Rock City Church

THIS BLOG IS NOW INACTIVE ... PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR PASTOR CHAD'S BLOG

2011-12-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

Our Website
RockCityChurch.TV

Our Pastor's Blog
ChadFisherOnline.Com

THE BIG GIVE!

2011-07-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

THE BIG GIVE is a 4-week drive to make both a local and a global difference by practically demonstrating the love of Christ in tangible ways. Not only are we raising the $6,000 it's going to take to build a home for a family living in extreme poverty and suffering the effects of HIV/AIDS, but we are sending a team in October to work on the building project and spend time with the families of the Casa Hogar Community.

Locally, Rock City Church wants to adopt 100 of Columbus' neediest children by providing them a quality backpack stuffed with supplies before they go back to school. We're asking the people of Rock City to, over the next four weeks, sacrificially contribute and help us meet these needs.

In Matthew 25, Jesus says that what we do for "the least," we actually do for Jesus Himself. If you'd like to contribute by giving financially, click the graphic above and check the "Beyond Our Walls" tab. If you'd like to participate in the Honduras trip in October, or if you'd like more information about THE BIG GIVE, email us at info@rockcitychurch.tv.

Rock City is ON THE CITY!

2011-06-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

The City is the official online social network of Rock City Church - a network that helps the people of Rock City Church build community, grow personally, and connect relationally.

The City is absolutely vital to the growth of Rock City, both organizationally and for you personally. Every person who fills our a connect card during a weekend service, or opts to join The City by signing up at our connect center or by (clicking the pic above), will be sent a personal invite to create a City Account.

Accessing The City by invitation only allows us to create an online environment solely for the members of Rock City Church, and focused specifically around the mission and vision of Rock City!

When you sign up for The City, you will be asked to create a username and password, and then directed to follow a few easy prompts. Once you create your unique account, you can begin using The City and its vast network of resources and tools.

The City is an amazing tool and opportunity for personal and organizational growth. It's an online social platform where the Rock City Weekend Worship Experience meets every other day of our week! It's a place to connect, to grow, to learn, and to keep up with everything that's happening within our fast growing church!

On The City, you can:

Follow Events, stay up-to-date on everything Rock City!
Search for members of Rock City Church. Find friends. Send Personal Messages. Post Comments.
Browse current LifeGroup Listings.
Create Topics, Posts and Prayer Needs for others from Rock City to see, respond and interact.
Post Status Updates (which can be linked to both Facebook and Twitter).
Interact with the Rock City Marketplace.
Setup Secure and Easy Recurring Giving, track it, and print your quarterly and annual giving statements.
Create an online journal, which is completely private. You can also share select journal entries with friends or with everyone on The City.
Interact with your Rock City Teams, schedules, and much more...

New Inside Look at Rock City

2011-04-22T12:07:00.001-07:00

WINNER OF THE IPAD 2

2011-04-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Holly Skeens, winner of the iPAD2 Giveaway! Make sure to congratulate her when you see her at Rock City this week! Holly was a first-time guest at launch, and was with us again for our 2nd service. And don't be surprised if you see her next week serving along side all of our other amazing volunteers on one of our ministry teams! Holly, we are looking forward to seeing where this journey takes you as you continue ON YOUR MARK!

Trailer of Rock City's Launch Day Recap Video

2011-04-05T10:49:00.001-07:00

Launch Day Trailer from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

WSYX ABC6 On Your Side Top Story - New Theatre Church

2011-04-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

Check out this ABC News Coverage of our Launch Day.

OFFICIAL ROCK CITY PRESS RELEASE

2011-03-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

PRE-REGISTER AND WIN A FREE IPAD 2

2011-03-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

Skip the lines. Grab a coffee.

Pre-Register your kids and you'll be automatically entered to win a FREE iPad 2 from your new friends at Rock City Church.

It doesn't get any better than that!

First Launch Day Promo Drops in the 614!

2011-03-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

Within 24 hours of running our first promo piece for launch day, we've already begun receiving emails and inquiries from people who are interested in Rock City.

Here's an email we got just 24 hours after this ad dropped -

"I just learned of your new church! It sounds so much like what my family and I are looking for!"

That's what we're talking about!

HELP US MAKE ROCK CITY KIDS ROCK!

2011-02-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

We are just 5 weeks from the Rock City Launch! Our team is growing and working hard to get all the pieces and parts in place to ensure Launch Day is amazing!

We have a FAB-U-LOUS team of people who are focused solely on Rock City Kids. They are passionate about turning the movie theater where our Rock City Kids will be meeting into a creative and fun environment where children can build friendships, meet positive role models, and experience God's love.

YOU can help us make this happen! Please take a moment and visit our Rock City Kids Target Registry. On the registry you'll find items for infants through fifth grade at all kinds of price points. By taking just a few minutes out of your schedule, you can make a lasting impact on the children who will walk through the doors of Rock City Church.

You can view the Rock City Kids Target Registry HERE and TARGET will ship the items you purchase directly to us.

If you'd prefer to shop in-store, you can print out a registry at a kiosk.

Just go to: Target Lists
Type in: ROCK (first name) CITY (last name)

We will be collecting items until we launch on April 3, 2011.

Please email us at jennigenson@rockcitychurch.tv if you have any questions of if you'd like to make a one-time gift to Rock City Kids!

Thoughts from the Launch Team

2011-02-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

by Jeromy Rose

What words come to mind when you think of the church? Some may say it's rigid or irrelevant and yet others may describe it as the exact opposite. But how many would describe the church as messy? It's a challenging thought. The fact is Christ calls us to reach out and to love and serve people so that they might eventually can come to truly know Him and have a trusting relationship with Him.

Today a vast majority of people are slipping through the cracks - and it's not because they aren't seeking. Truth is, the church just isn't getting dirty. Instead, we settle for the comforts of our four walls as opposed to reaching out to the lost and the broken.

But there is hope - and the next generation church has a great example to follow - the early Christian Church of Corinth. The people of Corinth lived "life in the fast lane." They were drunks, adulterers, and sexually promiscuous, yet they were precisely the ones to become one of Paul's (and Christ's) most vibrant congregations! Why?

Because Paul approached them at their level and reached them in love. He wasn't afraid of getting his hands dirty. He encouraged them to grow in faith and made it clear that God's grace and forgiveness was available to the broken, the sinful, and the hurting.

So when we take a look at ourselves in 10, 20, or even 30 years, do we want to see a comfortable church with a nice building shut off to those who don't look like us, act like us, talk like us, think like us? Or do we want a messy church full of broken, sinful, hurting people who are experiencing the life and freedom and redemption of Christ?

If this generation of believers is going to build Christ's church, we have to take note of how Paul helped to build the early church. We have to be willing to reach our community, right where they're at. We have to be willing to bridge cultural divides and the gulfs of doubt and uncertainty by loving God and loving people. But it's not easy nor for the faint of heart. In order to till the soil and create the condition for growth in the people who make up our community, we'll have to get our hands dirty.

Christ did the same for us.

Rock City Road Trip: A Benchmark Sunday

2011-02-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

One of the easiest pitfalls of ministry, and of life for that matter, is the idea that we've somehow arrived; that we know it all. Or, even worse, that we know enough. Think about it. Isn't that what keeps so many people, churches, businesses in that comfortable place of good rather than great? Isn't that what the status quo is all about? There wouldn't be a status quo if people would push past the boundaries of what they know, and seek to learn more, grow more, try harder, dream further, and take risks.

That's exactly what we did this Sunday. We're just six weeks to launch week, and we decided to make the most of what little time we have left before launch, and hit the road. We sent teams to three churches: one local, one in Cincinnati, and one in Indianapolis. We benchmarked a brand new church plant just 3 weeks old, a multi-site mega church, and an ARC church plant that's just hit the six month mark.

Wondering what churches we hit? We'll tell you.

The local church that just launched last month is OneChurch Columbus. Greg Ford and his team in New Albany have an awesome thing going. The best part of that benchmark was that Greg new we were coming, he just didn't know when - and he didn't know what people we were sending. The hope was that our team would get a genuine first-time guest experience and then report back the good, bad and the ugly. We had a blast! OneChurch is an amazing group of people with an audacious vision to reach their community for Christ. It's pretty much a fact of life that we only see what we see. That's why we've asked Greg to do the same for us when we launch. I'm sure they'll find gaps and holes that we couldn't see ourselves, and help us improve our weekend experience. This benchmark was a win-win for both OneChurch and Rock City. And no doubt, if you or someone you know lives on the Northeast side of Columbus, near New Albany, OneChurch would be a great church to hit up!

We also sent a team to benchmark Crossroads Church in Cincinnati, a multi-site mega church with quite literally, all the bells and whistles. Our team was stoked about this one. And unlike OneChurch in New Albany, nobody at Crossroads knew we were coming. And, imagining the thousands of people that surrounded our team, we most definitely didn't stand out in the masses. Still, somehow we not only managed to get facetime with several of the pastors and staff, but we were personally given a tour of the monstrous facilities, shown the behind-the-scenes workings of their gigantic stage and production areas and were even invited to lunch by some of the regular attendees. That's a win!

Last, we sent a team to Indianapolis to benchmark iTown Church, a new ARC church plant. iTown launched six months ago with more than 350 people and are now consistently running more than 200, and growing steadily. We were given the royal treatment by their staff and volunteers, and were fortunate to spend several hours with Dave, their lead pastor, at his home where we drilled him with questions, gleaned from his experience as a 6 month veteran of church planting (which is akin to dog years - 6 months of church planting can really feel like 6 years), and we dreamed together about what God was doing here in Columbus with Rock City. iTown is a great church. We had an absolute blast.

The moment you think you know enough, you're not just stuck, you're sinking. That's why we felt it a critical step toward a successful launch to take a weekend and look outside these four walls. We know we're not in this alone. There are churches and leaders and people who know more, have done more, and who have messed up really bad but aren't afraid to talk about it. We can learn a lot from taking the time to see what others are doing and be willing and open enough to learn from people who are different than us.

There's an old African proverb that goes something like this: "If you want to go fast, go it alone. If you want to go far, go it together."

The AMC at Lennox - Our New Home!

2011-01-31T07:08:00.000-08:00

Launch Day - April 3, 2011 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Launching April 3, 2011 in Theater 13 of the AMC Lennox -
More than 1 Million people walk through the doors of this theater every single year. Located just North of Downtown Columbus and within walking distance of the Ohio State University Campus - and part of the thriving Grandview Community, there is no doubt this place is right for us! And I can only imagine the people who are going to fill these seats, the lives that are going to be transformed, the families that will forever be changed...

Where's the Salt?

2011-01-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus says, "You [we] are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

I was reading a book called The Message of the Sermon on the Mount by John Stott and was completely halted upon reading the following statement:

"When society does go bad, we Christians tend to throw up our hands in pious horror and reproach the non-Christian world; but should we not rather reproach ourselves? One can hardly blame unsalted meat for going bad. It cannot do anything else. The real question to ask is: Where is the salt?"

Take a minute to reflect on that. It's a game changer for a lot of us. Bottom line, when has it ever "not" been enough to love God and love people? I mean, "really" love people? The way Jesus does. Isn't that what everyone is looking for? Isn't that what we long for more than anything else?

Take a good look at the world. We can choose to continue looking the other way or we can begin to engage the world, engage the hurting, engage the spiritually restless, engage the outcast and the lost...

It's what Jesus did for us.

Merry Christmas from Rock City Church

2010-12-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

Last week I read the status update of a friend of mine. It said, "Jesus was born in a smelly stable, which could be a picture of when Jesus comes into our hearts - it's like that stable, smelly and dirty."

