After finally realizing that our efforts were not effective nor being blessed, we decided it was time to stop cookie cutter plan and begin exploring different concepts of church in an effort to reach the people we were called to reach. We stopped pouring money into mass marketing strategies and began to take a more grass roots approach, building relationships with those around us and offering tools to help our people begin to think missionaly. We took the money we had been spending on marketing and began serving in the community and abroad with projects for the poorest areas of
Columbus. We provided food, clothing, heat and beds for those in need. We partnered with much larger churches around us to help funnel Gods resources to where they were most needed. Hurricane Katrina provided us the opportunity to take bottled water, baby food and cleaning supplies to those affected by the storm.
As we changed our focus we began seeing people slowly come along side us in these projects. Both Christian and non-Christians were joining us to help with this mission and those who had not been involved directly with our church began to engage in this capacity.
Aside form the change in focus of resources, time and energy; we began to refocus our community life. Through gleaning insights from others like Neil Cole and Alan Hirsch, we took a more organic approach to being the church. Over the past year we have focused more and more of our efforts on simplifying church and making it more easily reproduced. A year ago we challenged our people to begin meeting as “households” to share in faith and life together. Our reason was to take Christ out of the weekend worship and into the fabric of our lives. As we have gotten out of his we have seen God do some amazing things. What started as three gatherings, has now multiplied to 11 with two more starting in the next few weeks, one of which is in
Indiana! We have had a vision to reach our community and God has a vision to reach the world. Apparently even
Indiana.
Today we are working to create a network for edifying, resourcing and initiating simple churches everywhere God wants to have one. We are trying to kill some of the old habits that die hard in order to keep from interfering with God’s amazing work. We want to challenge believers to serve with the gifts God has given them for the glory of the giver and to walk in a manner that sets us apart from the world. This is not simply a walk of morality, but a walk of love. A walk that is as close to the example of Christ as we can possibly muster. All this for His glory.
Have we made some mistakes?
Refer to the first part of the story and you will see we have.
Will we make mistakes in the future?
Most definitely.
Has it all been worth it?
I have honestly come to the point in my walk where I must say I can’t judge. God is the investor, I am just the invested.
Where has He invested you?
