The Dahlonega Church Plant

Ministry Summary
Dr. McKay Caston
www.thewonderofthegospel.com
mckaycaston@mac.com
(678) 651-5557

Dahlonega, Georgia, is a vibrant and historic college town nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains sixty-five miles north of downtown Atlanta. Located in the heart of the Georgia Wine Country, it is a
community that is rich in history, education, the arts, tourism, recreation and natural beauty. Numerous factors
stand out as to why this is a strategic and important place for a new, gospel-centered church.

First, Dahlonega has been chosen because of its recent and projected population growth.
Second, it is an influential university community that is equipping future leaders in medicine, education,
business, art, and the military.
Third, it is home to one of the six major military colleges in the Unites States as well as an important
Army Ranger training battalion.
Fourth, it is a growing center for both performing and visual arts.
Fifth, opportunities abound for compassion ministry to the poor.
Sixth, its popularity as a tourist destination. In excess of a million people visit Dahlonega annually.
Seventh, its location makes it ideal for establishing a study and retreat center that could serve the entire
Metro Atlanta region as a resource for gospel-centered renewal.

OUR UNIFYING VISION: “To glorify God by helping people come alive to the beauty, wonder & power of
the gospel.” We agree with Dr. Tim Keller, who says, “The gospel is not just the ʻA-B-Cʼ but the ʻA to Zʼ of the
Christian life. The gospel is not just the way to enter the kingdom, but is the way to address every problem
and... to grow at every step.” 1 As a result, spiritual vitality that leads to personal, family, and cultural renewal
hinges on the Spirit bringing the gospel alive in our hearts through faith.

OUR CORE COMMITMENTS:

We hope to accomplish this vision by emphasizing three guiding, core commitments:
๏ PERVASIVE GRACE
We want the radical message of grace to be the cen-
tral theme that permeates everything about the
church, from teaching, to worship, to prayer, to disci-
pleship, to vocation, to marriage, to parenting, to
leadership, to stewardship, to mission, etc. In order
to see this become reality, we continually must distin-
guish the gospel from religion.

๏ AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY
As an implication of the gospel, we want to cultivate a
community that promotes authenticity and vulnerabil-
ity. We long for a grace-saturated atmosphere that
communicates to people, “This is a safe place to be
real. We are all broken, sinful people who desperately
need Jesus.”

1 Timothy J. Keller and J. Allen Thompson, Church Planter Manual (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2002)., p. 37.
๏ ORGANIC MISSION
We will encourage all the folks in the church to see themselves as missionaries, word and deed ambassa-
dors of the gospel living as “salt and light” in the context of their organic spheres of influence. Additionally,
whoever teaches will assume there are non-Christians in attendance, and will speak in a way that
addresses their questions, fears, and doubts in language that they can understand.

PARTNERSHIP & INVESTMENT

In order to see the dream become a reality, we need to develop three significant partnerships:

1) We need financial partners.

Perimeter Church graciously is allowing us to raise $200,000 from within the church to help provide the
funding necessary to cover anticipated expenses through our third year. We are thankful to report that
$130,000 of that total has already been pledged, leaving only $70,000 left to be raised from within
Perimeter! Below is a possible donor scenario that would enable us to accomplish our financial goal.
1 partner @ 8,000/yr. for 3 years = 24,000

2 partners @ 3,000/yr. for 3 years ($250/month) = 18,000

2 partners @ 1,500/yr. for 3 years ($125/month) = 9,000

3 partners @ 1,000/yr. for 3 years ($83/month) = 9,000

3 partners @ 600/yr. for 3 years ($50/month) = 5,400

Kristy and McKay Caston
with their children
5 partners @ 300/yr. for 3 years ($25/month) = 4,500

Total = 69,900

2) We need prayer partners.

In his book, Let the Nations be Glad, John Piper says, “It is the proclamation of the gospel that is the work of
missions... [but] prayer [is] God’s instrument to release the power of the gospel.”2

3) We need people.
If you think you possibly are being drawn to participate on the ground with us and want to inquire further,
please do not hesitate to contact me in person.

THE CHURCH PLANTING PASTOR: Dr. McKay Caston

๏ Bachelors in History and Literature from the University of Mississippi
๏ Masters and doctorate degrees from Covenant Theological Seminary
๏ Fourteen years of experience as a staff pastor and senior pastor
๏ Equipped as a church planter by Perimeter Church and the North Georgia New Church Network
๏ Approved by the PCA’s Church Planting Assessment Center
๏ Married for almost 17 years, with three children, ages 13, 10 and 5.

ASSOCIATION & ACCOUNTABILITY

The Dahlonega Church Plant will be under the guidance of our sending church, Perimeter Church in Atlanta,
which has a renowned track record of planting vital, gospel-centered churches. We also will be in partnership
with the North Georgia New Church Network3 and Metro Atlanta Presbytery of the PCA.

2John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1993), pp. 62-63.

3 The North Georgia NCN is a ministry that provides continuous training for church planters in north Georgia.
PLAN FOR MOVING FROM A DONOR-SUPPORTED CHURCH TO A SELF-SUPPORTED CHURCH

100% 10%
34%
Core Group Support 75%
45% 66%
Perimeter Support 50% 33% 100%
Outside Support
25% 45% 17%
33%
17%
0%
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

PROJECTED MILESTONES TOWARD PARTICULARIZATION

Phases Dates Goals

Attend Assessment Center

PHASE I: November–December 2008 Complete Ministry Plan
Develop ministry budget
Preparation/
Raise Support Team Develop ministry partners through vision
January 2009–June 2009
casting opportunities
July 2009 Enroll in “Leadership Lumpkin”
Relocate to the Dahlonega area
August 2009
Identify potential meeting locations
PHASE II: Involvement in life interest areas
Networking
Gathering
September 2009– Sharing the gospel
December 2009 Hosting gathering events
Vision casting
Launch a gathering Bible study
Develop a “launch team”
Continue gathering Bible Study, and other
potential area group studies
PHASE III:
January–May 2010 Continue vision casting gatherings
Equip Launch Team Recruit/hire administrative assistant, wor-
ship leader, and children’s director to be-
gin Summer 2010
Preview services
July–Aug. 2010 (or earlier)
Publicize the launch of public worship
PHASE IV:
Launch public worship service
Public Worship September 2010 (or earlier) Launch cell groups
Launch men’s discipleship Bible study
January 2011 First Inquirer’s/New Member Class
PHASE V: Begin formal training of first officers
September 2011
Bring on church planting apprentice/CPiR
Train Officers/
Officers ordained
Particularization
September 2012 Particularization
Financially self-supporting