Kentucky-Tennessee Conference Hosts First-Ever Church Planting Summit

Apr 15

The Kentucky-Tennessee Conference held its inaugural Church Planting Summit on April 12, 2025, at the Nashville First Church. The event was organized to inspire, inform, and mobilize current and future church planters.

The summit featured keynote speaker Michael Lewis, associate director from the North American Division Evangelism Institute, who emphasized the “power of multiplication” in evangelism.

“Church planting is not just an event, it’s a lifestyle,” said Anton Kapusi, church growth director for the conference and the event organizer. “This is how we reach people in a meaningful and lasting way. It’s for the community, by the community.”

Currently, 15 church plants are currently active within the conference, with 11 receiving supports from the Global Mission funding initiative, which provides $10,000 annually for three years to each new mission group. The summit was designed to showcase these efforts and cast a broader vision for church growth.

“We wanted to give people a report and show them what’s already happening,” Kapusi said. “[Our goal] is to inspire and explain why church planting is the single most effective evangelistic method under heaven.”

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in worship, panel discussions, and breakout seminars. Lewis’ afternoon seminar focused on practical steps to launch new congregations, particularly in areas where the Adventist message has yet to take root.

This year’s summit was intentionally limited to representatives from the churches planted within the last five years, as well as those currently planting or exploring the idea. Kapusi hopes to make the summit an annual event, rotating to different regions of the conference.

“I want people to start thinking outside the box,” Kapusi said. “Jesus didn’t just call us to attend church. He called us to make disciples, and church planting is a powerful way to live that calling... Many churches don’t realize that planting isn’t just for pastors or trained evangelists. Any member who feels called can begin with a small group. That’s how new churches are born — in homes, in businesses, or wherever there is vision and prayer.”