Malachi Cole said he’s shocked, even though it “shouldn’t be shocking because God can do what He wants.”
But Banner Church has grown in amazing ways since TAB shared the story of the brand-new plant back in February.
They’ve baptized 12 college students since the church started with the purpose of reaching the Jacksonville State University campus along with the surrounding Jacksonville community.
They’re also averaging more than 100 in worship and more than 80 in small groups with 27 people engaged in discipleship groups.
‘Blessed’
“It’s been so encouraging. We have been so blessed, blessed beyond what we even considered,” said Cole, who serves as pastor.
“We’re just praying for more favor at the university and in the city, for more disciples to be made and be obedient to what God has called us to do.”
He said they’re also seeing the church grow into a multigenerational, multiethnic group, which “is a beautiful thing to see.”
“We want to reflect our campus and mirror the community as a whole,” Cole said. “We believe that’s a healthy thing to do, and we’ve been encouraged to see a glimpse of that already.”
Collegiate plants
Banner Church was the fourth church planted as part of The Well Network, which Highland Baptist Church in Florence started in 2015 to plant churches near university campuses.
The Well Network is preparing to launch its next two plants in 2024 — in Starkville, Mississippi, early next year and Mobile in the fall.
The church planting office of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions also provides generous support and encouragement for new churches in The Well Network. The plants’ leaders proceed through all of the SBOM’s new plant assessment and support structure.
To read more about The Well Network, read our story from earlier this year at tabonline.org/the-well-network.
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