The Ascent Network Unites 2,000 Churches to Reignite Gospel Mission across North America
The Ascent network's mission and goal are pretty simple: to sow the gospel into North America and the world. Chris Backert, who handles church engagement for the network, clearly states that the organization's mission is simple: spreading the gospel with like-minded churches. Many of the new network churches, make up churches who are Southern Baptist and former United Methodist churches who are weary of the denominations politics and are looking beyond those issues to simply spread the gospel.
Crosswalk Headlines: How did the network start?
Chris Backert: In 2016, the executive directors of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist General Association of Virginia met and discussed the state of Baptist life in North America. What came out of that meeting was a sense that something needed to be initiated to reclaim the Evangelical Center in Baptist life. There have been a lot of ruptures in denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist church in the last ten to fifteen years. Some people will want to lay those ruptures at the feet of certain people or certain circumstances, but I think that what really is going on is we're in a period of global upheaval. I think it's been at least in process for fifteen years. There's an ecclesial upheaval. Much of that upheaval concerns the changing nature of denominationalism and the rise of the non-denominational church network reality.
CWH: What action steps took place after the meeting?
CB: I'd say momentum right at the end of 2019, and then, of course, a big upheaval, a big rupture, happened, and it is known as Covid. John Upton, executive director of the Baptist Convention of Virginia, reconvened the group and asked do we really want to do this? Of course, the answer was yes!
CWH: What model would this network represent?
CB: We would link presently to the Cape Town commitment of the Larson Covenant. We share a common theological and missiological core. How would we really work together to reengage or reevangelize North America over the next three decades?
CWH: How many churches are in the network?
CB: This is all still very much developmental and formative information. If you take the various regional groups that are somehow connected, affiliated, or partnered with us, plus some individual congregations, it would be over 2000 churches.
CWH: How does the leadership and structure work within the network?
CB: So, the way that this works presently is that we are under the broad umbrella of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, along with a church council of leaders who also give guidance to the network.
CWH: Are there former United Methodist churches that are a part of the network?
CB: Yes, we do have some churches in the network that were once UMC.
CWH: What are you hearing from churches so far?
CB: What I'm hearing is a lot of tremendous momentum. I think people are longing for a joyful orthodox evangelical witness in the midst of our current moment.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/James Coleman
Originally published May 13, 2025.
