Why I Led My Church to Support the Praetorian Project

By: Dannie Williams

Since 1992 I have been committed to leading the churches that I have pastored to plant, financially sponsor, send members as parts of the planting teams, and then send mission teams to join in their outreach projects. I have mentored planters, encouraged their families, and challenged other churches to get involved in helping these churches succeed. I can honestly say of all the discipleship and world-reaching ministries I have been involved in, this has been one of the most rewarding.

Prior to leading First Baptist Church of Lyons, Georgia to get involved in the Praetorian Project, I had already led them to support each church that the mother church, Pillar Dumfries, had started. I had also led in the sponsorship of other churches in British Columbia, Iceland, Washington DC, Atlanta, Colorado, and in our local community.

When Clint Clifton told me about the vision of planting multiplying churches near Marine bases, I immediately realized that a new day was ahead. I could envision a bold gospel witness spreading around the world. From that day, I began asking my church to support every Praetorian church plant for a period of five years, and we have been doing so ever since. For eleven years now we have been doing just that.

I got even more excited when Praetorian leadership began strategically mentoring planters, preparing them to lead the upcoming plants. Having attended their leadership meetings, I have personally experienced the high-quality equipping they provide. Their leaders prepare these young men to exegetically and expositionally preach the gospel focusing on preaching through books of the Bible. This inductive Bible study method is essential for a quality understanding of the Bible.

Their approach of planting churches is to start the churches with co-pastors. At the earliest date possible, one of these leaders will start a new plant near whatever base the Lord directs. This approach is highly reproductive and multiplies the ministry. It also pairs mature and experienced leaders with those in the pipeline of discipleship training and prepares them well for their next assignment.

One of the strengths of Praetorian Projects is their comradery. Having hosted one of their annual family retreats at FBC Lyons and attended most of their annual retreats at other locations, I have observed first-hand how passionate each church, its leaders, and families are about the success of every church. They practice the “no church left behind” commitment modeled by our Marines.

I know of no church-planting organization any more tightly knit together or more committed to reaching, discipling, and ministering to military communities around the world, and consider it a privilege to participate with them in the spread of the glorious gospel!