It got me thinking. Isn't it amazing that the God of the universe, perfect in every way, spotless and pure beyond imagination, would choose to be born, to indwell in each of our hearts - us, being dirty, sinful and undeserving in every way - Jesus, choosing to offer his unmerited love and grace and mercy unconditionally to absolutely any man, woman or child who asks...

I think we too often forget that. It's like we've separated ourselves from everyone else. We wear labels like chosen, saved, Christian, righteous...and we label the world as unsaved, unChristian, unrighteous, unholy...It's as if we've hijacked the Christmas story - hijacked Jesus' intention for ever coming to this dirty, sinful, messed up world.

Luke 19:10 says that "the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."
Rather than focus on our pithy Christian labels, perhaps if we, as undeserving, unrighteous, smelly and dirty and shameful focus on this great God, this amazing Christ who loves us nonetheless, who has offered to us his unmerited love and forgiveness - perhaps then, we will begin to view the world, not through the lense of self righteousness, but through the lense of grace and mercy. And we'll be compelled to go and seek and save that which is lost.

Because, as God so demonstrated his love for us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8 NIV).

________________________________________________________

Rock City Serves This Christmas
Last week, we had the opportunity to partner with a local ministry called C.R.A.C.K. House Ministries in Columbus. Pastor Mitchell and his wife Sandra once lived homeless in the streets they now minister. Pastor Mitchell struggled with severe drug addiction and became homeless as a result, unable to support his wife and 4 children. God used a local church's outreach program to reach out to Mitchell, and Christ radically transformed their lives, both spiritually and physically. C.R.A.C.K. House Ministries is positioned to reach and minister to men, women and families struggling with drug addiction.

Rock City was honored to partner with Pastor Mitchell this Christmas, helping them set up and prepare for their annual Christmas outreach, where families struggling with drug addiction are given a Christmas dinner and the children gifts and unconditional love. Because the space is tight, we did not attend the party, but we did sponsor a family family and had a blast helping to set up for the eventful evening. Looking forward to seeing how God continues to use this amazing ministry to reach the hurting. Also looking forward to seeing how God uses Rock City to lend a steady hand.

It's a Beautiful Thing

2010-12-02T20:06:00.000-08:00

If you've been following us at all these last several weeks, you know we've been running all out. We ended THIRTYinTHIRTY with a win. We met our financial goal. Celebrated with the biggest launch team night to date. Received a ton of traffic on Vimeo and the Rock City Blog. It'd be worth it to take a look back at some of our posts during THIRTYinTHIRTY, as every day we added something new, including 12 new videos.

Be in prayer, as in the next couple of weeks we have to make a significant decision on a meeting place. It's a big one, so we need all the prayer we can get. This is what I know - God is good and Rock City Church is on its way. It's a beautiful thing.

Next Step - Launch Team Night

2010-11-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

Next Launch Team Night, Sun Nov 21 @ 6pm

Want to be a part of a growing team that is making a difference and together building a new, life-giving church for the city of Columbus? Join us this Sunday night at 6pm. This is a great time to get to know everyone on the Launch Team and invite family and friends who may be interested in joining our team. We'll be discussing the vision of Rock City Church and reviewing the action plan including Launch Day, Team Development and future Worship Gatherings. So, if you're at all interested in being a part of something exciting and new, this is for you.

The Location is at 3140 Mill Run Dr. Hilliard, Ohio 43026
*Childcare will be provided. For more information, email us.

Day 30 - Did We Make It?

2010-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

This is our final update for 30in30. Did we make it?
Find out by clicking play.

Did We Make It? 30in30 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 29 - THIRTYinTHIRTY RECAP

2010-11-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

This has been quite an amazing ride. And it's not over until tomorrow...Here's a look back at the first 29 days. And a special thanks to the churches who continue to amaze us through their selfless support and generosity. Thanks for believing in and standing with us!

Supporting Churches
CedarCreek Church - Perrysburg, OH
Sunnyside Church of God - Atlanta, GA
Elevate Church - Monroe, MI
Faith Memorial Church - Sandusky, OH
Journey Church - Fremont, OH
Northcoast Community Church - Sandusky, OH
*Greater Toledo House of Prayer - Toledo, OH

Perhaps even more amazing than the incredible amount of finances that have come in these past 29 days is the dramatic reach this campaign has had. Through our videos and blogs, literally thousands of people have heard about Rock City Church and been exposed to the life-changing message of Christ.

Rock City Blog Views Last 29 Days 1850+
Most Viewed Blogs (Top 3)
1. First Launch Team Meeting
2. Top 10 Signs That You Are in the Wrong Church
3. Three Years Ago Tonight

Vimeo Plays Last 29 Days 1,479+
Social Media Embeds 5,668+

Top 3 Played Videos on Vimeo Last 29 Days
1. Molly's Story
2. That's Rock City
3. Jeromy's Story

The Rock City Team thanks you for making these 30 Days a WIN!

Day 28 - Reclaiming Christianity

2010-11-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

I read a book a while back called Reclaiming Christianity: A Call to Authentic Faith by A.W. Tozer. What so amazes me about this book is that it was written by a guy whose ministry was during the years of 1919-1963. Yet, as I read his works, it's as if he is speaking straight to the American Church of today. As I thought through tonight's blog post, I decided, rather than try to recap this powerful book, I'll just post a bunch of quotes from it. Then, if something strikes at your heart the way it did mine, you can go out and buy the book, and maybe even answer the call to authentic faith.

There is absolute authority in the church. That authority is Jesus Christ.

It is surprising how many Christians live below the scriptural expectation for their lives.

If we are going to reclaim the Christianity of the New Testament, we must return to the faith of the New Testament.

[Of Leadership]..If they are good, they have borrowed their authority; and if they are bad, they have usurped it.

It is hard to stand and say, "Here I stand," but it is easy to follow the crowd. All you have to do is keep the holy neck of the pastor in sight just ahead of you. Keep right after him; pay no attention to where he is going.

God's Word is both our terror and our hope.

To the average church, God is desirable and may even be useful, but He is not necessary.

The Holy Spirit is not necessary to the church; we have arranged it so that He is not required.

I might say that the church that has taken in the world has been taken in already. The world usually takes the church in before the church takes the world in.

I would walk through mud up to my knees to get to a group where nobody was showing off, where only God was present.

The only time a sheep goes off by itself is when he is lost or sick. A sick sheep does not go with the flock; and when I find a Christian who is such an individualist that he never goes to church, he is a sick Christian.

Here was the difference between the Pharisees and Christ. To Christ, sin was not contagious. Sin was a disease of the soul, and Jesus knew a pure heart needed no protection. You can not keep religion pure by keeping it insular and away from the crowds.

As long as we imagine that we own anything, that thing will curse us. As soon as we know that we own nothing, it is God's.

Far better to come clean and get right, pay up, confess up, than go along and cover up, having a name to live while being dead.

The Gospel is the statement that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture PLUS the Holy Spirit in that statement giving it meaning and power. Just the statement itself will never do it.

You can not have the power without the words; but you can have words without the power.

Nobody will ever truly be saved until he knows he is a sinner; and nobody will ever know he is a sinner by simply threatening, warning or telling him.

It is amazing how religious social atmospheres can permeate a church so that it is hard to tell which is of the Holy Spirit and which is simply nice social contact.

The wonderful thing about a right man is that he does not want to talk about it. The wonderful thing about a godly man is that he does not know he is godly. The beautiful thing about a holy man is that he is the only one who does not know it.

The evangelical church is oriented around showmanship.

The very fact that so many questions are being asked these days is a terrible indication that we are not being illuminated. The illuminated man does not ask questions, he answers them.

Evangelicalism has become popular and, consequently, it is dead.

Let us be sincere about all this and you will find that our heavenly Father will come to us as in the ancient times, and we can know again the fiery flame and bring the burning bush back to religion.

God has a work to do, and He does it Himself in and through His people by the gifts of the Spirit. If we could only know that truth, there would be a lot of crawling at the church board meetings instead of coming with the assurance that we have all the answers.

Churches are running on their own steam; they have learned how.

Failure sometimes is an evidence of the hand of God upon you, and we Christians can afford to fail because Jesus afforded to fail. He died out there on the cross, and it looked as if it was a battered tragic stupid end of a man who meant well but did not know how to handle Himself. Then, on the third day...

- Chad Fisher

Day 27 - Relevant Church

2010-11-12T18:18:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest. I wrote this blog straight from an article I read by Ed Stetzer. It's a challenging look at what it means to be a "Relevant Church." I hope it challenges you as much as it did me.

Relevance is a Tool, Not a Goal by Ed Stetzer
[Revised and Edited: Original Article from Catalyst Groupzine Vol. 3, Page 95]

The Gospel is relevant, in this and every culture; it is often our churches and ministries that are not. We can find ourselves putting too much emphasis on relevance itself and not enough on what we're trying to make understandable - the Gospel. Are you focusing too much on relevance? Here are some ways you can know that relevance has become more important than the Gospel to you:

1. If we focus on personal transformation and not Gospel transformation - Too often our messages are driven by the steps method (5 steps to living the good life), when oftentimes these steps have little to do with biblical advice on the subject. The danger is that we may be enforcing an already narcissistic mentality that permeates our culture. The consumeristic, me-istic mindset is a thorny ground that threatens to choke out the spiritual transformation in people's lives.

2. If your sermons are so practical they lack any Gospel - Our goal is to give people the Truth, not just true stuff. We must deliver messages that would not be true if Jesus had not died on the cross. Use practical messages to share Jesus. That's what people need.

3. If you talk about practical more than you talk about biblical - When sharing the vision of your church, what is prominent? What do people walk away with? What strikes at the very heart of what your church is all about? There are many churches focused on a new building, higher giving, practical needs. God's Word and spiritual transformation must be the foundation of our churches, not the wood, hay, and stubble that will eventually fade away.

4. If your outreach demeans others that preach the Gospel - This shows that your confidence is in your relevance and not the Gospel. Do not feed anything that feeds people's tendency to devalue other churches that preach the Gospel. We are all on the same team, even if our models and styles are very different. So let's act like it.

5. If your approach makes you the hero and not Jesus - Many churches are driven by personalities. It is not a good thing that the number one reason someone stays at a church is because they like the pastor. Seek for ways to promote others and their unique gifts. This brings glory to God and not us.

6. If "Personal Evangelism" is an oxymoron at your church - Disciples share their faith. If our goal is to make disciples, we don't just hope to have plenty of seats filled every weekend. Instead, we hope to see people respond and be moved by the Gospel. People are engaged. Active. Taking part in their uniquely God-given roles.

7. If "Invest and Invite" never leads to evangelism - Many churches emphasize to their members to "invest and invite." This is a great strategy for getting friends, families and neighbors in the door. But if this is the means to an end, you might be placing too much emphasis on relevance and not enough on the Gospel. So you got people to fill a few seats, now what?

8. If attendance is a greater value than conversion - Everyone wants to know numbers. Many pastors equate attendance with success. Anyone can draw a crowd. Don't be fooled that your ability to fill seats is effecting spiritual transformation in others. Numbers can help us only if we have already defined our win on the response of the Gospel.

9. If the cross gets less focus than the church - The cross should be central to the vision and direction of our churches. Without the cross, none of us would be where we are today. We must lead people to depend on the cross and not our programs and systems. Spiritual transformation starts at a personal level - it doesn't have to go through a relevant church first.

10. If not offending seekers is more important than sharing the Gospel - I'm not talking about beating people over the head or being insensitive to how we share Gospel truth, but the Gospel is offensive. When it comes down to it, eventually we're going to have to pull the trigger, and we may end up being the stench of death to someone. Be "seeker sensible" and quit trying to be driven by seekers. People really aren't as fragile as we think they are. What people want is the truth. What they want is the presence of God, the real deal.

