An Assemblies of God pastor who helped plant more than 1,000 churches in Malawi died last week at the age of 80.

According to reports, Dr. Dan Sheaffer died of a blood infection on Sept. 2. Sheaffer had led his former congregation, Crossroads Cathedral (named First Assembly of God until 1979), in Oklahoma City to plant churches in Malawi and throughout Africa and the Americas.

Crossroads Cathedral, which he founded, was one of the first megachurches in the Oklahoma City area and today has about 6,000 members. more >>

Southern Baptist leaders are hailing the nomination of Pastor Kevin Ezell for the post of president at the North American Mission Board.

Ezell, senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., has been described by fellow Baptists as a visionary and a godly man with a heart and proven track record for church planting.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and one of the most prominent figures in his denomination, tweeted: “I have known Kevin Ezell for over 15 years as pastor, friend, and visionary leader. He is a man of honor, truth, & conviction.” more >>

With a 90 percent success rate, multisites have become one of the more popular strategies for church growth in the last decade, a new survey reveals.

While megachurches may have pioneered the one church in two or more locations model, smaller churches have recently made their foray into multisites.

"Multisite is mainstreaming," says Warren Bird, director of research at Leadership Network. more >>

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has raised more than half of the $100 million it needs to launch 2,000 new congregations, revitalize existing ones and support outreach efforts worldwide.

The denomination is looking to complete the fundraising campaign by Reformation Day 2011.

Called Fan into Flame, the campaign was launched in 2005 in an effort to gather support for the LCMS Ablaze! movement, through which Lutherans hope to share the Gospel with 100 million people worldwide by the year 2017. That year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation when German theologian Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. more >>

An international missionary-sending organization founded by missionaries to China is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week.

World Gospel Mission, with staff now serving in more than 17 countries on six continents, began its four-day celebration on Thursday at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. Attendees include missionaries from around the world, international guests, supporters, as well as representatives from China who came to know Christ through the group’s early missionaries.

The focus during the centennial anniversary gathering will be supporting a new generation of international missionaries. more >>

Western churches either do not know or know very little about the large Christian movement occurring in Asia’s 10/40 Window, said hip hop artist and pastor Jaseon Ma.

Ma wants to change that.

His new documentary film, “1040,” takes viewers on a journey through Asian countries located in the 10/40 Window – the regions between 10 degrees and 40 degrees North Latitude where the core of the world’s unreached people live. more >>