At gosmalltowns, we are dedicated to spreading the love and teachings of Jesus Christ across central North Carolina and beyond. We are committed over the next ten years to assist in planting at least 5 healthy, gospel-centered churches with the ultimate goal of "planting" a new presbytery better suited to focus on the unique opportunities and challenges small towns and rural areas face.
In the fall of 2016, the missions committee of the Central Carolina Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) tasked TE (teaching elder) John Kinyon (and others) "to come up with a viable church planting strategy for the region east of Charlotte, NC." Since submitting the report in 2018, 2 churches have been planted (Redeemer and Christ Church), one closed (Covenant) and two left the PCA (Providence and Sandhills) leaving us a net loss of 1. We want to change that. In addition to planting 5 new churches in 10 years, we are also committed to promoting church health among all churches.
"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'”
- Romans 10:14-15 (ESV)
Pastor John Kinyon and his wife, Claire, have planted and pastored 3 very different PCA churches over the course of 29 years. The first was a multi-ethnic scratch plant right out of seminary on the sunny island of O’ahu, Hawai’i. In the second, he joined an existing core group in planting a mono-cultural suburban church plant in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country of Eastern Pennsylvania. The third plant was a southern congregation with a large military presence in the Pinehurst area of North Carolina. All three churches have participated in the planting of additional churches as well. John has served as the MNA coordinator for several presbyteries, assisted in the formation of a new presbytery, assesses church planting prospects on a regular basis, coaches young planters and now, in his new role, he is called to co-pastor with interested church planters in rural North Carolina. John is also an adjunct faculty member at several seminaries, mostly abroad in countries hostile to the gospel. He has been married to Claire, an artist and art teacher, for almost 36 years and together they are blessed with five sons, all of whom love the Lord, and are involved in various artistic and educational endeavors themselves. Living in in the Pinehurst area, John loves playing golf and enjoys the slower pace of life in the South. He is a graduate of Cornell, Vanderbilt and Reformed Theological Seminary.
You can give online or by check (click button below for more information) or by text (text "MNA1964" to 76959 and follow the prompts).