Association of Related Churches (ARC) is celebrating the milestone of passing 1,000 churches launched since the organization began more than twenty years ago. ARC began the year with 994 churches, and, as of January 23, currently sits at 1,010.
Founded in 2000 by a group of pastors led by Greg Surratt of Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and Billy Hornsby of Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, ARC exists to “see a thriving church in every community, reaching people with the message of Jesus.”
Dino Rizzo, one of the founders of ARC and now Executive Director, said in a press release, “We are so honored that we get to be a small part in helping people plant churches, so they can lift up Jesus and populate heaven! Our heart is to see families restored and communities transformed with the life-changing message of Jesus. What a joy to see how far we’ve come since the initial dream.”