We need to recapture a genuine faith in and love for the Gospel. In the name of "authenticity," many churches have become quite inauthentic. We can use relevance as a tool to connect with people, but even the best tool can't do its work if there is not a clear goal, and if the Holy Spirit isn't actively involved in the process. Relevance is a tool, not the goal. Relevance is a tool that helps people to understand the eternal truths of Christ - that's relevant church.

- Chad Fisher

Day 26 - An Invitation by Big V

2010-11-11T16:46:00.000-08:00

An Invitation by Big V - 30in30 Day 26 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 25 - Redefining Lostness

2010-11-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

It's one of the most common parables of the bible, the parable of the prodigal son. A better name for it, according to Timothy Keller's latest book The Prodigal God is "The Parable of the Two Lost Sons."

Jesus ends the famous parable in Luke 15 by describing an elaborate celebration - a massive feast. The younger brother, who squandered his inheritance on prostitutes and indulged in all of the vices of the world, was sitting at his father's table celebrated and celebrating his new reunion. The elder brother, however, "became angry and refused to go in (Luke 15:28)." At the end of Jesus' story, it is the elder brother, not the younger brother, who is left standing outside, alienated from his father.

In this parable, there are two brothers, each of whom represents a different way to be alienated from God. The plight of the younger brother is most obvious. This younger brother realizes his desperate state of being lost and heads home to be reunited with his father. The elder brother, however, is just as lost, yet he has no idea of just how lost he really is.

We're told in this story that the elder brother "never disobeyed his father." He had lived a life of moral conformity. He hadn't gone wayward like his younger brother. Yet, his plight was just as crippling. The elder brother had a strong sense of his own superiority. He pointed out how much better his own moral record was than that of his wayward brother. And he was furious that his father had not only welcomed his younger brother back into the family, but was throwing him a massive celebration and feast.

As Keller points out, "if you think goodness and decency is the way to merit a good life from God, you will be eaten up with anger, since life never goes as we wish." In other words, the plight of the elder brother was that he felt he deserved more from his father. He was good, therefore, the father was in his debt. Yet it was not so.

This is the attitude many Christians have without ever realizing it. Keller elaborates on this by saying that "if a group of people believes that God favors them because of their particularly true doctrine, ways of worship, and ethical behavior, their attitudes toward others without these things can be hostile. It becomes easy to justify hate and oppression, all in the name of truth." It's a superiority complex. Hmm. Isn't that what got a certain Lucifer ousted?

Likewise, it is impossible to forgive someone if you feel superior to him or her. Because many elder brother types' sin and antipathy to God is hidden deep beneath layers of self-control and moral behavior, they have no problem feeling superior to just about anyone. And they usually have equally no problem pointing that out to others. Haven't we all been there? On both sides of the coin? It's easy to point out the self-righteous. Yet, in pointing them out, aren't we kind of being the same? Self-righteous?

Keller says that "it may be that the elder brother, to bolster his own image of himself, needed a chronically wayward sibling to criticize, and the smug older brother only made it harder for the younger brother to admit his problems and change his life. When the younger son comes out of his denial and the father welcomes him, the elder brother realizes that the pattern is being broken, and his fury is white-hot."

Say, if we, as Christians, stopped marginalizing certain people groups, elevating specific sins, pointing out all of what's wrong with the world, labeling sinners, rejecting those who struggle...perhaps maybe then, when we stop comparing ourselves to others and start comparing ourselves to Jesus, we'll be less smug and self-righteous...and get a chance to sit at that great and glorious table, the feast of all feasts...in the presence of Almighty God!

And maybe we'll even manage to bring a few people with us...

- Chad Fisher

Day 24 - A Message From Katie

2010-11-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

Katie Fisher - 30in30 Day 24 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 23 - Top 10 Signs That You Are in the Wrong Church

2010-11-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

10) The Pastor refers to God only as "Jehovah" and constantly exhorts the congregation to "witness."

9) New members are required to submit a W-2.

8) The Pastor regularly attends meetings in Las Vegas & Atlantic City.

7) Your first visit they ask you to fill in on the drums for worship.

6) The media refers to the church facility as a "compound."

5) The Women's Quartet are all married to the pastor.

4) There are kittens and sparkles on your church's website.

3) The church bus has gun racks.

2) You are told that you must go through a "cleansing process" before you are able to enter the main building.

1) The largest mid-week event is Thursday night's
"Seniors Touching Seniors."

...Some of these have been personally experienced by the
Rock City Team.

Day 22 - Three Years Ago Tonight

2010-11-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

Last night we joined with a group of family and friends in Toledo to pray for Rock City Church. A friend of ours stood up and began to share. He said, "Tonight is my spiritual birthday. Three years ago today, God took hold of my life, and I have never been the same."

Tears filled my eyes. The realization of what he was saying was almost more than I could bear. As a matter of fact, my eyes connected with several others in that room, their eyes too filled with tears. Happy tears. Thankful tears.

Three years ago tonight, we experienced an outpouring of the Spirit - the beginning of God painting a picture of what "could" be. It was a spiritual awakening for hundreds of young people - a night that I will never forget - a night that many will never forget.

Then another dear friend, Keith, stood and began to share. Keith is a full-time missionary with the House of Prayer. Keith has devoted his life to sharing the Gospel and praying for the lost. Three years ago tonight was also Keith's spiritual awakening - a night that has marked him forever. A night that undoubtedly marked many.

Why am I telling you this? You probably aren't that interested in something that happened three years ago to a group of people you will probably never even meet. Here's why. We are surrounded by thousands upon thousands of spiritually restless people. There is a spiritual unrest, a holy discontent that has gripped an entire spiritually apathetic generation.

I tell you that this is just the beginning. God is about to grip this generation like never before.

"Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen! (Eph 3:20-21)"

- Chad Fisher

Day 21 - Jeromy's Story

2010-11-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Jeromy's Story - 30in30 Day 21 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 20 - What Are You Craving?

2010-11-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

Trick or treat candy, pumpkin cookies, apple cake, coffee. These are just a few of the plentiful desserts you may find at my house these next few weeks. The more there is, the more I crave. Then Monday morning rolls around, and quite abruptly the craving to indulge in all of these things is an all out war within me! You see, we are in a campaign called THIRTYinTHIRTY, and during this campaign the members of Rock City Church have made commitments to pray and fast certain days throughout these thirty days. I've chosen Mondays, and therein lies the problem.

Webster's definition of "crave" is to "ask for earnestly; to want greatly; to have a strong or inward desire."

At Catalyst in Atlanta this year, Andy Stanley began the conference by talking about appetites. Webster defines "appetite" as "an inherent craving" - God created them but sin distorted them. These appetites or "cravings," if surrendered can be a good thing, or if given into, as we see in the story of Jacob and Esau, can leave you empty.

Andy used the well known story of two brothers, Jacob and Esau, to illustrate the importance of denying ourselves. Esau, the elder brother, traded his birthright which represented financial blessing, the authority to make decisions for the sake of the family, and ultimately God's presence, all for the craving (appetite) to fulfill his personal hunger. His inability to deny his craving resulted in Esau trading away his entire future to his younger brother Jacob. Esau's life was drastically altered because of this one event.

As I think about this story, I have to ask myself, what craving in my life would cause me to trade away God's best for me and my family? 1 Peter 2:2-3 says this: "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

I have learned that the more I deny myself, the more God reveals Himself to me. The more He reveals Himself to me, the more I crave to do His will.

So what are you craving? It's a question I have to ask myself daily! Let us be filled with a hunger that only the Creator of the universe can fill.

- John Ransom

Day 19 - That's Rock City

2010-11-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

That's Rock City from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 18 - Meet Ben & Jenn

2010-11-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Meet Ben & Jenn - 30in30 Day 18 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 17 - The Vote Count Is In

2010-11-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

Today's voting day. No doubt, some of you have been waiting for weeks if not months for this, and others woke up this morning and still have no clue what's going on. That's just the way it is.

But here's the truth - We choose our leaders. There's not a leader in this nation that appointed him/herself. They were appointed, chosen, by people. It's no different with the church. We choose our leaders. And that, my friends, is what is so problematic.

When the Israelites wanted to establish a hereditary kingship through Gideon's family, he refused, saying, "The Lord will rule over you (Judges 8:23)." Later, Samuel resisted the people's request for a king, relenting only when God said to him, "Listen to the voice of the people...for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them (1 Sam 8:7)."

Both Saul and David were selected by God and anointed by Samuel. We all know how that worked out. At least we got a great book from it (plug: A Tale of Three Kings)...

So, the people chose. God gave them their king and established a hereditary everlasting kingship over them from the family of David (2 Sam 7; 1 Chron 17) - and the kings ruled Israel with Divine Permission.

The kings of Israel were responsible to rule in His name and carry out His will, not establish their own laws and policies. Today, that line of kingship continues through Jesus Himself. Jesus says in Matthew 16, "I will build my church," and the book of Acts shows him doing it. J.B. Philips wrote that the reader of the book of Acts "is seeing Christianity, the real thing, in action for the first time in human history...the Church as it was meant to be."

So do we really have a choice? Yes. And that is what's so problematic. We cast our ballots, we promote one another, we promote our agendas and our visions and build our establishments, our personal kingdoms...and we forget why we're here, why we're doing what we're doing, and Who the real king is.

And here's the thing. Not only does Jesus say that He will build His church, but He also says that the "gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matt 16:18)." How great is that to hear! Every time we stress and grow weary and tired and fall on our faces, there is still hope...we've got the best job security in the world. This thing is in the bag. So long as we stay focused on Jesus - so long as we let Him take the lead, the church will rise.

My prayer for Rock City Church is just that - that we never lose focus of Who the real king is. All of us - we're just following our leader. All of us - we're just trusting Jesus. And slap me silly - really - if ever we get to a place where our focus turns from following Jesus and onto our own lame agenda. Just slap me. Slap whoever you have to. Because, in the end, this is Jesus' church. This is Jesus' mission. And there's no more vote casting...there's no need for more ballot boxes, because the vote count is in - and it's unanimous.

- Chad Fisher

Day 16 - No Perfect People Allowed

2010-11-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

What do a Buddhist, a biker, a gay-rights activist, a transient, a high-tech engineer, a Muslim, a twenty-something single mom, a Jew, a couple living together, and an atheist all have in common? They are the future church in America. Most of them are in their twenties or thirties. This is the generation the church must reach if it is going to survive. It is an eclectic generation on a winding, wayward spiritual quest, and the church has an incredible opportunity to be a guide for the journey. - John Burke, No Perfect People Allowed

Simply put, we don't need another church for a post-Christian culture - We need a church to emerge out of post-Christian culture...

A church for a post-Christian culture is made up of Christians who huddle together inside the walls of their post-modern habitat and who occasionally poke their heads into the messy culture that surrounds their sweet domain to see what they can find. It's a nice, neat, clean and perfectly-packaged community.

A church out of post-Christian culture is made up of those who are rising out of the ashes of the surrounding culture, out of the mess and the filth and the grime of our world - those who are now forming the body of Christ. It's a messy, eclectic, and spiritually diverse community.

Take a look at the church in Corinth. The Corinthians prided themselves for their intellectual pursuits. They were surrounded by luxury and wealth. They were fully indulgent in the pleasures of life. Corinth was know for its lavish parties and sexual freedom. One of its famous temples that towered high above the city was staffed with more than a thousand prostitutes - inviting a community to indulge and engage in sexual promiscuity. To "live like a Corinthian" implied indulging in all of the selfish pleasures of life - sort of like "party like it's 1999" - okay, maybe not - but we're close. You get the point.

