Less than 2 years into their journey of faith, Faith Community Church in Barre, Vermont, took a giant step of faith to become a "church planting church."

Three families began meeting at the home of Terry and Kay Dorsett (DOM for the GMBA) in May 2004. On Sunday, September 12, 2004, they launched public worship with 32 people in the conference room of the Hollow Inn on South Main Street in Barre.  The church continues to meet in the conference room and now has between 50-60 people present.

 The new church assumed they would call a full time church planter and Terry would move on to help another church plant. As things developed, the members of Faith and the Dorsett family sensed God calling them together for the foreseeable future. Terry provides the young congregation with pastoral leadership, is part of the preaching team, and helps to develop new leaders for ministry.

 While Faith was being planted, Dorsett began to see the need to help potential church planters grow in their skill and calling before sending them out to plant a church. "I was frustrated with the many church planters that did not work out or did not stay and I knew there had to be a better way," Dorsett said.  Dorsett then came in contact with Wes Pastor of Christ Memorial Church in Williston, VT.  "CMC has a well defined church planter intern program and I realized it could be modified to work in the context of Faith Community Church."

The program has "evolved" and developed as Dorsett and the congregation have experimented. He realized that church planters are almost always lacking in two areas: understanding of the cultural context of Vermont/New England and the ability to effectively contextualize an effective church model.

"My theory was if we could give these two things to church planters they would stay longer and be more effective. It seems more effective to bring them up for two years and let them work alongside a pastor who knows the context and the what leadership styles/church models will work in that context so they could learn from that experience. Then the church planter would be ready to plant a church in a nearby community and would have a sponsor church already committed to them and their family."

 David Scruggs was the first intern - Both he and Dorsett realized a few months into the process that he would be better suited to an established church. So Dorsett was able to help him discover the right fit at a church in Vermont. Community Baptist Church, Montgomery Center, Vermont is currently experiencing remarkable growth.  Last year the church baptized more people than in the previous decade combined. Terry believes the process was a success because David ended up exactly where he should have been and the effectiveness of his current ministry proves it.

Trey Cates arrived in November 2006. He will eventually be sent out by FCC to plant a church in a nearby community. In the meantime, he leads small group discipleship classes and community outreach events. He also preaches and leads the mid week Bible study two times a month. Trey is supported financially by a coalition of churches, Green Mountain Baptist Association, BCNE, NAMB, a foundation, individuals and Faith Community Church.

 Terry Cates shares his testimony concerning his call and ministry in Vermont: "When we heard Terry's vision for planting churches in Vermont, we were extremely excited about his plan for acclimating new planters. The idea of being able to work with an existing plant for about 2 years in order to learn Vermont culture and get ‘acclimated' sounded like a wise strategy considering some of the horror stories I had heard about in my CP classes in seminary and from other planters I knew personally.

It was such a blessing to have our new church family greet us and help move us in. When my wife was in the emergency room on Christmas Eve, we had the prayers and support of our new friends being with us. Praise the Lord! I would not have wanted it any other way!"

 "God has provided a new part-time job with the local school bus company that is perfect for meeting a large number of the parents, teachers, students, and school administrators in town.  I have already had the chance to share Christ with one of the mechanics at the bus yard and I am making friendships with the other drivers. Pray that God will continue to help me cultivate these new relationships!"

 "As I serve with Faith Community Church, we are praying about where God wants us to plant the next church. Pray for the town of Northfield, which we will be targeting with prayer walking and surveying teams this summer to see if that is where God wants us to go. Our goal is to launch out in 18-24 months to plant a new SBC work in Vermont."

 According to Robby Pitt, BCNE Church Planting Consultant for Northern New England, "This is an opportunity for a win/win/win situation! If you match up a healthy church plant, a healthy pastor-coach, and a healthy planter, the impact could be huge.  The church benefits and planting churches becomes part of their DNA and calling from the outset. In addition, they are personally invested in the new church plant, helping acclimate and encourage the planter and his family.  The Pastor benefits with much needed assistance for their developing church and sharpens his own leadership skills by mentoring/coaching the potential planter.

 "The benefits for the planter are many. He is able to develop his gifts/abilities in a safe place. His family is connected relationally and as (an added plus, potential people for new plant could come from the church). After spending 18 months to 2 years getting acclimated and acculturated to Vermont, he is in a better position to know the best fit for a new plant. Finally, he is able to earn some vitally important credibility in the community."

 "The BCNE Church Planting Team were impressed with Trey (and family) and their potential in our Church Planting Assessment process. It is our prayer that this kind of investment from Terry, Faith, BCNE, and Trey can be parlayed into more and better church plants to reach New Englanders for Christ!"