Why church plant in SoCal with GBC Menifee? – part 5 of 5

Tim Lovegrove, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Menifee says, “When we strategize for foreign missions, our goal is indigenous church planting: native churches that are planting churches within that field, so that we don’t have to have long term dependence on foreign missionaries.

“That’s how we usually think about foreign missions: but we believe that ministry in an area like Southern California should pursue the same goal. Rather than long term reliance on church planters from the outside, we should pursue the long-term goal of having Southern California churches that are planting churches in Southern California. I believe that’s a healthy strategy just about anywhere, but it’s vital in a metro area of 20 million people. Occasional church plants from the “outside” won't suffice as a long-term strategy for making disciples here. A place this vast needs a vibrant church planting movement. So while our focus has been on this one church, our desire has been that this one church plant would be just the first step in a larger strategy.

“But how do we take the next step from one little church plant toward an indigenous church planting movement here?

“Obviously the next major step is to plant another church. But how that church is planted is very important. As much as possible, it needs to be a church plant for Southern California from Southern California. Rather than being just a stand-alone church plant started by outsiders, our desire has been that the next church plant would come out of the church in Menifee.

“But for that to happen, the Lord was going to have to do something very remarkable. He would have to bring another pastor who would come to GBC Menifee, serve in the ministry here for a time, and then go serve as the church-planting pastor when our church reaches out to plant another church. It would be even better if that person was a Southern Californian. To our amazement, and to God’s praise, He has been doing exactly that in Eric & Alicia True.

“Our desire is that someday there would be a vibrant, church planting movement within Southern California. We are thrilled to see the Lord providing for the next step.”


My wife, Alicia and I first visited Grace Bible Church in January of 2007. Through much interaction and two other visits in 2007, we became persuaded that the philosophy of ministry and the burden for a church planting movement in Southern California effectively promotes the commission of Christ. Having lived and ministered in California ourselves, we understand firsthand the need for healthy local churches. We share the vision for a church planting movement in Southern California, and believe God wants us to be part of what He is doing and will do here.