The Acts 29 Church Planting Pipeline is a five-year process that walks alongside church planters as they discern God’s call, prepare to launch, and navigate the formative, early years of ministry. The goal is simple: to see healthy churches planted that continue to thrive long after launch, impacting communities for years to come. Wellspring Church in China Spring, Texas, shows what that can look like. Five years after launch, the church is thriving.

Located just outside Waco, China Spring is a rapidly growing community where people are looking for connection. That sense of community has opened doors for meaningful relationships, community outreach, and everyday gospel conversations.

Lead pastor Matt Byrd was first drawn to Acts 29 because of its church planter assessment process. “I was drawn to the rigor and heart-level focus of the assessment process and wanted to be challenged and refined in that way,” he says. “I have also always been inspired by the network’s commitment to planting healthy churches around the world.”

That commitment became personal when the Byrd family moved to China Spring to plant the church. Another Acts 29 church in the Waco area welcomed them with meals, helped them get settled, and even sent members to join Wellspring’s launch team. “It was an incredible picture of kingdom-minded partnership and the Acts 29 commitment to seeing healthy churches planted,” Matt says.

Five years later, Wellspring has paid that generosity forward, partnering with Acts 29 churches both locally and around the world. “One of the most exciting aspects of our ministry has been participating in global partnerships, some made possible through the Acts 29 Network,” Matt says. “It is encouraging to be part of a movement that is helping plant and strengthen churches around the world.”

Looking back, Matt describes church planting as both deeply rewarding and deeply refining. “These have been some of the most rewarding years of ministry I have ever experienced, and at the same time, some of the greatest challenges. God has used church planting to deepen my dependence, love, and trust in him in amazing ways.”

One of the clearest evidences of God’s faithfulness has been through salvation. Over the past five years, Wellspring has celebrated more than 125 people placing their faith in Christ, and countless others growing in spiritual maturity and biblical literacy! One story involves a man whose in-laws were part of Wellspring’s launch team and had prayed for his salvation for years. He eventually came to faith, was baptized at Wellspring, and today the family worships together.

“The community looks different because of God’s work through Wellspring Church,” Matt says.

Looking ahead, Wellspring is entering the final year of a three-year building campaign. After purchasing 36 acres for a future church home, the congregation hopes to break ground later this year.

Wellspring’s story is a reminder of what church planting is ultimately about: not simply launching a new congregation, but seeing lives transformed through the gospel, communities strengthened, and new churches established for generations to come.

Pray for Wellspring Church

• Pray for the church’s future home. Ask God to provide the remaining financial resources needed to break ground and use the new building to welcome and disciple many more people.
• Pray for new deacons. Later this year, Wellspring will install deacons. Pray for wisdom, unity, and faithful servant leadership throughout the process.