Always Forward

“Before people are sent overseas, they go through an oftentimes rigorous training process and they really focus on their support network (financial, prayer, etc). And church planters often don’t pay attention to those things and recognize that this is such a missional endeavor; you need to be trained and you need that support system in place.” - Canon Molly Ruch
Join us this November in Jacksonville, Florida for our final four-day training intensive of the year. Swipe for more info ➡️

Are you a church planter or a prospective planter? Then join us in Jacksonville, FL, from November 9–12, 2026, for our final Church Plant Training Intensive (CPTI) of the year! Led by Rev. Cn. Tony Melton (Always Forward Lead) and Cn. Molly Ruch, we will dive deep into our foundational trellis framework—covering the 4 Cs (Conviction, Culture, Collaboration, Constructs) and 7 local and diocesan systems. And we have newly updated material to help planters navigate the initial phase from Day One to Launch Day with practical, step-by-step strategies. Don’t miss this final opportunity of 2026 to equip your ministry and connect with planters from across North America!
👉 Secure your spot today and register at always-forward.com

“Is your normal sustainable?” 🌿 Our last podcast episode of Season 10 has dropped! In this episode Molly Ruch talks with Canon Brian Wolthuis about breaking the cycle of burnout and cultivating a life rooted in God’s presence. From parachute planting in Holland, Michigan, to practicing a weekly 24-hour retreat of solitude, Brian shares hard-fought lessons on rule of life, family rhythms, and staying faithful for the long haul. Tune in to hear how ancient Christian disciplines can transform modern church planting! 🎧✨
always-forward.com - Link in bio!

It isn't everyday that we get to celebrate the planting of a NEW DIOCESE! Congratulations to the new Diocese of the Mid-South, launched out of the Anglican Diocese of the South (ADOTS) this summer!

We talk a lot about "daughter church planting", when a mother church sacrificially sends out a planter and 25-80 members of their congregation to plant a church in a neighboring town. Well, the Anglican Diocese of the South is a MOTHER DIOCESE!

Praise God for the sacrificial leadership of Archbishop Foley and the whole ADOTS family. To send off so many parishes and friends to start a new diocese is act of great sacrifice and courage. They did this for the sake of those in the Mid-South region who are not yet in the Church. DMS, we pray for you. May God establish you with His Holy Spirit!

Anglican Diocese of the Mid-South

New Podcast Episode!🎙️
“We are the family. That’s an ontological reality... and the family goes out on mission.” 🌿 In this episode of the Always Forward Podcast, Molly talks with Canon Mark Ball about moving from missional burnout to the deep joy of being the family of God. From planting Missio Dei in Houston to navigating crisis, Sunday morning transitions, fresh cinnamon rolls, and nursing home ministry, Mark shares powerful insights on patience, leadership, and “ironic discipleship”. Tune in to hear how asking “Who is the other?” can transform your parish’s missional heartbeat! 🎧✨
Listen at always-forward.com/podcast

ACNA

We're encouraged by all the efforts within the province to cultivate and support church planting. Here's a video from the Reformed Episcopal Church (including our Always Forward Lead, Fr. Tony Melton) about REC 100, their vision and progress in planting new churches across the country.

The Faces of the REC100 Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Canon Tony Melton was glad to join Canon Mark Eldredge recently on The Vital Podcast, a project of the Anglican Revitalization Ministries. They talked about church planting and church revitalization and the vision of every church as a mother church; vitalized and planting daughter churches.
Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882813/episodes/19367924 (link is in our bio)

We’re a few weeks now past July 1st—Canada Day!—but we’ve been reflecting with deep gratitude on our Canadian family in the Anglican Diocese of Canada Anglican Diocese of Canada.
As our largest geographical diocese and one of our larger numerically within the Anglican Church in North America, their congregations span from coast to coast and continue to grow. We are especially inspired by their growing dedication to church planting in cities and communities across the country—including active plants in places like Vancouver, Winnipeg, and PEI. It’s our joy to work with their church planting team and planters in these wonderful opportunities for the gospel.
We praise God for the unity we share across borders in our common mission: to plant churches and proclaim the hope of Christ across our entire continent. What a privilege it is to band together and labour in this amazing work.

The Final CPTI of 2026 is heading to Jacksonville!
Are you a church planter or a prospective planter? Then join us in Jacksonville, FL, from November 9–12, 2026, for our final Church Plant Training Intensive (CPTI) of the year! Led by Rev. Cn. Tony Melton (Always Forward Lead) and Cn. Molly Ruch, we will dive deep into our foundational trellis framework—covering the 4 Cs (Conviction, Culture, Collaboration, Constructs) and 7 local and diocesan systems. And we have newly updated material to help planters navigate the initial phase from Day One to Launch Day with practical, step-by-step strategies. Don’t miss this final opportunity of 2026 to equip your ministry and connect with planters from across North America!
👉 Secure your spot today and register at always-forward.com

🎧New Podcast Episode: ‘Sharing the Weight of Planting’
Can church planting move away from being a lonely, isolated endeavor and become a communal movement? 🎙️ In this episode, host Molly Ruch connects with Michelle Herbst and Fr. Lenny Conduits from the Gulf Atlantic Diocese to discuss how they are restructuring diocesan systems to set planters up for massive success. They dive into the game-changing shift of centralizing administration to free up mother churches, the power of communal discernment over rigid judgment in assessments, and the pure necessity of maintaining a “band of brotherhood and sisterhood” in the trenches of ministry. If you need a reminder of why we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously while doing the Lord’s work, this episode is for you!
Listen at always-forward.com/podcast or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud and more.