Expand exists to partner with kingdom workers to connect people to Jesus and his church by encouraging leaders, training disciples and planting churches.
Our hearts break for people who are far from Jesus! According to Thomas Rainer, eight out of ten churches in America are in decline or plateauing. The Joshua Project estimates that 33% of the world’s population have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus.
Because we want to connect as many people to Jesus and his church as possible, we seek to partner with kingdom workers to expand God’s kingdom.
In 1956, a group of Jesus followers from several different churches partnered together in the state of Oregon. The purpose of this partnership was to expand God’s kingdom and reach people for Jesus by collectively gathering resources to help build new church buildings and raise up new pastors in the Portland Metro area. As a result, an Oregon nonprofit organization was birthed known as the Northwest Christian Evangelistic Association (NWCEA). Since conception, the NWCEA has partnered with local churches and other church planting organizations to help start over twenty-five new churches as well as train reproducing disciple makers and encourage pastors and leaders.
In 2020, the organization’s name changed to “Expand NW,” and shortly after, it became known as simply “Expand,” all while maintaining the same mission to connect people into a relationship with Jesus and a healthy local church but now with a much larger vision. Because of the conviction to go into all the nations, Expand seeks to serve leaders to exalt king Jesus and expand God’s kingdom for His glory from the northwest and beyond.
In 2024, Expand has further fulfilled its vision to serve leaders in three different regions: Expand Northwest, Expand New England, and Expand Uganda.
