Preparing to Launch: The Joy of a Daughter Church

Standing on a mountain overlooking the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Pastor Mike Augsburger is recording a Facebook Live video message to his home church in Iowa, Soteria Church of Des Moines.

Surrounded by mountains on four sides, the Phoenix Valley is one of the most rapidly growing communities in the country. It is home to more than 5 million people, 60 percent of whom claim no religious affiliation.

Soteria Des Moines wants to change that.

Looking into the camera, Mike says, “The mission of our church is to make more and better disciples. We want to do that in Des Moines, but Jesus said go and make disciples of all nations. Make disciples, here, there [then pointing to the city behind him], and everywhere.”

Soteria Des Moines is the mother church of a new church plant in Phoenix’s southwest suburbs. The church plant, called Soteria West Valley, has a core group of about 15 adults, including some who moved from Iowa to Phoenix just to be part of the church plant.

“Our team down here in Phoenix is ready to go,” Mike says. “They are excited. It’s awesome to stand here and look out at this city and think that we may have a small part in the work God’s doing in Phoenix.” Mike finishes by asking his church to pray that the core team would be able to launch the West Valley church this fall.