North Point EPC is the latest church plant launch in the EPC. Their first meeting on Sunday, September 13, at the Covenant Christian Academy in Peabody, Massachusetts drew 90 adults and children.
There are 2 unique features of this plant. First, a team of David Cook and Tom and Donna Penner is providing pastoral leadership to this plant. Second, the leadership team is bi-vocational. David is a counselor and Tom and Donna are faculty members of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS).
David, a 2009 graduate of GCTS, was approved for ordination at the September 25-26 meeting of the Presbytery of the Eastt . At the same meeting Tom and Donna came under care of the presbytery. GCTS M.Div. student Scott Larson, a member of Cornerstone EPC in Brighton, Michigan is also working with the pastoral team.

Commenting on their team and bi-vocational model of leadership, David Cook wrote, “When you don’t have time to do everything, you have to let go and let other people run with their ideas – even with the really important things. We have had no choice but to lead simply by illuminating scriptural boundaries and letting gifted people exercise their gifts within these boundaries. While they may not have done it the same way we would have, one thing is certain, it has meant that the story of North Point is not the story of one person, or one family, or even one core group. Every day new people are writing themselves in very meaningful ways into the story of North Point. Our prayer is that this multithreaded narrative weaves a bigger picture of God and better equips us all to own the story of Christ’s redemption in our marriages, families, neighborhoods, workplace, city, country and world.”

My first contact with this plant occurred when David Cook sent me the 23 page “Beverly Project” document that was the starting point for North Point. It included topics such as how the church would be missional, ministry philosophy and core leadership development as well as target and demographic information. I had the opportunity to meet with the lay leadership team on North Point on Saturday night, September 26, worship with and welcome the North Point congregation on Sunday morning, and enjoy a meal with the North Point pastoral leadership and Scott Larson that afternoon. I’m very impressed by the energy, excitement and anticipation of this group as they embark on this venture.

(Editor note: This press release was written by Jeff Jeremiah, Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church)