Meet Jared and Bethany Arnett
We are children of the mountains. With missional hearts, our call is not to go, but to stay. So, stay we have, and in the staying, we’ve found an abundant life not characterized by traditional abundance, but with the abundance of life fueled by faith. The simplicity of waking up trusting that God has already planned the day, gives us new direction each morning, but keeps us grounded and on mission. Knowing that we are all God’s handiwork and we are all created in Christ Jesus to do good work that he prepared, in advance, for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), we know that we are not the only ones feeling the call. We are seeing, first hand, the movement of God throughout the mountains. This isn’t a new plan we’ve created, it’s the divine intervention of a father that loves his children and wants them to know him better.
We have relied on so many things throughout the years to solve our problems in the mountains of eastern Kentucky: government, economics, and sometimes, even religion. We believe that the complex circuit of solutions that are needed in our region begins in the hearts of the people of the mountains and can only be established through loving relationships with Jesus Christ. That’s why it’s on our heart to build the local church.
God’s people have already been at work in the mountains for decades. Some of our most influential institutions were founded on the foundations of faith: hospitals, universities, schools, clinics, and more. We see God moving in communities across the region sparking new churches and inspiring new ventures with kingdom work at the core. We’re humbled to serve by leading an effort to bring unity among His people; unity across geography, across denominations, and across the marketplace. His people, united in living out our faith and call to tangibly show our neighbors and the people of the mountains that God loves them. Our prayer has been and is, “God, bring your people Together for the Mountains to do what only you can do.” We have a big dream of total transformation of one of the most economically and spiritually broken regions in America, but we know it’s inevitable that God can do immeasurably more than we can imagine. Join us as we join God in His work across the mountains.
THE VISION
Over ten years ago, studies showed that only 13% of people “attended” church on a regular basis in Kentucky. This means approximately 3,887,160 people don't attend church each week here in the Commonwealth. Here in Eastern Kentucky, it is believed that the numbers for church attendance is lower than the state average. In some places it is less than 5% of the population. In 2015, 4,000 churches were planted in North America. In the same year, 3,700 churches closed their doors as the overall population increased at a higher pace. These numbers were recorded prior to the global pandemic, which has caused even more uncertainty and chaos on many levels.
In 2018, Southland Christian Church, currently located throughout central Kentucky, started to ask the question, “How can we leave all of Kentucky better then we found it?” Believing that new churches best reach new people, bring revitalization to existing churches, and spark gospel-change in communities their next question was, “What if we joined God where He was at work throughout our home state? Southland’s leadership then affirmed the vision to catalyze a church planting movement across Kentucky.
“Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven”
C. Peter Wagner
Out of the vision God has given Southland and others, Together for the Mountains, has been formed to extend the mission into Eastern Kentucky. Our prayer is that many Christ followers, numerous churches, and other organizations will join the effort to see new works multiplied in and throughout the Mountains. Our hope is that this region will be completely transformed by Jesus and that we will see the Church mobilize and grow. That even the greatest of skeptics will acknowledge that God was leading and changing people one person at a time.
OUR PLANTING MISSION
In 2021, God called Jared Arnett (Bethany) to lead Together for the Mountains. Jared was the Founding Executive Director of Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR). He was also the Co-Founder of FaithLife Ministries and Faith Life Market a non-profit Coffee Shop and Thrift Store in Downtown Pikeville, KY. Jared is the planting / current pastor of New Beginnings Fellowship Church, a non-denominational Christian church in downtown Pikeville, KY located on Main Street.
As God leads, Jared will be identifying church planters, churches and and others to support potential planters in the region. Jared will also be assembling teams, hosting gatherings, and looking for opportunities to resource and engage others in the work. With Jared’s leadership, Together for the Mountains will seek opportunities to serve the needs of the lost and broken “outside the walls” with non-profits and other organizations serving the people of Eastern Kentucky.
To see our vision of catalyzing a church planting movement across the Mountains actualized, we believe it will take a team approach. As God brings planters, churches, and those who are willing to serve in the field, we desire to develop and serve with them in sustainable ways. Each planter will have a sending church and a strong sense of community within Together for the Mountains. Our foundation will be biblically sound (link to our beliefs or open as a highlighted link / PDF?) with a simple framework to allow for organic and gospel growth.
Our team is prayerfully considering multiple pathways to assess, coach, encourage, and care for church plants and planters. In these early stages, we have lots of questions, but believe that God will provide the equipping needed to share the love of Jesus. Please pray for us as we continue to seek God’s leading!
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Perhaps God is calling you to plant a church, serve on a church sending or launch team, or be a supporting partner for Together for the Mountains. Reach out to one of team members here. We’d love to hear from you!
Would you like to give to the vision of Together for the Mountains? We sincerely appreciate all the support. Here’s how.
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