An Encounter with Jesus Changes Everything
A message from Sean Thomé, Executive Director
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” Revelation 7:9-10 NIV
Our prayer is that God will work through Expand to give the opportunity to every man, woman, and child, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, to experience the hope that comes through King Jesus, the Lamb of God. Therefore, our desire is to connect as many people as possible to Jesus and His church.
We believe an encounter with Jesus has the potential to change everything. An encounter with Jesus changes us, our marriages, our families, our neighborhoods, our cities, our counties, our state, our country, and the entire world!
Therefore, we want to thank you for your continued prayer, financial, and ministry partnership with Expand to encourage pastors, train disciples, and plant new churches… so that the world may encounter Jesus!
Blessings,
Sean Thomé
2024 Kingdom Impact Highlights
Encouraging Pastors
Kingdom Impact:
In 2024, Expand partnered with 50 churches and supported over 100 pastors and their families—both in the U.S. and Uganda.
Encouragement in Action: Supporting Pastors and Their Families
This past November, Expand hosted a Planters’ Spouses Retreat, providing a meaningful and refreshing time for the incredible women church planters in our ministry. Led by our Pastoral Encouragement Team, the retreat renewed their energy and hope for the vital work they do, addressing the loneliness and isolation pastors and their families often experience. This retreat is just one example of how our Pastoral Encouragement Team supports pastors and planters year-round through encouragement, mentorship, and coaching.
At Expand, we understand that Kingdom work can be disheartening at times, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. By fostering connection and providing prayer and care from peers who share the lived experiences of ministry leadership, we equip these leaders with the support they need to faithfully serve in God’s kingdom.
Pastor and Planter Reflections: Madison Nagy, Kainos Church
“Each time I’ve gotten the mail over the past several weeks, there has been the sweetest card of encouragement and gift waiting for one of us to celebrate birthdays and holidays.
Thank you for thinking of us so consistently! And as someone who has gifts as a love language and words of affirmation, we feel so cared for!”
Training Disciples
Kingdom Impact:
With eight out of ten churches in America either in decline or plateauing (Thomas Rainer) the need for reproducible disciple-making has never been greater. That’s why the Disciple-Making Journey Training Series is so impactful—this year alone, 381 leaders participated, gaining practical tools and renewed vision for multiplication.
Pastor and Planter Reflection: Chris Harris and Josh Adsit, Story Church:
For Chris and Josh, the Disciple-Making Journey was a practical and encouraging reminder of the heart of Jesus’ mission, helping them build a Kingdom-focused, relational network in Tulsa. The series gave them the tools to embrace a collaborative and relational approach to disciple-making, with a big focus on emotional and spiritual health within their core group at Story Church.
In one of Tulsa’s most diverse neighborhoods, they saw firsthand how powerful a simple, repeatable, and easy-to-explain model could be—and how enjoyable it was to put into practice. The training solidified their vision of moving away from traditional metrics and toward creating accessible pathways for meaningful discipleship.
The series also fired up their team, with moments of clarity and joy—like hearing someone say, “I can do this!”—bringing big smiles and high fives all around. For Josh and Chris, seeing their group step up and confidently own the process was both humbling and deeply rewarding.
Planting Churches
Kingdom Impact:
Did you know that 33% of the world’s population has never had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus? (Source: The Joshua Project). This sobering statistic drives Expand’s ministry to plant churches and support pastors engaging with hard-to-reach communities.
Over the past five years, Expand has been instrumental through partnership in planting churches that serve as beacons of hope and faith. These include The Bridge, Generations, Kainos, The Gathering, and Restoration Church in the U.S., along with 16 churches in Uganda.
Each of these new churches represents a fresh opportunity for people to encounter the love of Jesus, often for the very first time. Through these efforts, Expand continues to bring the gospel to life in communities around the world.
Church Planter Reflections: Pete Ziolkowski, Restoration Church
Pete and Kristy Ziolkowski moved to Oregon with a calling to plant a church in Portland. One of the key ways Expand has come alongside them in this journey is by connecting them to a church fellowship through The Bridge Church Northwest. This connection has been an integral part of their transition and growth, both personally and in their ministry.
When the Ziolkowski’s arrived in Tigard, The Bridge Church welcomed them with open arms, providing not only practical support but also a strong sense of belonging. From shared meals to heartfelt prayers, the church community became a vital source of encouragement. Pete and Kristy found themselves deeply impacted by the servant-hearted leadership of individuals like Stephanie and Bob Johnson, who modeled Christ’s love in both word and action.
This connection with The Bridge has not only enriched their lives but has also strengthened their vision for Restoration Church. The relationships built and the support received have been a constant reminder of God’s provision and faithfulness. Through Expand’s mission to serve leaders to expand God’s kingdom, Pete and Kristy are better equipped for the journey ahead
