REACHING ACROSS GENERATIONS THROUGH NEW CHURCH START

“There are a lot of people moving to DFW alone, and we believe, that in that moment of their transition, a good, solid church plant can help reach those people and plug them into a church, into a body, and really bless them,” Torres said.

Torres explained that being part of the state convention helped Revive Zoe connect to resources and a network of support.

Revive Zoe, a church start in Grand Prairie, celebrated its two-year anniversary in September 2022. What started as a small group of 30 people meeting in Pastor Luis Torres’ living room has expanded to 125 worshippers, split between two worship services each week.

Since its launch on Easter 2020, Revive Zoe has seen 30 baptisms and 40 people give their lives to Christ. Torres credits the church’s growth to following the Lord’s will and creating a unique, bilingual space for worship. Torres noticed that, while the older generations preferred speaking and worshiping in Spanish, many of the younger congregants preferred English. Torres saw a need to bridge the gap between the two generations, providing a space for both to come together and feel included.

“It’s been a true blessing for us to be a part of what God is doing here in the city,” Torres said.

With new residents coming to Texas by the thousands, new church plants are essential to keep up with the growing spiritual demands.

“We got connected with Texas Baptists because we know we cannot do this alone … we’ve been able to go farther, faster because of Texas Baptists,” Torres said.

The Texas Baptists Church Starting ministry is supported by the Cooperative Program. These funds allow church-starting strategists to connect with church starters across Texas, providing support and resources as they begin their ministries.

As Revive Zoe celebrates two years of ministry and looks ahead, Torres has started a new series, “Rise Up,” to help the congregation catch and carry the vision of the leadership. Torres challenged church members to “rise up” and do what the Lord is calling them to do.

“Our vision is for people to be revived and our mission is for people to rise,” he said. “There are lives at stake in this community, and they need to be reached.” ministries

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