10:31am | Two church leaders will speak today at the kickoff of Vision360, an effort to start new churches that represent Long Beach’s changing demographics, particularly in Latino and multi-ethnic communities.
Vision360 is a cross-denominational partnership of Long Beach pastors and church leaders. According to a press release, Vision360 aims to start five new churches in the next 18 months, and 50 by 2017. The effort will include collaboration with the city’s business and political leaders, mentoring programs for urban pastors and the creation of learning communities for churches that aspire to multiply.
“In 20 years of ministry in our city, I have never seen the united energy that now exists to transcend differences and start scores of healthy new churches,” said Larry Walkemeyer, pastor at Light and Life Christian Fellowship.
Rick Warren and Miles McPherson will speak at Tuesday’s launch. Warren is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, and the author of “The Purpose Driven Life.”
Miles McPherson, a former professional football player, is the senior pastor at the ROCK Christian Fellowship in San Diego. McPherson founded the ROCK in 2000, and it has grown to become recognized as a multi-cultural church, known throughout the country for its innovation in serving its community.