Worldwide church-planting ministry has area roots

Dozens file in every weekend to resounding songs and sermons. Welcomed by painted walls, padded chairs and iron crosses, some don't realize their worship center was a barren warehouse just eight months ago.

Standing behind the Walmart at the corner of U.S. 380 and Custer Road in McKinney, Stepping Stones Church isn't your typical Sunday-morning venue -- unless, of course, you're McKinney resident Jeff Nyberg. It's the 27th such grassroots church he and his wife, Angela, have helped plant over the past 29 years.

And planting in North Texas may just be starting to bloom. Stepping Stones is the first of seven churches the Nybergs' ministry hopes to launch in the area over the next few years.

"Our focus is not so much quantity as it is quality," said Jeff, who will pastor the McKinney church while other area churches take shape. "We value having a large number of communities that have their own pastors, as opposed to one mega church."

Jeff concedes that bigger churches of course serve a spiritual purpose. They just don't fit into the vision he says God imprinted on him decades ago. Soon after his first semester of college in 1979, Jeff decided his life purpose.

"I had a strong impression that I would have a part in starting thousands of churches," he said.

His mission eventually took off through Stepping Stones, a 501(c)(3) church-planting ministry. Following the same basic template regardless of location, Stepping Stones has helped plant churches all over the country -- Colorado, Washington, Louisiana -- and even two in Russia.

About half of the churches are in the Dallas area, the McKinney warehouse church the latest addition. They're all grassroots in the sense that Stepping Stones volunteers share their faith through block parties, egg drops and "anything and everything that connects people," Jeff said.

"People hear the good news, ban together, love on each other and tell their friends about it," he said. "If the group gets big enough, we buy or rent a space and form a church."

Such a spontaneous congregation started in February with three founding members at the McKinney warehouse, a large suite at University Business Plaza. Nearly 60 members now call Stepping Stones their home church, with as many as 116 attendees at a previous service.

The biggest Stepping Stones-planted church grew to 600 members, despite the ministry's insistence that the churches stay smaller and more personable. One grew to 215 members in three years, Jeff said, and a similar expansion seems to be occurring in McKinney.

"We've seen dramatic things happening here," he said. "I think it's grown in more significant ways than we've seen at other churches."

The Stepping Stones ministry helped change the warehouse from dusty to devout with a late-summer grant that allowed members to paint the walls and floors, add silk plants and hang decorations. Using a makeshift stage and donated sound system, church members will present "A Christmas Tale" on Sunday, Dec. 11.

Stepping Stones hopes to help plant the next church in northern Frisco -- a continuation of its short-term goal for seven more area churches. Jeff said the planting campaign will remain focused on simplicity.

And, like at the latest location, comfort, community and progress are all part of the plan.

"Once you walk in the front doors," Jeff said, "you forget you are in a warehouse."

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