ARC at 25: A Global Church Planting Boom Amid Scrutiny

BIRMINGHAM, AL – January 28, 2026 – The Association of Related Churches (ARC), a major force in global church planting, is marking its 25th anniversary with the announcement of an ambitious Spring 2026 launch season. The organization plans to open 32 new churches across the globe, a testament to a model that has seen it help establish 1,187 congregations since its founding in 2000. As ARC celebrates a quarter-century of growth, its expansion highlights a dynamic and sometimes contentious chapter in modern faith, occurring even as traditional religious affiliation wanes in many Western nations.

A Global Footprint Expands

The scale of the Spring 2026 initiative underscores the network's sustained momentum. Of the 32 planned launches, 20 will be in the United States, spanning 13 states from coast to coast, including populous and diverse regions in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. The remaining 12 will be planted internationally across 10 countries—Canada, Cyprus, England, France, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland, Uganda, and Wales—significantly broadening ARC's international presence.

A particularly notable date is January 25, 2026, when 15 of these new churches are slated to open their doors on the same day, a coordinated effort showcasing the organization's logistical prowess. These launches are not just dots on a map but represent deeply personal missions for the planters involved, who often relocate their families to embed themselves in new communities.

Leaders of these new congregations express a common vision centered on community and connection. In Texas, Rob and Kate Ashabranner are preparing to open Free City Church in the booming suburb of New Braunfels. “We believe in a church where people discover real freedom, build strong families, and find a community to belong to,” the Ashabranners stated. They aim to serve a population searching for roots in a rapidly growing city.

Similarly, Andrew and Ashley Sanchez will launch Full Life Church in Hemet, California, with the hope of seeing “marriages, families, schools, and community leaders filled with His love, power, and purpose.” In Naples, Florida, Joe and Shawna Mateer of the forthcoming New City Church emphasize a more intimate goal: “We see a church that’s not just a friendly place, but a place where you can make a friend.”

The Engine Room: A Model of Support and Strategy

ARC’s ability to consistently launch new churches at such a scale is no accident. It is the result of a highly refined and systematized model designed to mitigate the risks inherent in starting a new organization from scratch. The process for aspiring church planters is rigorous, beginning with a comprehensive assessment that includes background checks, financial reviews, and multiple evaluations to gauge a candidate's character and preparedness.

Once accepted, planters attend intensive training events that function as a boot camp for the spiritual entrepreneur. These sessions cover everything from developing a vision and building a launch team to fundraising, marketing, and establishing legal governance. Crucially, planters are also coached on maintaining a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout, a common pitfall in ministry.

Financial support is a cornerstone of the model. ARC provides no-interest loans and lines of credit to help cover the significant startup costs, which can include venue rental, sound equipment, marketing, and salaries. This initial funding is designed to allow planters to focus on building their congregation without the immediate pressure of financial shortfalls. In return for this support and ongoing connection, member churches contribute 2% of their tithes and offerings back to ARC, a fund designated exclusively for planting more churches.

To ensure these contributions are maximized for mission, ARC states that all its own overhead expenses are paid by the churches of its Lead Team members. The organization also maintains accreditation with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a watchdog group that provides accountability for financial integrity and stewardship.

Planting in a Shifting Religious Landscape

The success of ARC is particularly striking when viewed against broader societal trends. In the United States and other Western nations, studies have shown a steady decline in church attendance and religious identification for decades. In a 2024 video, ARC itself acknowledged that more churches have closed than opened in the U.S. in recent years. The organization frames its mission as a direct response to this gap, aiming to create what it calls “life-giving churches” for a new generation.

ARC’s strategy often involves targeting fast-growing suburban areas and cities where new residents may be searching for community. The choice of New Braunfels, Texas—one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.—for a new plant is a clear example of this approach. By establishing a presence in these areas, ARC churches aim to provide an anchor for individuals and families navigating the dislocation that can accompany rapid growth.

Proponents argue that the contemporary style, high-production value, and community-focused messaging of many ARC churches are effective at reaching people who may feel disconnected from more traditional forms of worship. The emphasis is on creating a welcoming, non-judgmental atmosphere that addresses modern life's practical and spiritual challenges.

A Model Under Scrutiny

Despite its undeniable success in terms of numbers, ARC’s model is not without its critics. The financial structure, particularly the 2% contribution from member churches, has led some observers to draw parallels to a multi-level marketing (MLM) system, where success at the top is fueled by contributions from the network's base. ARC defenders counter that the model is a closed loop, with funds from established churches directly seeding new ones in a collaborative, self-sustaining ecosystem.

More serious questions have been raised about accountability. Because each ARC church is legally autonomous and governed by its own local leadership, ARC has no direct authority to intervene in cases of pastoral misconduct or financial mismanagement. While ARC provides a relational network and a set of best practices, it relies on the local church's own overseers to handle crises. This structure has come under fire in several high-profile instances where pastors of ARC-linked churches faced allegations of moral or ethical failures, leading critics to charge that the network lacks sufficient mechanisms for oversight.

Furthermore, ARC's classification as a church exempts it from filing a public Form 990 with the IRS, a standard financial disclosure document for most non-profits. While its ECFA accreditation provides a level of financial review, the lack of a public 990 limits transparency for those seeking detailed information on executive compensation and specific expenditures.

As the Association of Related Churches celebrates its silver anniversary and looks toward its next 32 launches, it embodies a central tension in the modern religious world. It is simultaneously a story of explosive growth, strategic innovation, and profound personal impact, as well as a case study in the ongoing debates around governance, transparency, and accountability in large-scale religious networks.