MCE History

Midwest Church Extension came into being as a result of the remarkable activity of God. By bringing together three separate and distinct church planting agencies with a diversity of ministry approaches and experience, God has molded them into one new agency with a unified vision for the future of church planting in the Midwest. As one considers the history and the heritage of the former agencies it is easy to see, in sharp relief, the hand of God in bringing about the birth of Midwest Church Extension.

In a meeting at Tri-County Bible Church, on February 18, 2003, these three agencies began exploring in that direction. Over the ensuing months, things providentially fell into place each step of the way until, on November 15, 2003, the process was officially culminated in an historic meeting at East Hazel Crest Bible Church, in East Hazel Crest, IL. The new Board of Directors was seated on November 25, 2003 and Midwest Church Extension was born with Henry Vosburgh as its Executive Director.

Read the Detailed Historical Prelude to MCE's Birth

Significant events and mileposts since November 25, 2003:

March 2004 – Dan Nave appointed as Field/Training Director
January 2005 – Roll out of MCE Strategic Planning (MCESP)
April 2005 – Tim Jeske appointed as Administrative Director
April 2005 – Graduation for Mt Calvary Bible Church
July 2006 – “Louisville Launch” Planting of Jeffersontown Bible Church in conjunction with the IFCA International Annual Convention in Louisville, KY
September 2006 – Iowa Regional Endorsement and inclusion of that territory to MCE ministry field.
March 2010 – First Spring Break Missions Trip
September 2011 – Greater STL Regional Endorsement and inclusion of that territory to MCE ministry field.
July 2013 – Heart of America Regional Endorsement and inclusion of that territory to MCE ministry field.
October 2014 – Departure of Dan Nave to start Southeast Church Extension as a new IFCA Church Planting agency.
April 2015 – Larry Duncan appointed as Southern Field Director.
June 2016 – First Hispanic Recruit, Jose Marco, placed in Chicago area to begin developing ministry to English and Hispanic population through the ministry of Summit Bible Church.
September 2016 – Chris Burch appointed as Staff Assistant.
June 2017 – Graduation of Jeffersontown Bible Church, the Louisville Launch project from the Mission.
Fall 2017 - Official launch and promotion of MCE's Church Health ministry.
August 2017 - Graduation of Heritage Bible Church, St. Louis, from the Mission.
January 2020 - MCE Residency Program Launched
September 2020 - First MCE Resident Lance Lewis began his training at Sycamore Bible Church
December 2021 - Lance Lewis completes his Residency and is assigned his first ministry in January 2022.
April 2022 - AJ Friend is appointed as the second MCE Resident and assigned to Kendallville IN for his training program, starting in July 2022.