Fall 2025

Letter to Our Body

Hello Family,

New Covenant Church was founded in 1980 with a vision to minister the love, power, and presence of Jesus Christ to our local community, region, and the world. From the beginning, God has called us to function as a regional apostolic center, strategically positioning both people and resources to be sent wherever the Holy Spirit leads. Beginning with Founding Pastor L.A. Joiner, and carried forward by faithful elders and members through the years, the people of New Covenant have sacrificially invested for decades to plant churches, send missionaries, launch ministries, and establish this apostolic center. This rich foundation is what we continue to build upon today.

As an apostolic center, our heart has always been to equip and train believers for the work of ministry according to Ephesians 4, and to release mature sons and daughters into their God-given assignments. Just as in Acts 13, where the Holy Spirit set apart and sent out workers for the advancement of the Gospel, we believe the Holy Spirit is leading us to do the same. The elders and I are tremendously excited to announce the launch of a new church plant in Adel, led by Pastor Scotty and Taylor Williams and their family.

We joyfully look forward to sending them in 2026, and partnering with this new church as an extension of our calling to multiply healthy, Spirit-led families of faith.  Apostolic work is all about bringing the Kingdom of God to the city where He has sent us.  This new church will be a living testimony of God’s ever-expanding Kingdom, advanced through sons and daughters who are sent out in obedience to His voice.

We know there will be questions as we advance through this process together, and we want to walk with you every step of the way. This Question and Answer document is one way we hope to bring clarity and peace as we move forward. Please take time to read this document carefully, and help us by communicating clearly with others who may come to you with similar questions.

We’re filled with excitement for this new season: a time of growth, Kingdom expansion, and the unveiling of God’s glory among us!

God bless!
Pastor Michael

Questions and Answers

  • New Covenant’s vision is apostolic, which means that as the Holy Spirit leads, we send out people in order to build. This is an investment in the Kingdom—sowing people into new areas so God can build His work there. New Covenant’s vision statement is “to equip sons and daughters to fearlessly engage culture with the love of Jesus Christ,” and this new church plant directly aligns with this vision.

  • A church plant is the intentional sending of leaders, along with a group of people partnering with them, into another city to establish a new church. This is not a “second campus” of New Covenant: it is a Spirit-led, locally governed church with its own leadership and mission in the community God has called them to serve.
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    Specifically, Scotty and Taylor Williams are the trusted leaders we are sending to Adel to start this new church. They will be joined by individuals and families from New Covenant, and Adel, who feel called by God to partner with them in planting and building this work. We will stay relationally connected with Scotty and Taylor throughout this process and into the future.

  • For the last fifteen years, Scotty and Taylor have faithfully served here and developed their gifts and callings.  Planting a church has been a dream in both of their hearts. We've had great conversations throughout the years with Scotty and Taylor and made preparations for them to step into this assignment. Together, we believe this is the season in which they are to be launched. We are planning carefully but remaining flexible, allowing God to direct each step.

  • When we set Scotty in as an elder, we simply recognized how he has already been functioning in feeding and leading this body (1 Pet. 5:1-4 - Shepherd the flock). This was intentionally planned to set him into this role as part of his preparation for planting a church, where he will be the lead elder.

    We are also in the process of training new elders for New Covenant. Serving as an elder is an assignment by the Holy Spirit for a specific season. Transitioning elders and raising up new elders is a normal, and ongoing, part of church life.

  • For those who have a potential interest in being a part of this new church plant, the first step is to pray. Seek God for His will. If you are married, it is critical to stay in unity with your spouse. If you have children, we encourage you to pray together as a family.

    If you feel the leading of the Lord to potentially be a part of the new church plant, we encourage you to have a conversation with Scotty and Taylor. Gather information from them and share your heart. Take part in healthy dialogue. Then, act in obedience to what the Lord is telling you.This is about obedience, not mere excitement or preference.

    This isn’t about following a person—it’s about partnering with God’s vision. Above all, please continue to pray and seek the Lord throughout this process.

    • If you believe that you’re supposed to stay and serve at New Covenant, then please continue to pray and be faithful to serve where you are. If you are not currently on a serve team, this is an opportune time to help us continue advancing the Kingdom in Valdosta and South Georgia.

    • ‍If you believe you’re supposed to be a part of the new church in Adel, then please communicate with Pastor Scotty and participate in any meetings they are having. Also, please communicate with a staff member, elder, serve team leader, or connect group leader so we can walk alongside you during the transition from New Covenant.

    • ‍If you're unsure of what to do, then continue to pray and wait. God is not in a hurry, and there is no pressure to make an immediate decision.

  • Scotty and Taylor will begin a small midweek group in Adel with their plant team in January of 2026, while they also regularly attend New Covenant services. Scotty will continue to serve on staff at New Covenant until June 2026. The first Sunday for Cultivate Church in Adel will be July 5, 2026.

  • We encourage you to talk with the elders, pastors, and staff if you have any questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; we want everyone to feel supported as we walk through this exciting season.