Rome was known for its religious tolerance. In fact, the one thing most detestable to the people of Rome was the idea that Jesus was the only way to God. That was a slap in the face to the cultural and spiritual freedom and diversity that was most widely accepted during that time. And perhaps we are a lot more like the Corinthians than we'd like to admit.

But here's the good news - Corinth is precisely the place where God's Spirit built this beautiful mess of a church. It was anything but perfect, but it still held God's hope for the world. And this church not only prevailed, but it changed the entire Roman Empire, and impacted the world. And guess what...it can happen again, today.

According to Jesus, loving God comes first - followed closely by loving people. Imperfect people. People with different views than ours. People who are dirty, messy and different. People who don't fit our mold. People who don't look like us, talk like us, act like us, or think like us.

It's going to take a new kind of Christian to be the church in this beautiful mess of a culture we're now living in. But as we engage people with the love and the hope of Christ, we'll start to see the church again emerge, but this time, out of this beautiful mess...

- Chad Fisher

Day 15 - Halfway Update

2010-10-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

Halfway Update 30in30 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 14 - Engaging Culture

2010-10-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 13, Jesus gives a most powerful parable - the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 'An enemy did this,' he replied. The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring in into my barn (Matt 13:24-30)."

"His disciples came to him and said, 'Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.' He answered, 'The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvesters are angels. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear (Matt 13: 36-43).'"

So here we are, awaiting the end of the age that Jesus speaks of. After the second coming of Christ, Jesus says that the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, and that everything that is evil and causes sin will be weeded out. Only the righteous will remain.

That's future. That speaks of the age to come. But what about this present age? What about those of us who are sons and daughters of God, who are wheat, living among the weeds - those who are not the sons and daughters of God. What are we to do?

It's interesting that, in this parable, the owner of the filed tells his servants to let both grow together until the harvest. Jesus says in Matthew 5 that we are "the light of the world. A City on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your lights shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matt 5:14-16)."

Light serves no purpose until it is used to displace darkness. Shine a flashlight into a brightly lit room and it will have no effect. Shine the same light into a dark and isolated room and its effect will be magnified, because the darkness will be displaced and the light will have purpose. In the same way, Jesus is painting a picture of how He wants us to live as His sons and daughters, among the weeds, among the darkness - not running from it or separating ourselves from it.

Here's two big mistakes I think we've made as Christians. First, we've attempted to "pull out the weeds." The history of Christianity is plagued by bloodshed and war and the misuse and abuse of power. Why? We've attempted to pull out the weeds, to forcefully Christianize our culture, rather than mercifully engage our culture with the love of Christ.

James Madison was quoted as saying that "during almost fifteen centuries the legal establishment of Christianity has been on trial.. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, and in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution." John Seel and Os Guinness, No God But God (Chicago: Moody Press, 1992), 69.

It's easy to want to fight for rights, particularly in the culture we are living in today - a culture that is desperately trying to eliminate God from every facet of public life - but what was Jesus' response to such threats and insults? 1 Peter 23-24 says that, "when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree...by his wounds you have been healed."

The second mistake we've made is in trying to "get away from the weeds." We've set up a completely separate and exclusive set of Christian clubs. Christian music. Christian schools. Christian TV. Christian bookstores. Christian entertainment. Christian Yellow Pages...

It's not that these things are wrong. Actually, they're wonderful. What makes them wrong is when we allow this exclusive Christian ideology to permeate our entire lives, 24/7. What makes them wrong is when our children become so isolated from the outside world, so consumed with everything Christian, that they have little to no concept of what it means to love the lost, to be among the hurting and the oppressed as a light that displaces the darkness.

Community is a beautiful thing. Christian community is an absolutely necessary thing. But, as we engage in Christian community - may we model for others, for our children, a desperate and passionate love for the lost - love for people who are far from God.

And let us remember, that "at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his [great] mercy (Titus 3:3-5)."

Let us be a light that displaces darkness. Let us engage culture, not run from it. Let us love God and love people and teach others to do the same.

- Chad Fisher
*Major points of this blog taken from a message I heard taught at Xenos Christian Fellowship in Columbus, Oh.

Day 13 - My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

2010-10-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

I'd be lying if I told you that my level of anxiety hasn't risen dramatically since kicking off the THIRTYinTHIRTY campaign. After all, it's a big challenge - the stakes are high. We're either going to make it, or we're not.

My recurring dream goes something like this...

I'm getting ready to walk out onto a stage in an auditorium full of people. The lights are drawn, the people are ready, we've been announced. I'm supposed to lead these people into worship. But there's a problem. The guitar I'm holding has no strings, or at the very best, they're broken. And I don't know any of the songs. Worse, I don't have any copies of the words or the music. I'm completely stuck. There's no backing down. I'm racking my brain for songs I know off the top of my head and nothing is coming to the surface. I'm frozen with fear.

I had that dream last night. It's a terrible dream. And unless you've also been responsible to lead worship or speak in front of mass crowds, this dream wouldn't have the same effect on you. But last night, something weird happened. My dream took an unusual turn. Right dead smack in the middle of that anxiety-filled nightmare, a choir began singing this song -

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

And they kept singing. It felt like all night - all I could hear were these words - My hope is built on nothing less - On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand -

Once again I'm reminded that it's not what we can do, it's not what we can accomplish - it's what He can do, what He can accomplish. Our hope for this church can never rest in our ability, in our strength, in our accomplishments - Our hope for this church is only found in the Rock of our foundation, Jesus One and Only.

I looked up the origin of that hymn this morning. Interestingly, the author wrote a few other verses that were not included in the final hymn. This one I share with you perhaps best paints the portrait of our anxiety-filled hearts and our need to rest and rely on the true Source, our only Rock, Jesus.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

'Midst all the hell I feel within,

On His completed work I lean.

THIRTYinTHIRTY is just a campaign. The completed work is in Him. Thank you Jesus.

- Chad Fisher

Day 12 - Molly's Story

2010-10-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Molly's Story 30in30 Day 12 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 11 - Where are the Dreamers?

2010-10-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Listen to what the authors of The Leadership Challeng e say about leadership - "Leaders must challenge the process precisely because any system will unconsciously conspire to maintain the status quo and prevent change."

It takes courage to be different - it takes courage to challenge the status quo. As leaders, we are asking men and women not only to follow us to a place they have never been before; we are asking them to follow us to a place we have never been before either. Andy Stanley points out that "leaders require those around them to abandon the known and embrace the unknown - with no guarantee of success."

In his book, The Dream Giver, Bruce Wilkinson illustrates the heart of leadership through the tale of a young man named Ordinary who embraces his Big Dream and chases it. In the preface, Wilkinson says: "I have yet to find a person who didn't have a dream. They may not be able to describe it. They may have forgotten it. They may no longer believe in it. But it's there."

As the story goes, Ordinary was a Nobody living in a land called Familiar, with other Nobodies. Every day, Ordinary did his Usual Job. Until one day Ordinary noticed a small feeling - something he couldn't shake - something that whispered to him that something big was missing from his life. And as the feeling grew, even though the other Nobodies in Familiar were content, and even though the Nobodies in Familiar didn't generally expect the unexpected, Ordinary began to wish for it.

I won't ruin the book for you, but Wilkinson points out as we trek with Ordinary past the land of Familiar and into the unknown, through the Wasteland and into the Valley of Giants, "the road for every dreamer is clogged with Dream-threatening obstacles."

We're dreamers. And we're inviting other dreamers to join us. Walk with us. Explore with us. Building a new church can be exciting, exhilarating. We believe church can be innovative and creative, inspiring and powerful, relevant and authentic. Yet, there's a culture that's opposed to change - that conspires to maintain the status quo. It's as if, the sails are up, the course is set, and the destination of Christian America is moving unchallenged down the shallow stream of irrelevance. But we say...

Where are the dreamers? Where are the Innovators? Where are the Risk Takers? Where are the Courageous? Where are the Discontent? Where are the Ordinaries who will leave their lands of Familiar and begin trekking toward something bigger, something greater, something God-Sized???

- Chad Fisher

Day 10 [Marvin Gee] Be the Church

2010-10-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

30in30 Day 10 [Marvin Gee] Be the Church from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 9 - Invisible Fathers

2010-10-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever struggled with identifying purpose in your life, keeping priorities in alignment, or leading your family courageously? The vast majority of men do, myself included. Even after personally studying these issues, leading small groups, and counseling fathers on how to accomplish these very things - it's still a struggle for me to accomplish these things in my own life!

As the youngest of three boys, raised in a single family home, I and my two older brothers did what society taught us to do - work hard and play harder. It wasn't until God entrusted me with raising three boys of my own that I was truly confronted with this Biblical mandate to "raise up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)."

I always interpreted that scripture to mean that parents should do the necessary things to make sure their children grow up serving the Lord. Yet, after studying that scripture more fully, I learned that we are called to do much more than just tell our children about Jesus - or just take them to church every time the doors open - or discipline them when they do wrong. As a father, I'm called to help my children identify their God-given purpose for their lives and teach them how to live it out in a way that brings glory to God. What that means is, as parents, we have to look at each of our children individually, and help them each discover their uniquely purposed, God-given DNA (so to speak).

In his book, Raising a Modern-Day Knight, Robert Lewis shares the intriguing and sad story of Jeffrey Dahmer - how parental neglect and domestic abuse left him devoid of affection and attention. A mother struggling with loneliness and depression and a father consumed with graduate work - too busy to participate in his son's life, led to his son's drifting away. Though most neglected children won't become serial killers, without intentional parenting, every child will drift in one way or another. Jeffrey's father writes, "And so I wasn't there to see him as he began to sink into himself. I wasn't there to sense, even if I could have sensed it, that he might be drifting toward that unimaginable realm of fantasy and isolation, and that it would take nearly thirty years to recognize."

Jeffrey's father identifies a process that is confirmed by experience and verified by observation - that when a dad is absent, boys begin to sink into themselves. They begin to drift.

How many times are we, as fathers, "too busy to participate?" This rings true for all of us at some level or another - in our churches, communities and homes everywhere. Where are the men who will stand up and say, "God, use me to lead my family courageously down the path that you so desire?"

Lewis shares ten things that we, as fathers, must impart to our sons. These ideals are a code of conduct that I am actively seeking to instill in my own boys, that they may grow and mature to become Godly men, men of courage.

1. Loyalty
"For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6)."

2. Servant-Leadership
"Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave (Matthew 20:26-27)."

3. Kindness
"What is desirable in a man is his kindness (Proverbs 19:22)."

4. Humility
"Do nothing from a selfish or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)."

5. Purity
"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:12)."

6. Honesty
"Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each of of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another (Ephesians 4:25)."

7. Self-Discipline
"Have nothing to do with worldly fables...On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1 Timothy 4:7-8)."

8. Excellence
"Do you know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win (1 Corinthians 9:24)."

9. Integrity
"He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out (Proverbs 10:9)."

10. Perseverance
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Galatians 6:9)."

So, as a final thought, let us be men that set a new trend, a trend toward raising up our children to be the godly leaders of the future - a trend that says, "I will be present with my children - with my family." And as we strive to love God and love people - may we ultimately start in our own homes - with our own families!

- John Ransom

Day 8 - Sunday Morning in a Coffee Shop

2010-10-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

30in30 Day 8 - Sunday Morning in a Coffee Shop from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 7 - Family Matters

2010-10-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley is one of those rare books that will force you to reexamine your commitment and approach to living out the balance of life - family vs. work; chasing your dream vs. stability and security; playing to win vs. playing to not lose...

