One Gospel, Many Nations: From Newfrontiers to Catalyst and Beyond
Written by andy johnston
Between 23rd and 26th May, a number of us from King's Community Church will be attending the Catalyst Festival, which will take place at the Norfolk Showground, just outside Norwich. Catalyst has its roots in Newfrontiers, a family of churches that began in the 1980s. King's Community Church joined Newfrontiers in 1999, around the time we opened our first building.
For many years, Newfrontiers was led by Terry Virgo. However, when the time came for Terry to hand on leadership in 2011, rather than transition to a single successor, the movement multiplied into a number of different “apostolic spheres”. By that point, it had simply become too large to be led by one individual. Today, Newfrontiers comprises around 5,000 churches in over 70 countries.
Catalyst is one of these “apostolic spheres” that emerged in 2011. Fifteen years later, it is now a movement of around 1,000 churches across 40 different countries. Many of the places we work are in the Global South, and some are among the most challenging and dangerous places in the world to be a follower of Jesus.
Looking ahead, in November 2026 we will be hosting a conference here at King's Community Church to celebrate 500 years of the New Testament being available to us in English. This promises to be a significant event with a wonderful line-up of speakers. You can book in here – Tyndale 500 Conference
Remarkably, 500 years after the first English New Testament, we will also be celebrating the New Testament being made available for the first time to an unreached people group. Twenty years ago, the Toposa tribe in South Sudan had only a handful of followers of Jesus. Since then, the spiritual landscape of this people group has changed significantly. This is due in part to the pioneering work of Simon and Anna Fry, who were based at King's Community Church for a number of years, as well as the translation work of James Lokuuda, a local pastor who has devoted himself wholeheartedly to this project. This is an incredible achievement. You hear more from James Lokuuda click here.
As Jesus promised, “The gospel will be preached to every nation, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
For many years, Newfrontiers was led by Terry Virgo. However, when the time came for Terry to hand on leadership in 2011, rather than transition to a single successor, the movement multiplied into a number of different “apostolic spheres”. By that point, it had simply become too large to be led by one individual. Today, Newfrontiers comprises around 5,000 churches in over 70 countries.
Catalyst is one of these “apostolic spheres” that emerged in 2011. Fifteen years later, it is now a movement of around 1,000 churches across 40 different countries. Many of the places we work are in the Global South, and some are among the most challenging and dangerous places in the world to be a follower of Jesus.
Looking ahead, in November 2026 we will be hosting a conference here at King's Community Church to celebrate 500 years of the New Testament being available to us in English. This promises to be a significant event with a wonderful line-up of speakers. You can book in here – Tyndale 500 Conference
Remarkably, 500 years after the first English New Testament, we will also be celebrating the New Testament being made available for the first time to an unreached people group. Twenty years ago, the Toposa tribe in South Sudan had only a handful of followers of Jesus. Since then, the spiritual landscape of this people group has changed significantly. This is due in part to the pioneering work of Simon and Anna Fry, who were based at King's Community Church for a number of years, as well as the translation work of James Lokuuda, a local pastor who has devoted himself wholeheartedly to this project. This is an incredible achievement. You hear more from James Lokuuda click here.
As Jesus promised, “The gospel will be preached to every nation, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).