Church Planting

At the core of ALIVE’s PROJECT 20 is the belief that everyone deserves the chance to come ALIVE in their faith and in Kingdom impact – to help start churches where people
can connect with God, grow in their faith, and be empowered to make a real difference. Each day, we are reminded that there are still so many people in our world who need
who need a personal relationship with Jesus. Given the urgency of this reality, we are thrilled to engage in PROJECT 20 – our legacy vision to see 20 Christ-centered communities in 10 years.

Jason Vonbehren is our very first PROJECT 20 partner, planting the WEST CITY Church in 2021. WEST CITY Church is a non-denominational church focused on
reaching the people of West Greenville and Powdersville, with this area considered to be one of the “breakout locations in America” and “one of the fastest growing
communities in the country.” Jason and his wife Morgan were attracted to the intersection of culture, socio-economic status, and political identity as fertile ground for
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their journey has led them across the West End of Greenville into the fast-emerging community of Powdersville and the I-85 corridor west of Greenville. They share a God-given call to reaching people through practical Biblical teaching and bringing the love of Jesus into the places where people work, live and play.

Pastor Connor Guerzini launched Upstate Community Church in January 2024 and continues to lead this growing church with passion and a love for the people of Boiling
Springs and Spartanburg. Upstate Community Church is celebrating new believers, baptisms, community connections, discipleship and next-level leaders being developed as UCC continues to grow and thrive. We’re grateful to partner with Connor, Kayla, and family – and our wonderful family at Upstate Community Church. We look forward to seeing what God has in store for 2026!

In May 2023, PROJECT 20 engaged in a 3 year partnership with Pastor Edinson Comacho to support and help coach REDIL -- a Hispanic Church Planting Network in the Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) corridor. Edinson is training over 20 Hispanic leaders to plant new churches, anticipating that this partnership will yield several new PROJECT 20 Christ-centered Hispanic communities over the next few years. This initiative
recruits, trains and deploys Hispanic church planters in partnership with ALIVE’s PROJECT 20, the SC District of the Wesleyan church, Welcome Wesleyan Church and the United Wesleyan Church. We are sowing this seed and providing this training in anticipation of a Kingdom harvest in our Hispanic communities.

God called Fred and Susan Johnson to start OUR HOME as an ALIVE PROJECT 20 microsite in their home in Rainsville, Alabama. OUR HOME gathers weekly to share ALIVE’s live-stream service and ALIVE Kid’s ministry. More than a small group, a microsite can be a precursor to a church plant where they meet for fellowship, the Apostle’s teaching, the breaking of bread, and for prayer (Acts 2:42). Their connection to ALIVE is both spiritual and relational, combining the life-giving resources of ALIVE with their local passion for Jesus. Fred and Susan’s long-term vision is to follow God’s
leading, praying that God would open the door for a

Wesleyan church plant in Rainsville.

The Church Gathering in Easley -- pastored by Chasen and Casey Callahan - is our Christ-centered Community number 7! The Church Gathering began as a small group meeting in Chasen and Casey Callahan’s home in the Spring of 2024. This organic gathering included a shared meal, a time of worship, a sharing of God’s Word, and several community “mission” projects. They began to grow and grow – leading us into a Project 20 planting plan. The Glenwood connection story is a miracle in itself drawing in the 105 year legacy of the Glenwood Church with the start of an incredible new church seeking to serve in the in the fast-growing City of Easley. The Church Gathering launched in September 2025 and has emerged as an exciting new work that is reaching people with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus.

Pastor Craig Bagwell joined the ALIVE ministry team in May 2024 as pastor of our Pelzer campus. Craig’s impact as a community pastor was immediately felt in the Pelzer/Williamston/Belton communities. Well, God calls us to see a need and then to meet that need. A God-given opportunity was emerging to combine our Pelzer and Pleasant View campuses and our test run in the summer was very successful. Craig and team are planning a Christmas launch as the EMERGE Church – a new Wesleyan church in our PV location as our P20 CCC#8. PROJECT 20 and the SC District are partnering to see this exciting new community get off to a great start in December 2025.