Everyone Cheats.

Responsibilities. Opportunities. Work. Family. Hobbies. Clubs. Leagues. The list is endless. Each competes for your attention. Each competes for your most valuable resource, your time. But to give each of these the time it demands would require more time than you have to give. So you cheat something. You choose work or you choose family. In that moment, one will be cheated. You choose one activity over the other, one love for another, and every time, something gets cheated. You can't be two places at once. We all cheat - something.

This book has helped to shape Katie and I - who we are, how we live and do life together. It has formed the foundation for one of the first core values we decided would shape Rock City Church - the value of FAMILY.

For most of us, our work will always demand more time and energy from us than our families. At work, we've got deadlines, responsibilities, expectations, demanding bosses, demanding schedules. Inside of us is this constant desire to be set apart, to make something of ourselves, to be successful. So we're driven. Driven to succeed. Driven to be great.

Work always demands more of us than our families. Think about it. When is the last time your husband or wife or children gave you a list of responsibilities and said you had to have them completed by Friday at 6pm or else you'd lose your Mommy or Daddy status? When is the last time your children wrote out a schedule for you - sit on the couch with me at least 3 nights this week so we can just laugh and enjoy each other - tuck me into bed and pray with me on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and tell me you love me - make sure you stop by my school Tuesday afternoon and watch my practice; it will make me feel special...

It doesn't happen. Families won't demand your time like your job will. And usually, families are the ones who get cheated. What they need most is your time. It's not what you do, it's that you're there. That's what your spouse wants. That's what your children need. Your time.

We've all been there right? We've worked for a boss who wore his work schedule like a badge of honor - the one that says, "I work seven days a week" and implies, "And so should you." We've all felt the conflict right? The one that says, "If I don't stay late tonight, this job won't get done," while our family is left cheated. It's a choice.

And it's not that I think we want to cheat our families as much as it's our desire to be known, to make a difference, to be great, to accomplish something, to make our families proud, to make God proud. I think it has more to do with our desire for worth and value. And somewhere wrapped up in all of it, is the same sense of selfish pride that we see in the older brother from the parable of the prodigal son. It's the one that says, "I've done something. Now I'm important. Now I'm owed something."

It's this false idea of ourselves, this arrogance that works itself out in us every time we think that, "If I don't do it, it's not going to get done." I think this plays out especially in ministry - "If I don't stay late, if I don't meet with this one last person, somehow God's work is not going to get done." And I would say, "Really? Really, God's work is not going to get done if YOU don't do it? God's really that dependent upon YOU that He'd rather you neglect your family because otherwise, God's not going to meet His deadline?"

I'd suggest you read this book. It's a wake up call to all of us. In our deep-seated desire for self-worth and value, God says to us, "You are already valuable. You are already worth so much more than you could ever imagine. So much so that I gave my life for you." So who or what will you choose to cheat? It's a choice.

I doubt anyone has ever gotten to the end of their life and said, "I wish I would've worked more. I wish I hadn't spent so much time with my kids or my wife." After all, what greater blessing does one have than his family?

Here's our commitment to you - as you help us secure these funds to launch Rock City, as you support us and help us build a church that we believe is truly going to make a difference in this city -

When it comes to church and family, we will cheat the church. And in doing so, we're acknowledging that, inasmuch as we can do, it pales to comparison of what God can do if we trust Him, if we let Him, if we don't get in the way...

If we honor our families.

If we put them first.

If we choose to cheat.

- Chad Fisher

Day 6 - I Love This City

2010-10-22T12:11:00.000-07:00

30in30 Day 6 - I Love This City from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 5 - Authentic Church

2010-10-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I ordered a new pair of Toms Shoes. How fun is it to come home one day and see a package sitting on your door step! I ran up, grabbed the box and announced to my neighborhood that my Toms had finally arrived.

I had heard so much about Toms - how, every pair they sell they give a pair away to a child in need - how, they do these things called "Shoe Drops" where they parachute thousands of shoes into villages around the world and then take teams of volunteers to help fit each pair to a child in need - And then, of course, you've got the website, toms.com - and they've got this sweet section called, "How We Wear Them" - photos of people all around the world showing off how they wear their Toms. I bet you want to go out and get a pair for yourself now don't you?

I took the box from my door step, ran inside my house and tore it open. My first thought was, "Man, these things are packaged well." My Toms were wrapped in a Toms Flag and under that were a couple of Toms stickers, a promo piece telling me how to register to win a trip on one of their "Shoe Drops", and a bunch of other cool stuff. So I combed through the packaging, took out my Toms, looked them over front to back, and then, tried them on. And guess what...They didn't fit. Not even close!

As a matter of fact, I'm not so sure Toms Shoes are the best choice of shoe for me after all. They look sweet...on other people. I love the concept. I love the One-for-One giving thing. I love how they look on other people...but they just look right on me. At least this pair didn't. They didn't fit.

The next day I got to thinking - About Authentic Church. Weird huh? I started thinking - I wonder how many people come through our churches, sit down and listen to a perfectly packaged, great sounding message from people who look wonderful and sound and act beautifully - you know, the kind of people who have it all together. I wonder how many people then, after hearing the Gospel - the one about how when you take Jesus home everything turns out to be okay; take Jesus home and all your problems will go away. You'll never be sick. You'll never be short on cash. All your friends will think you're the bomb and ask you for spiritual advice.

And I wonder how many people, after they take home this Gospel - this nicely packaged version of Christianity - try it on and realize that, "it just doesn't fit."

For the sake of being authentic, it seems to me that a whole lot of us have become a lot less authentic. It seems to me that a lot of times we offer a version of Christianity that looks a lot different than the one Jesus offered.

Timothy Keller, in his book, Prodigal God (which, by the way, you should read really soon), offers this powerful challenge: "If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the message that Jesus did. If our churches aren't appealing to younger brothers (from the parable of the prodigal son), they must be filled more full of elder brothers (religious, unauthentic, arrogant Christians) than we'd like to think."

Think about what that means. What version of Christianity are we offering to the lost, the hurting, the oppressed, the needy? Is it the version that makes all their problems go away? That puts money in their pocket? That takes away all their hurt? All their pain?

What version of Christianity are we offering the younger brothers - the ones who struggle? The ones who don't fit our mold? The ones who don't know they're in trouble? Is it the version that says, "God hates sinners? You're going to hell? You're an abomination?" What's someone to do with that? How does that fit?

In every case where Jesus meets a religious person and a sexual outcast (as in Luke 7) or a religious person and a racial outcast (as in John 3-4) or a religious person and a political outcast (as in Luke 19), the outcast is the one who connects with Jesus and the religious person does not. Jesus' teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing, religious people of his day. In the main, our churches today do not have this effect. The kind of outsiders Jesus attracted are not attracted to contemporary churches, even our most avant-garde ones (Prodigal God, p.15).

I don't know what I'm going to do about the Toms, but I do think we've come a lot further from Jesus' message than we'd care to admit. As a church, our mission is to "reach the unchurched and awaken the spiritually restless to love God and love people."

I think that means that our church might look a bit messy - it might be full of people who wouldn't fit the traditional mold - people who you probably wouldn't expect to see hanging around in a church - probably the very people Jesus would've spent most of His time with.

- Chad Fisher

Day 4 - Meet Randall Newman

2010-10-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

30in30 Day 4 Randall Newman from Rock City Church on Vimeo.
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Meet Randy, one of the first launch team members of Rock City Church. In the video, Randy talks about the love of God - A love that sees past our mistakes, our failures, our sin, our misery - A love that only sees good - A love that sees us through a different set of lenses - God's pure, undeserved, unadulterated love.

It's usually not that easy for us to know this love, God's love. It's all around us, but for most of us, it's hard to know - it's even harder to find. That is, until we see it lived-out through someone else. The people in Jesus' day saw it lived out through Him. But what about the people in our day? Randy will tell you that is exactly what happened to him. He had an encounter with God, because somebody chose to live-it-out. And he's never been the same.

Part of our mission statement says that we exist to "love God and love people" - it's not just a catchy phrase - it's the only thing we know. It's the only thing expected of us.

If we love God, WE WILL love people.

Jesus said it best: "By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35)."

Day 3 - Why THIRTYinTHIRTY?

2010-10-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

Why THIRTYinTHIRTY? Day 3 from Rock City Church on Vimeo.

Day 2 - Fire Starter

2010-10-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Launch Team stepped up BIG last night, giving an offering of $5,154 toward THIRTYinTHIRTY, putting us well on our way to reaching our $30,000 goal and securing $60,000 in matched funds! But more than that, we experienced the presence of God - through worship, communion, and studying His Word. The Rock City community is coming alive. Growing. Connecting. Making a difference.

Our lifegroups have been studying 1 Kings 17-18 these last few weeks. Elijah gets a word from God that a terrible drought and famine are coming - that there will be no rain for years to come. Then, God tells Elijah to go to the Kerith Ravine, where he can drink from the brook and eat food that the ravens will bring him. The next verse (17:7), says that,

"sometime later the brook dried up."

Let's recap. God tells Elijah to go. Elijah went. God tells Elijah there will be water. Then, one day, there is no more water. One day he walks to the brook to drink and it's a bit lower than the day before. "No worries," he thinks, "God led me here. He will provide." The next day, it's a bit lower, until one day the water is completely gone.

Been there? Ever felt like you were being led by the Lord and then suddenly, the brook dries up? Ever taken a risk, trusted God, and while you were following Him, suddenly, the brook dried up? You think, "But God, YOU led me here! Why have you left me? Have you led me here to die?"

We don't know exactly what was running through Elijah's head at that time. Perhaps some of those very questions were being asked by him. Yet, we do know that Elijah trusted God. In the very next chapter (chapter 18), Elijah stands before a king bent on killing him and hundreds of prophets of Baal. He lays everything on the line - putting his own life in jeopardy - risking complete and utter failure. He calls on the prophets of Baal to make an altar and pray to their god to send fire. Their god doesn't show up. He tells the people to pour four barrels of water on his altar, and then four more barrels of water...and then four more barrels of water...

Interesting. After years of no rain, the most precious and valuable commodity was not silver or gold or precious stone - but water. Interesting. Elijah wasn't praying to God to bring rain - but fire. Elijah wasn't calling upon God to meet their need - rather, he placed his greatest need on God's altar - he poured it out before the Lord. And God responded with fire, burning up every last drop of precious water that filled the trenches around the altar.

God did not lead Elijah to a brook that would soon dry up to punish him or to hurt him. God allowed the brook to dry up to teach Elijah a powerful lesson. What Elijah understood - the reason Elijah was able to pour out what was most precious to him on the altar that day - was that the brook was not his source. His source was God alone.

Church planting is difficult. This campaign is bigger than us. Building a community strong enough to impact this city - raising the funds needed to launch this church - networking, connecting, marketing - none of these are our source. Our source is God alone. He is the One Who is building His church. He is the One Who is drawing the people. He is the One Who provides and sustains. So, as we journey together, let's not be distracted by what we can do - by how many days we can fast - by how many hours we can pray - by how much money we can give - rather, let's keep our focus on the One Who is More Than Enough. The One Who provides.

Oh, and by the way, after God met Elijah and burned up the altar, He sent rain. Massive rain.

Let's lay it all on the line. Together. Join us. Pray. Fast. Give.
And watch how God shows up!

- Chad Fisher

Day 1 - Launch Team Night

2010-10-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today marks the start of an exciting new journey - 30 days of prayer, fasting and fundraising! Why?

