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Lumber City Church Grows, Focuses on Multiplication

Lumber City Church (LCC) in North Tonawanda, New York, was planted in 2012 with the help of Matching Funds provided by AGTrust members.

Today the church is thriving! Since its launch, at least 100 people have been baptized and the church is steadily extending its impact in the community.

LCC founding pastors Chad and Christina Rieselman recently stated that AGTrust, in partnership with Church Multiplication Network (CMN), not only provided $30,000 in Matching Funds to help open the church, but also helped the congregation implement creative ways to inspire multiplication and foster spiritual health in all areas of ministry.

“The provision of Matching Funds did more than help us plant Lumber City Church,” Chad says. “It allowed us to replicate a local model for multiplication that continues to plant other churches today.”

The Rieselmans led LCC to collaborate with other local churches and agencies to engage in sustained, meaningful compassion ministry and evangelism outreach. A significant low-income and single parent population in North Tonawanda has been a particular focus for LCC.

A few years ago, several local churches partnered with LCC to begin the Box of Hope program. Through the program, the school district identifies needs in students’ families. The churches mobilize to meet those needs to the best of their abilities. In 2016, more than $34,000 in groceries and gifts were distributed to scores of families.

Then, just a few months ago, LCC acquired a building to create The Hope Center. Offering a full court gymnasium, functioning school kitchen, and cafeteria/auditorium, these additional facilities offer more opportunities to reach out to the city in a variety of ways.

Chad and Christina frequently remind their congregation that their mission in North Tonawanda must also be turned outward to a global field. As a result, LCC, which is one of 467 churches planted since 2008 with help from the Matching Funds, has helped fund the planting of other churches in New York and overseas.