Our model is Luke 10:1-11: Jesus sending the seventy-two. He sends them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God, but in sending, he knew there would be people who did not want to hear it, people who would not welcome them.
In God's grace however, Jesus knew that there would be "people of peace" in every town. People who would welcome them in, attend to their needs as strangers and travelers, people who would be curious about their message of the Kingdom of God, and people who would partner to bring God's love to their neighbors.
Our journey for this new church started a bit differently than many. I didn't necessarily plan to start another new church last fall. In the middle of October 2023, my time at Circle of Hope was coming to an end and I wasn't sure what was next. As that transition was happening, I invited a few people over to my house for worship on Sunday mornings. It felt so sacred. The Holy Spirit was showing up week after week with just a handful of us.
As I looked around the room, I started to notice that everyone gathering was in their own nonprofit/justice ministry during the week. We were gathering on Sundays to worship God, be renewed by God's Spirit, and to encourage one another in the hard, good work we were doing throughout the week; work in addiction and recovery, homelessness, human trafficking, faith formation, caring for families while kids are getting medical care, and more.
During the week we were seeing new people meet Jesus, learn to read their bibles, get baptized, work out their faith and questions in loving, supportive communities. But I wasn't necessarily ready to go out and find those "people of peace" Jesus has made ready for us.
Until recently. I started to see this vision that God was calling us to be a hub for people in ministry in the world. God has given every single person gifts, and talents, and passions that are needed to see God's Kingdom come. And we can be the spark, the catalyst, for people hearing God's call, growing in their faith and discipleship, and then partner with the Spirit to send people into the work to which they are called!
And this is our work as a new church. Equip and empower people to do the ministry they are called to do. Ministries like a worship gathering for people in recovery; open mic night and recording studio for homeless musicians and artists; bible study for survivors of human trafficking; garden club for neighborhood children.
But who are these people? The goal in starting any new church is to meet new people and introduce them to Jesus. It's all about people. And the same is true for us. We want to create a new space for new people to meet Jesus, hear his voice and calling, and send them out to introduce people to Jesus, help them hear his voice, and keep the cycle going.
Whatever the ministry someone is being called to, we want to empower them and equip them with funding, encouragement, supplies, administration, and more. We are building a hub for people to gather, get what they need, and be sent back out into the world, proclaiming the kingdom of God.
Again, the goal in starting a new church is meeting new people. And that is our prayer right now. Who are the people of peace in Columbus that God has prepared for us? Our prayer is that God would open our eyes to see who the people of peace are; that we would be bold in inviting new people to be apart of what we are doing; that we can have courage to see and take the opportunities that come along to meet new people, introduce people to Jesus, and send people into ministry.
We are also praying for people to join our team: people of peace who know Jesus and who feel called to support those being sent; people who feel called to discern, equip, lead, empower, and support the called. Our prayer is that the right people would come alongside us at the right time and that we might partner to serve the new and upcoming micro-worshipping-communities in all the ways that bring glory only to God.
Will you pray with us for these "people of peace" in Columbus?
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