The prayer and fasting part is a no-brainer. We can only accomplish so much on our own! We desperately need the direction and provision of God. He is building His church. We are simply playing our part and following Him. So, we're taking these next thirty days and focusing on honoring Him and trusting that He will move mightily on our behalf. As of this moment, there are more than 20 people committed to taking at least one day during this campaign to pray and fast. Before the end of the day, we expect even more to participate.

The fundraising part is also a quite necessary piece of what God has called us to do in this city. Statistically, nationwide it takes a first-year budget of between $200,000-$300,000 to plant a life-giving church. We're no exception.

This is an audacious goal, but we've got an audacious vision for this city - to reach the unchurched and awaken the spiritual restless - we want to see people love God and love each other. We want to change the way an entire community views God and the church.

To add a bit of momentum to this 30-day challenge, we've secured a 2:1 match. That means, by reaching our goal of $30,000 in 30 days, $60,000 will be added to it. Only God can do that! And we are blessed to have so many people who believe in us and in what this church can become, and who have been willing to invest and give so selflessly.

Now, it's time to do our part. Tonight is Launch Team Night. We're laying down the first offering toward this campaign. Check back tomorrow and we'll have it posted - and daily, we'll post where we're at financially, as well as introduce you daily to our city, the people, and the stories that are shaping Rock City.

We want you to be encouraged by following these daily updates. Church planting isn't something that can be accomplished by one person or one team. It's something that only God can do through an entire community of people who are working together. We're trusting that He'll come through - that you'll come through - and that at the end of these thirty days, we'll be that much closer to launching Rock City Church!

If you want to be added to our prayer & fasting calendar, send me an email. We appreciate your support. If you'd like to contribute to THIRTYinTHIRTY, follow the link below and make a tax-exempt contribution through our donation page.

And remember, "Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Eph 3:20-21)."

CONTRIBUTE TO THIRTY IN THIRTY

Catalyst 2010 - The Tension is Good

2010-10-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Catalyst Conference is always a worth-while investment. This year was no exception. Something incredible happens when twelve-thousand leaders converge in one place - God speaks. For instance, just standing during one of the many times of worship, looking across the convention center at nearly every hand raised, twelve-thousand church leaders crying out in one voice,

"There is no one higher, no one greater; no one like our God! There is none more able, Christ our Savior, Great and Glorious."

The hair on my neck stood straight in the air. God was speaking in that moment.

"You are not alone. Look around you. I am raising up the next generation. I am with you. There is none more able. There is no one greater, no one higher. You are not alone."

It's always something when God whispers. It's something to think that, this vision He has given Rock City is part of something so much greater, so much bigger, so much higher...that Christ Himself is building His church, placing all of the pieces in perfect order, in perfect harmony.

God also spoke this year through the theme of the conference - through every speaker and guest that graced the stage -

"The Tension IS Good; The Tension is Necessary."

Ever wish the tension would just "go away?" Ever wonder what life would be like, what ministry would be like without the tension? Listen to what Reggie Joiner says of tension -

There is not one aspect of life where tension doesn't have critical value. Tension between the parties and branches of government creates a needed system of checks and balances. Tension in science can lead to remarkable insights and discoveries. Tension in a family provides an opportunity to demonstrate commitment and unconditional love. Tension within a team pushes them to better perspectives and deeper relationships.

Tension is good. It is absolutely required if you want to have an authentic faith. It is critical if you hope to engage in God's story of restoration and redemption. Tension compels us to respond to a higher calling. Tension helps us face our doubts. Tension challenges who we think we are. Tension clarifies what we believe about God. Tension prepares us to live our lives with a deeper message as a part of a bigger story.

So invite it. Create it if necessary. If you avoid tension as a leader, you are potentially robbing yourself and your team of the kind of defining moments that shape their character, stretch their faith, and clarify powerful insights. So choose to embrace it, even pursue it. By doing so you add an essential ingredient to your team that will give them the potential to change the world around them.

So, here we are...living in the tension. We love the church, but at the same time, we want to reclaim it, redefine it. We want to build a community committed to loving and serving one another, but at the same time, we want to build a community that is focused on taking the love and message of Jesus to the lost, the hurting and the oppressed in our cities and around the world. We want the Spirit of God to lead us, but at the same time, we resist Him when it disrupts our schedule or becomes too uncomfortable. We want change within the church, but at the same time, are we willing to do what it takes, to sacrifice everything, to have skin in the game?

It's the tension that makes us. It's the tension that creates our need to rely on God.

Andy Stanley says that "there are problems that shouldn't be solved and tensions that shouldn't be resolved. Progress depends not on the resolution of those tensions, but on the successful management of those tensions."

The Tension is Good.

Rock City Lifegroups Launch

2010-10-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago, we sat with a group of friends dreaming about the day we'd launch Rock City Church. We hadn't yet entered into a partnership with ARC. Our relationship with CedarCreek was just beginning. We were fresh on the trail of church planting - learning as we went along, dreaming and praying with a small group of friends who believed in us, in the vision for this new church, in taking risks and believing God for the impossible...

I remember writing a date on the white board. 10-10-10. That was launch day - at least it was back then. It was a goal. And it came as a surprise. I mean, we chose that date pretty much by accident. It was only after we checked the box on the calendar that we realized we had selected such a "buzz worthy" launch date - we called it The Perfect 10. It brought us focus and a sense of excitement and thrill. We were moving toward something big. God was up to something.

Needless to say, the further we continued onward - after forging a partnership with ARC and working closely with the leaders of CedarCreek, launching on The Perfect 10 seemed a bit premature. So we pushed it back. We set our sights on Spring 2011.

Then yesterday happened, 10-10-10. I hadn't thought about that date for almost a year. As a matter of fact, I didn't even realize it had arrived. I was just getting back from the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta with John Ransom and a friend of ours and thinking through some of the last minute details for our lifegroups that were launching in just a few hours.

Then Katie walked down stairs. I was sitting at my computer using Facebook and she said, "You know, we were gonna launch the church this weekend. We're launching lifegroups instead. We launched our website this weekend too."

Whoah! I was stunned.

Some people might look at that and think, so what? What's the big deal? But I say, no way! It's a huge deal. In reality, we launched the church on the very day that a year ago we marked on our calendars. We haven't thought about The Perfect 10 in almost a year. Yet, perhaps the most vital and life-giving part of our church launched, right when it was supposed to. Again, catching us off guard - surprising us. But isn't that God! Isn't that how He works?

God is up to something. He is preparing the way. He is building and connecting a new community. He is stirring in the hearts of many a vision for a new church in this city. He is building His church - on His time, in His way, by His might! And He is using us - by His mercy, according to His grace, through His strength!

By the way - we've launched lifegroups on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights...If you're interested, here's your invitation. Join us. Make a difference. Be the church.

Chad

btw, check out our new site at RockCityChurch.TV

Here's to Being the Church!

2010-09-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Last night more were added to our launch team. It was a great night of vision casting, dreaming, prayer and worship. In just the last week alone, I've personally received at least 7 or 8 emails from people who live in or have family members or friends who live in the Columbus area that are interested in our church plant - thanks much to Lee Powell and CedarCreek Church for taking time during their weekend services last week to plug Rock City. So many have responded since that plug - including at least one student from OSU!

Every day we're meeting new people. Every day we're hearing the same story through a different and unique set of lenses - There is a spiritual unrest, a deep longing for something real, something true, something genuine and authentic. This community, like most others I imagine, is not interested in the status quo - not interested in repeating what's already being done - We're interested in something new, something fresh, something outside of ourselves, something authentic and true - something creative and compassionate, something powerful and inspiring, something with meaning and life, something of value - something that only God can create.

If you're interested in finding out more about Rock City, we want to meet you.

Our launch team meets again on Sunday night, October 17th. We're also kicking off several new lifegroups before then - a great way to connect with others and grow spiritually.

So here's to a new church for the city of Columbus! Here's to a fresh start, a new beginning! Here's to stepping into what God has already begun and reaching the unchurched and spiritually restless in our community! Here's to getting our hands and feet dirty - to being the church! And this is just the beginning!

Cookout at Scioto Park

2010-08-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday's Cookout at Scioto Park was a lot of fun. There were quite a few new faces, which is always exciting. The kids (and Chad) became professional crayfish catchers. We celebrated a birthday. And, played a couple mean games of volleyball. Not to mention, John and Chad continue their imputable reign as corn-hole champions. What a title!

Jeromy's Story

2010-08-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

For most Christians, the day they accepted Christ is a memorable moment - one that is etched in their memory bank forever. For me, that moment was a Sunday in April of 1991. I took off on a spiritually fulfilling journey that truly was mind blowing and I was filled with the Holy Spirit and decided to share that faith with others. So I did.

But what happens if a person stops seeking that daily walk with Jesus and grows comfortable in their faith? What happens if complacency creeps in and instead of living like Christ, we live like those around us who don't even know Him nor have a relationship with Him? Well, what happened in my case is that I no longer looked like a true Christian and I certainly wasn't living the life Christ wanted for me. So, multiply my story by thousands and thousands of comfortable Christians and what you get is a picture of the church today.

So here I was, just several weeks ago. Being a good husband, a good father, and a generally trying to do good. But God has never given up on His plans for my life. In fact, He brought in Kristin's and my life new neighbors. Through Chad and Katie, I am seeing a vision of what today's church should be. It's about community and it's about a genuine faith in Christ and allowing that love to spill out into the surrounding communities. I can tell you that we, as Christians, are called to be a light that gives light to the world. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us clearly that we are to be a light for others so that they will praise our Father in heaven. That is where Rock City is heading!

At the first launch team meeting, Chad said it clearly - This church will be built on the bedrock principle of Loving God and Loving Others. Only God knows what Spring 2011 will bring, but this group being assembled to launch Rock City can agree on this: the people living in and around Columbus are looking for something that only the power and glory of God can provide. I have a feeling that I am a part of something great and I look forward to the journey I am taking with the Rock City community. We hope you can be a part of it too! It won't just transform the lives of those around us; it will transform your own faith as well.

Jeromy Rose
Launch Team Member
Rock City Church

First Launch Team Meeting

2010-08-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

On Sunday night, August 15, Rock City Church had it's first launch team meeting in Columbus.

Just eight weeks ago, we moved our family from Toledo to Columbus, only knowing a few people in the city. We were joined by several others, who also moved from Toledo, each leaving their jobs and families and friends to pursue God's call on their lives to be a part of this brand new church plant.

Just a few days into our move we met our first set of neighbors, Jeromy and Kristin. I think from day one we both knew that they were going to be a part of this journey with us. And that's exactly what's happened. We we've also been joined with so many others, people that, until just a few weeks ago, we had never met. Now, suddenly, we're dreaming together, praying together. Dreaming of planting a life-giving church for the city of Columbus. Praying for God's divine purpose revealed. Dreaming of impacting a city and making a difference.

It's always amazing to hear people's stories, particularly in the way that God uniquely works in people's hearts and draws the most unlikely crowds to join what he is already doing, what he has already been doing since the beginning.

And it's always humbling to think that God has chosen us. A group of ordinary people, who, until just a few weeks ago, had never met. And that God, in such a short time, in such a powerful way, can unite hearts as one and birth something beautiful right before our eyes.

I am amazed by what God is establishing here in Columbus. I am amazed by the caliber of people he is drawing together in this moment. It was a powerful night. One I won't forget.

And this is only the beginning...

Chad

A Church Re-Presenting

2010-08-16T10:08:00.000-07:00

Groundbreaking research by the Barna Group several years ago revealed that, among 16 to 29-year-olds, the perception of Christianity is anti-homosexual, judgmental, hypocritical, too political, sheltered and proselytizing. Statistically, of the emerging generation of Americans, the percentage of people claiming the Christian faith is a mere 4%. Wondering about the drastic decline we're witnessing in the American church and these overwhelmingly negative perceptions, what should the church look like? How should people perceive us?

