Antioch Initiative
The Launch Pad where Sending Churches Sustains the Sent
Who is it for?
[GEN1] Flagship Churches are established, biblically healthy congregation that
partners with The Barnabas Fellowshipto support, train, and send [GEN 2] churches
into underserved and hard places through the Antioch Initiative.
partners with The Barnabas Fellowshipto support, train, and send [GEN 2] churches
into underserved and hard places through the Antioch Initiative.
A [GEN1] Flagship Church:
May be outside the underserved field
Maintains doctrinal alignment and elder governance
Possesses the capacity to host or support residency pathways
Commits to long-term partnership, not transactional giving
Possesses the capacity to host or support residency pathways
Commits to long-term partnership, not transactional giving
"Faithful churches helping faithful churches"
We have 5 churches that are committed to deploying in targeted mission fields while equipping churches to become self-sustainable. Our vision is to launch 35+ residents (prospective missionary pastors) and 5 regional hubs by 2030.
How Does The Antioch Initiative Work?
The Antioch Initiative operates through a stage-based framework called the Stages of Sustainable Growth.
Each stage represents
clear, observable milestones that demonstrate a church’s
readiness to multiply responsibly.
This framework serves 3 purposes:
Accountability – growth is measured, not assumed
Clarity – churches know what maturity requires
Confidence – donors know where and why resources are deployed
Each stage represents
clear, observable milestones that demonstrate a church’s
readiness to multiply responsibly.
This framework serves 3 purposes:
Accountability – growth is measured, not assumed
Clarity – churches know what maturity requires
Confidence – donors know where and why resources are deployed
Targeted Gateway Cities Geography:
- Ohio (Dayton, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland),
- Tennessee (Memphis),
- Georgia (Atlanta),
- Florida (Orlando),
- Texas (Dallas),
- Mississippi (Jackson),
- California (Los Angeles, and Mid-Valley)
- Maryland/DC (Baltimore)
These GATEWAY cities represent pastors who have contributed to the Barnabas Fellowship. This is not an exclusive list, we are willing to expand and receive more prospective Fellows.
The Strategic Role of the Flagship Church
Flagship Churches serve as the spiritual, structural, and financial anchors of the Antioch Initiative—extending
their health and wisdom to strengthen emerging churches and establish enduring gospel presence in hard places.
The Antioch Initiative recognizes that multiplication in hard places requires strength from stable places.
Many of the churches best positioned to support planters, residents, and emerging congregations
are not located in distressed mission fields themselves. Yet their doctrinal health, leadership maturity,
and financial stability make them indispensable partners in establishing enduring gospel presence
where the need is greatest.
their health and wisdom to strengthen emerging churches and establish enduring gospel presence in hard places.
The Antioch Initiative recognizes that multiplication in hard places requires strength from stable places.
Many of the churches best positioned to support planters, residents, and emerging congregations
are not located in distressed mission fields themselves. Yet their doctrinal health, leadership maturity,
and financial stability make them indispensable partners in establishing enduring gospel presence
where the need is greatest.