Part of the Evangelical Free Church of America responsible for church planting. Operations divided into 17 districts which support 1,500 congregations across the United States. Based in Minneapolis, Minn.

Oversees church planting for the Souther Baptist Convention. The web site has information in two areas: The church-planting group, which trains, plans, supports and mentors church planters, and the church-planting “village,” an online resource area. 

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo. Claims membership of over 4 million people in 13,609 churches in 81 countries and territories including more than 2,000 churches in the United States. Contact Rev. William (Bill) W. Malick, director of church multiplication ministries.

An evangelical church committed to church planting and world missions based in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Has network of over 1,500 churches worldwide. They work alongside existing local churches to help reproduce and plant new Vineyard churches. Michael Gatlin is the national church planting director.

Cheryl Townsend Gilkes is a professor of sociology and African-American studies at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She is an expert on black churches. She has written widely, including If It Wasn’t for the Women: Black Women’s Experience and Womanist Culture in Church and Community (Orbis Books, 2000).

William Baker is a professor emeritus of history at the University of Maine in Orono. He has written about Christ and the Olympics. His books include If Christ Came to the Olympics and Playing With God: Religion and Modern Sport. He argues that religion and sport have made peace with each other.

Rick Clugston is executive director of Maine Interfaith Power and Light, based in Portland, a nonprofit organization working to bring environmentally-friendly electricity to consumers in the state.

Nancy Audet is director of communications for the Family Planning Association of Maine.