I think Jesus was painting a picture of what the church is supposed to look like when he was speaking to his disciples in John 6. Jesus said,

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

What's he saying? He's saying that he came to show people the love and grace of God. And he's painting a picture of the church. The church exists to re-present Jesus to the world, to show people the love and grace of God. Why then, when people look at today's church, do they see judgment and hypocrisy? Abuse of power and arrogance?

It's easy to say that it's not our problem, but theirs. It's much more difficult to listen to what Jesus says here,

"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day."

He takes ownership for every single person who looks to him. He understands that the will of his Father is that anyone who looks to him would not be lost. And sure, the church isn't Jesus. But it is his establishment. It represents him. It re-presents him.

So what do we have to do to take on the mindset of Christ and be known for our compassion and love and grace instead of all of this other nonsense?

Life-Giving Church

2010-08-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

This past week was quite the experience as I, along with 5 other church planters, attended Basic Training with ARC at New Life Church in Little Rock. Until my time spent at New Life, "Life-Giving" was just a trendy, over-used phrase thrown around by the ARC staff and emerging church plants. Was I ever wrong!

It's amazing how I, along with so many others, even in the midst of planting churches, have become so disillusioned with "church" as to think that "Life-Giving" is more believable as a catchy slogan rather than a genuinely "authentic" descriptor. I suppose, there is always a bit of disillusionment for every entrepreneur. It is, in fact, what makes an entrepreneur entrepreneurial: there's a problem; we've got a solution; there is an urgency. And the problem, or in our case, the reason we feel such urgency to plant "Life-Giving" Churches can be seen in every nook and cranny in culture. We need churches. And more than that, we need "Life-Giving" Churches. Everywhere!

So what is a "Life-Giving" Church? What does it look like? Here are two things that I took away from the Basic Training that I believe must shape our church if we are going to be the "Life-Giving" Church God has called us to be:

A Life-Giving Church is Relational
It's about people. It's about connecting people to God. It's about empowering people to be the church. What's the catch? It takes a secure leader to lead a Life-Giving Church. A Life-Giving Church multiplies. A Life-Giving Church promotes. A Life-Giving Church is relational to the core. Loving people. Empowering People. Promoting People to do the work for which they have been uniquely equipped by God to do.
A Life-Giving Church is led by the Holy Spirit
What does it look like to be a Spirit-led church? Is it possible to "do church" without the power and presence and constant leading of the Holy Spirit? I'd say so. Is it also possible to neglect the work and leading of the Holy Spirit by refusing to plan, promote, think creatively, innovate and organize? I'd say so. A Life-Giving Church is Spirit-led, completely reliant on the leading and creative inspiration that only the Holy Spirit can bring. That means, church can be creative and innovative, well-rehearsed and organized, all thanks to the Holy Spirit at work in every step of the process. It also means that church can be not only inspiring but powerful in a way that comes only by way of the Holy Spirit. He is, after all, our only hope, the One who leads all men to God.

A Life-Giving Church gives life. It is people driven and completely reliant on the work and leading of the Holy Spirit.

And if you want to be a part of the launch of a Life-Giving Church in the Columbus area, we'd love to meet you. Email us and let's connect over coffee, on us!

Next Step: Basic Training

2010-07-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Our next step in the ARC process is to participate in a week-long ARC Basic Training Initiative July 24-28 in Little Rock, AR. We'll be coached on personal leadership, structural and financial systems, communication, assimilation and marketing, and a lot more, as well as connect with dozens of fellow ARC church planters from around the country.

Our launch team is growing. We are adding new members to our team weekly. We are excited about what God is doing here in Columbus and how He is adding to our team. Continue to pray for us as we have begun the process of locating a building!

Chad

Learning Customer Service from Chicken

2010-06-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

I had the most incredible experience on Father's Day, but I don't think it had as much to do with Father's Day as it did with good old fashioned customer-first service! We put in an order for some barbecue-grilled chicken at City Barbecue to pick up at 6:30. A few minutes later we decided it'd be better to wait and pick it up at 8:00, after the kids were in bed. We called back and changed the time. When I got to City Barbecue to pick up my order, it wasn't ready. For whatever reason, they didn't write down our new time. Worst of all, they were out of chicken breast (not a big deal for me, but Katie likes the white meat).

This is when things really took a turn (for the best).

The girl working the counter, Jennifer, didn't blame me for the mix-up. Whaaat? Matter of fact, she didn't blame anyone. She simply said that she was sorry and that for some reason they didn't see the time change on our order. And before I could formally respond with a dirty look or the deep huff of disappointment that usually follows such news, Jennifer let me know that our entire order was on the house. AND, that I could order whatever I wanted from the menu to replace the chicken breast. AND, that she was giving us a free order of their signature dish beef brisket AND a free order of pork brisket. AND that she was throwing in several sides for us to sample AND three coupons for free meals plus desert with NO expiration date. Whaaat!

After that, I imagine I looked pretty silly standing to the side of the ordering counter with the biggest smile on my face. It was like Halloween and I just hit the jackpot. A few minutes later she asked me if I wanted anything to drink (on the house) while I waited. And as I stared down the huge pot of freshly brewed iced sweet tea, I said, "No thanks. I'm okay."

And that's when it hit me! I was just treated so generously; I just experienced such great customer service that I actually felt bad taking anything else, EVEN the most blessed beverage on the face of the planet, freshly brewed iced sweet tea. I have never turned down a glass of sweet tea, that is, until now.

You may be wondering, what does this have to do with church? Why are you wasting time blogging about City Barbecue instead of something more, churchy?

Well, that's because it has everything to do with church. When was the last time you left a church feeling as good as I felt walking out of City Barbecue with a bag full of barbecued heaven? When was the last time you treated someone so kindly, so over-the-top generously that they just couldn't take it anymore?

The entire ride home, with the biggest smile on my face, I just kept thinking, "Can we be that kind of church? Can we be so kind and loving, so over-the-top giving and generous that it would surprise the socks off of people? Make them smile until it hurts?"

I sure hope so.

New Look

2010-06-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

A special thanks to Shelley Provenza at threetreesstudio.com for creating our new look!

The skyline she used in the logo is original to Columbus. The center piece is the 47-story Art-Deco-style LeVeque Tower, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Columbus and home to the Palace Theater.

The red arch she featured is also symbolic. One of Columbus' nicknames is the Arch City and red (crimson) is the color used for a pretty significant sports team...hmmm

Well, enough with the details.
Tell us what YOU think!

This is the Day! Say it with me.

2010-06-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

One thing I've learned these last few months is that God's timing is perfect! It's funny how, when we pray prayers like, "God, lead us to the right place in the right neighborhood at the right time, we still complain along the way every time we don't get the thing we want at the time we wanted it. Katie and I have literally looked at close to fifty houses and condos in the last thirty days. As closing day on our home in Maumee neared, the stress of finding a home in Columbus grew. Then, the day after we closed on our home in Maumee, we not only found the right place in the right area, but God confirmed to us His blessing in a most divinely profound way.

Saturday, we walked into our last appointment of the day and met with the homeowners, Stan and Carol. Up to this point, we had never been offered a contract on the spot. The housing market in Columbus is booming, so competition is heavy. We would hand in an application and then wait for the homeowner to contact us. But this appointment was different. Within just a few minutes of meeting Stan and Carol, they told Katie and I that we could walk away with keys in hand, at the price we needed, and that we could move in this week. We drove through the neighborhood and were amazed at the number of young families out and about. The pool was full of young adults and young children playing, people were out walking their dogs and firing up their grills; we were sure this was a prime location to begin our church. It had everything we were looking for at a price we could afford.

After talking through the details and deciding we would move forward with the property, Stan, the 72 year-old homeowner, surprised us when he said, "Before you sign the contract, I want to pray a blessing over you and your new home." Katie and I looked at each other a bit surprised, then I said, "Go ahead, let's do it now." As we stood there in the kitchen, Stan began to pray, in Hebrew! I had no idea what he was saying, but it was as if God Himself was standing there, speaking to us. I watched as Katie's eyes began to swell and I fought hard to hold back the tears. Actually, I was slightly trembling. It's hard to describe a holy moment. It's just, holy. When he finished I asked him to interpret what he prayed. He said, "God has sent you here."

After one of the most trying and difficult years of my life, after 9 months of waiting for our home to sell in Toledo, and after months of searching for a home in the city we knew God was calling us to, those words cut through us to the core..."God has sent you here".

"Actually", Stan said, "The Hebrew way to pray that prayer is to sing it to a melody." And so, Stan began to sing, words of comfort and of peace, of sanctification and confirmation. This is the song of his prayer -

"Blessed art Thou O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe; Who brought us here and sanctified us to this day."

Less than a few hours before meeting Stan and Carol, I posted a Twitter and Facebook update that read, "This is the Day. Say it with me." After hearing Stan translate that prayer and seeing the words, "To this day", I was certain God had spoken. And when God speaks, an amazing thing happens. We feel so small and insignificant, yet we feel such love and empowerment. Our uncertainty and doubt are overtaken by His perfect will and love. When God speaks, you just know it. You can't explain it, but it's a game-changer. You can't make this stuff up. We were witnesses to a miracle.

God's will is perfect. His timing is without flaw. It doesn't always make sense to us, but it's all we need, to know that we are His and that He has called us to play a small part in His beautiful and masterful plan of bringing redemption to creation!

I thank God for His confirmation and blessing. It's in times like there when I even hesitate trying to imagine what God is up to, knowing the limits of my imagination and the limitless greatness of our God. But I do know this, God is up to something! And we are right where we are supposed to be!

Austin Bauman will be the second to relocate. He moves Thursday. Jenn Woods and Randy Newman just signed a lease for their first apartment. They move in the end of June, after their wedding. Katie and I with Morgan and Macy move Saturday, followed shortly after by Stephen and Jodie Laing. Pray for Stephen and Jodie's home to sell here in Toledo.

I suppose one of the good things about looking at fifty houses was that Katie and I got to meet 50 homeowners and realtors, and everywhere we went we told them our story and about Rock City Church.

I want to thank you again for your prayer and support. Thank you for standing beside us as we seek God and build a new church for the city of Columbus. Thank you for your friendship and encouragement. May God continue to bless you and your families.

God is good! Say it with me.

Chad Fisher

Founding Pastor

Exponential Part 3 of 3 - The Holy Spirit

2010-05-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of talk in Christian circles about being an "Acts 2 Church". But what is an Acts 2 Church? What leadership model did the Acts 2 Church use? What church did they borrow from before imple-menting their small group strategy? Were they Missional or Attractional? And did they even know that they were an Acts 2 Church? Did they set out to be an Acts 2 Church?

It's interesting the amount of benchmarking and model swapping and idea stealing that goes on in the church world. We all do it. We read the latest and greatest book, grab the next big idea, slap the newest sticky word on everything we do (Missional) and then wait for the next latest and greatest book to come out so we can start all over again. We watch other big churches to see what they're doing. And we piece meal our strategies together, a little from here, a little from there, and then wonder why we always end up in the same place - waiting for the next latest and greatest book to come out, again.

What did the Acts 2 Church know? They certainly couldn't have gleaned ideas from other churches. They were the first. What did the Acts 2 Church have? They certainly did not have extensive manuals and leadership models and the latest and greatest small group curriculum.

What then, did the Acts 2 Church have?

1. The Acts 2 Church had "Jesus' Teaching".

And more than that. Most of them walked with Jesus, were right there with Him. They not only heard His words first hand; they felt His touch, they breathed in the scent of His clothes, they shared of the same bread and drank of the same wine. They were intimately connected with the Son.

