional mind-set keeps us focused on our purpose of reaching people for Christ and making disciples.

tpe: How does the networking between the national, district, sectional and local levels affect the church plant?

SEAGEARS: It adds strength to the church plant. Not only do you have a district and a parent church but also a national office praying and providing resources, experience, and know-how. I believe this promotes a greater sense of care for the church planter. It's critical we don't do things in isolation but that we work collectively for a common purpose.

CASPER: The national office, the district, our section and our parent church are coming together and supporting us in many ways. People are recognizing this is about God's kingdom; this isn't about anyone's church.

E-mail your comments to tpe@ag.org.