As of Thursday, New City Church Milledgeville is officially an Acts 29 church. Since we started the journey of planting New City Church Milledgeville, I have received a number of questions about the Acts 29 Network. In addition to suggesting that you check out the network's website (www.acts29network.org), below I have listed just a few of the reasons why we gladly affiliate with the Acts 29 Network.

1. A shared commitment to keeping the gospel the main thing - The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Acts 29 is "gospel-centrality." And this commitment to gospel-centrality is not just lip service. Rather, it reveals itself in an honest attempt among the churches of the network to spur each other on toward being gospel-centered in our churches and ministries.

2. A shared theology - Every church in the Network agrees on some basic theological premises. These are often referred to as "close-handed" issues, issues about which one must agree in order to be considered a part of the Network. This means that you will already know a significant amount of information about some of the core beliefs of any church that is a part of the Network. New City Church, in Milledgeville and Macon, shares these "close-handed" theological basics that unite every Acts 29 church.

3. A shared commitment to mission - Acts 29 is not actually in the Bible. The book of Acts ends with chapter 28. So why the reference to Acts 29? Because it signifies our realization that the mission of God has not ended. While Acts 1-28 records the spread of the gospel through through the early church, the spreading of God's Kingdom through the transforming power of the gospel did not cease at the ending of the book of Acts. God's story is still being written, and every gospel-proclaiming church is privileged to be a part of this unfolding story.

4. A genuine brotherhood - Every opportunity that I have had to be around other pastors in the Acts 29 Network has been a blessing to me. The men in the Network, from my experience, genuinely care about each other and long to see one another honor Jesus well through our lives and ministries. The opportunities that I have to spend time with other pastors in the Network are invaluable as God often uses these times to challenge me and refresh my soul.

5. An invaluable resource - Through various means, members of the Network labor to create environments where pastors and churches in the Network can serve as a resource for each other. Having other seasoned pastors and church planters to walk with you through the ups and downs of ministry, continuous training opportunities, and constant access to various documents and writings are priceless in the busy life of a church planter/pastor.