For years we in the Midwest have bonded together and worked hard to pray for, encourage, and resource one another; to “strive side by side for the faith of the gospel.” Many churches outside the Midwest have graciously and generously provided resources for planting churches in what has been a frontier region of the PCA. While we still retain a strong sense of Midwest identity and cooperation the reality is that we have now multiplied into various sub-regions, presbyteries, and networks.

 Many of our churches and presbyteries are more committed to and mobilized for church planting than ever before and there are church planting networks that are resourcing and spearheading the planting of new churches. We now see a small but growing ethnic, socio-economic, and generational diversity in Midwest leadership and churches including African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Asian Indian as well as Anglo. We have the denominational seminary within our bounds, and several have started local seminary and leadership training programs.

It’s time for what we might call “new wineskins” that will enable us to better fulfill the Great Commission and to strive together for the faith of the gospel in the Midwest. The Midwest Alliance positions us for “greater things” in the region!