2. The Acts 2 Church "Witnessed the Resurrection".

Not only were they with Him in life as He lived and taught; they were with Him in death as He suffered and saved. Then, after witnessing the death of their Savior, they were with Him in His resurrection and viewed first-hand the fulfillment of His promises afterward witnessing His ascension from earth to heaven as He promised the Holy Spirit.

3. The Acts 2 Church had the "Power of the Holy Spirit".

Perhaps what we most lack today is a true understanding of the work and power of the Holy Spirit. We easily pray, "Lord send Your Spirit; Let it have it's way." When in fact, the Holy Spirit is not an IT; the Holy Spirit is a HE. And we often misunderstand the Holy Spirit's leading. Perhaps more in certain circles than others, the Holy Spirit is viewed as a pocket genie. Rub Him when you need Him and He'll open up that front row parking space, get you a sweet deal on a new car, and make you a millionaire.

I suppose Jesus got everything He asked for, it just happened to be a front row parking spot on a rough wooden cross with huge, heavy nails forced through His hands and feet to make sure He didn't lose his spot. And He worked miraculous miracles through the same power that lies in us today, but they were always for other people, not Himself. And thinking back to His baptism, right after the Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove and His Father God announced that in His Son He was "well pleased", the Holy Spirit didn't lead Jesus into a position of honor but into the desert to be tempted by the devil for forty days. Some initiation that was! Thanks Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit isn't an IT, He's a person. And He is powerful. He is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and He has been given to us until Jesus returns. He is our counselor, our comforter, our best friend, our guide to all truth, our power to overcome all sickness and disease and every temptation and sinful desire.

We don't lead the Holy Spirit and make Him do what we want Him to do. He leads us. And often into difficult and ugly places. Without Him, there is no formula, no leadership model, no small group curriculum and absolutely no amount of skill or leadership ability that can build an Acts 2 Church. There is only one way to be the church that God intended for us to be. That is,

We must be intimately connected to the Son,

unshakably emboldened by His Resurrection

and abundantly led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The FIRST to Relocate!

2010-05-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

Molly McCall is the first member of the Rock City team to relocate to Columbus (Dublin Area). We helped move her in to her new apartment on Thursday and spent the weekend there helping her get settled in. She starts her NEW nursing job at the Doctor's Hospital in Hilliard on Monday. How exciting!

Katie and I hope to join her soon. Please pray that we can settle on a home this week. We have our heart set on a certain place - just waiting for God to open the door. Until then, I'm sure Molly will enjoy a little peace and quiet and time to herself. Pray that God will continue to open doors for her and for the rest of our team as over the next few short months we all make the big move!

Exponential Part 2 of 3 - Missional Church

2010-04-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

When Jesus was asked by his disciples which is the greatest commandment, He replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. Everything hangs on these two commandments."

Jesus modeled for us the perfect church, the perfect leadership style. He loved God with all of His heart. He loved people so much that he suffered on their behalf. And to prove it, to show God and people the endless bounds of His great love, He did what few are willing to do - He made himself second.

As the church, we should be gratefully thankful that we've been invited into God's family and given an opportunity to work in His Kingdom. We should respect and honor what has been given to us, this abundant life and Kingdom work. And we should be responsiblewith how we handle it and with what we do with it.

We've geared our weekends and outreach ministries as "in-house", "all-you-can-eat buffet", "one-stop-shop service centers".

Interesting Jesus never chose a mountain or hand-picked a temple to make His job easier by sending mass emails and posting giant billboards along the donkey trails to get the people to come to Him. If anyone could have been successful at one-stop-shop ministry, Jesus could have certainly done it.

Fish & bread? Jesus will hook you up!

Prosthetic leg? Forget prosthetic, He'll get you the real thing!

Trouble with Demon Possession? One word and out they go!

Jesus didn't make the people come to Him. Not to say our churches can't be attractional. Jesus certainly knew how to both attract and wowa crowd. But He was always on the move. And He expected his followers to do the same.

So what does missional look like? That's simple. It looks like loving God and loving people - all people.

Ed Stetzer summed up the Missional Church as movement - A missional church should 1. Serve Locally, 2. Send Nationally, and 3. Adopt or Serve a People Group Globally.

Movement. Action.

If Satan had a strategy to derail the church, what could that strategy possibly be? Perhaps it could be to get the church more internally focused than externally purposed - buildings over people.

If we really walked our city streets, I think it would be nearly impossible not to become missional. Problem is, we don't. We walk the halls of our churches instead. If we truly became outward focused and asked God to break our hearts for what breaks His, I think He'd do it. Problem is, it'd mess up our schedules and suddenly Sunday School classes and softball tournaments would seem a bit irrelevant.

People need Jesus. They also need some practical needs met. And they need to see Jesus in action, through us, His church.

If we really loved our neighbor as much as we love ourselves, what would life suddenly look like for us? What would we keep for ourselves? What would we demand be given away? How would our time be spent? Where would our money go?

Francis Chan said it best when he addressed the financial commitment he and his church had made - If we truly loved others as much as we love ourselves, we'd give as much to others as we keep for ourselves. The church Francis Chan pastored now gives 55% of it's entire budget away. That wouldn't even cover facility expense in most churches! That surely wouldn't cover staff and salary expense in most churches either. Yet, they're doing quite well.

Jesus met both the physical and spiritual needs of the people he met while traveling. He didn't make people come to him. He went to them. And whether it was food for the hungry, healing for the sick or counsel for the emotionally troubled, Jesus did it all.

I guess the point is this.

Remember how Jesus first officially introduced himself to the people of Jerusalem- He rode into town on a donkey.

Then what did He do?

He got off his donkey and got to work.

I think it's time we did the same.

Exponential Part 1 of 3 - Move & Multiply

2010-04-26T08:03:00.001-07:00

Katie and I spent the last week in Orlando at the Exponential Conference. It was amazing. There were more than 3,000 church planters present. What a joy to stand along side these men and women who are stepping out into cities across the nation to plant churches. It's a surreal feeling to be apart of such a family.

If I had to narrow it down to three things we heard more than any other during Exponential, here they are: (I'll post the first today and two and three later this week)...

1. Move and Multiply. You're running late. You finally found a parking spot. You're running with luggage in hand and stand in the long line to get your boarding pass. Finally, pass in hand, you step almost immediately into the next line, only this line is moving even slower. You're looking at your watch, hoping you'll catch a break and actually be able to board your flight on time. It's not looking good. The person in front of you sets off the alarm. Security is called. Everything is delayed. Clock ticking, you finally make it passed the security and continue running to the terminal.

You've got less than 5 minutes before the plane is supposed to depart. You arrive at the terminal with just a minute to spare. You fear it's too late. You pause for a moment and notice that the room is quite full, actually packed, and no one seems to be rushing. You glance out the window and notice your plane is still sitting and no one seems to have boarded. Actually, the tarmac is full of planes. No planes are taking off. The terminal is getting more crowded by the minute. People are beginning to get angry. It's getting stuffy. Frustration swells. Every seat is taken. People are standing against the walls and in the isles. It's chaotic. You now wish you hadn't rushed. You're angry too.

An airport is not the destination. In this case though, it appears that they think they are. An airport is a means of getting people to where they want to go. When an airport becomes the destination, planes grounded and terminals full, people get angry.

What a picture of the church. The church is not the destination, yet it appears that many churches believe they are. All of the effort goes into attracting people to our churches, rather than sending them out. And even though the airport scenario plays out much more directly, people in churches that have become the destination will in time become just as frustrated, even if they are unable to pinpoint the exact reason. Why? Because we were made to multiply. It's deep inside the heart of every Christian, this thing that says, "It's not about us; it's about them." The disciples were called to take the gospel into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and into all the earth. When they didn't, when they seemed to be content just sticking around Jerusalem - welcome persecution. That created movement. And guess what, no one looked back either. It's what we're called to do. Move & Multiply.

Things get ugly when we stop moving and multiplying. When our focus becomes centrally geared around attracting people to our church, more than making and sending out disciples, be ready for a holy shake up. Persecution is right around the corner. If we don't send out, God will stir things up and get the job done himself. Church split? What!

It's impossible to remain comfortable. We must be about the Father's business. It can't be about us. It has to be about them. Them, who are out there. Them, who must be reached by sending, not building bigger buildings and hoarding resources and gifts placed within our churches. Most likely, they were given us in the first place to give us the opportunity to join God in His movement and be apart of sending those gifts and resources into the world for His Kingdom's sake, not ours.

Another great night at gtHOP

2010-04-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

It was another great night at the Toledo House of Prayer. The room was full, as it was last Saturday night. We prayed, worshiped and God continued giving new songs and melodies as we set aside our agenda and followed His. I believe there were 4 worship leaders from the city that shared the night, each bringing something special and unique. Join us every Saturday at 8pm. Or stop by any time from 8-midnight. People come and go. Feel free to come or go as you please, even if it's just for a few minutes. You won't regret it. God is definitely doing a new thing!

There's a camel on the highway!

2010-04-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

It is nearly impossible to put into words the sheer devastation and hopelessness that has gripped the poor nation of Haiti. Nearly every structure has been destroyed or severely damaged. Very few have been able to return to their homes. Most live in small shanties constructed by debris and scrap metal. Clean water is hard to come by. Food is even scarcer. The corruption of the government continues to cripple the people. Food and supplies donated and sent from around the world remain undistributed in mass storage units. Very little has reached the people. People fend for themselves. There is very little aid reaching the people. What the media portrays is not what we saw during our short stay. The need is simply too great and the workers, too few.

In a nation where voodoo devil worship clearly reigns, it is not surprising to see such oppression and affliction. Yet, there is hope. As we traveled through the ruin, we were captivated, as are many of the Haitians, by what we saw. Homes, schools, businesses, government buildings, the presidential palace...all lie in ruin. Block after block of broken concrete, most of the nation's infrastructure destroyed.

Yet, to see a church in ruin was like spotting a desert camel on a well-traveled Ohio interstate. Not every church survived, but most did. Clearly, among the structures that survived, churches are at the top of the list. It has been the church of Haiti, not the government, meeting the needs of the people. It has been the church of Haiti, not the international aids groups, providing medical care and treatment, food and clean water for the people.

The church we worked with is called Light Ministries. It's pastor and his wife have lived and ministered in Haiti for 28 years. Of the more than 1,200 members of their local church, only two people lost their lives to the earthquake, though most of their member's homes were leveled. Five days a week they hold worship gatherings at their home with several hundred participants. They have seen multiplied hundreds of new converts since the devastation took place. God is on the move. There is, in the midst of great despair and hopelessness, an unexplainable hopeful and healing current sweeping through the nation. The standing churches are offering hope. It is not difficult to see that God is at work and people are noticing.

Our project was to reinforce Light Ministries' worship center, which houses the free medical clinic and weekly worship gatherings, paving the way for even more Haitians to discover the hope of Jesus in a time when most hope seems permanently lost.

I'll leave you with one last thought. A thought I have carried with me since experiencing the raw, abandoned, pure praise and worship of a people who have lost what little they had -

Perhaps they are not the unfortunate ones. Maybe we are. Have we pushed God aside to the kingdom of our comfort? Is our worship pure, abandoned and exuberant or luke-warm, second-thought, filling a weekly time slot?

Our fortune has blinded. Their misfortune has enlightened.

Haiti has a unique opportunity. They have little to lose. Oh, how blessed they are, that God would shake their nation at its' core in order to draw their attention to Him. You say, "How can you say God caused such a terrible catastrophe?". I say, "How can you say He didn't?".

Either way, He is capturing the attention of a nation. There has begun an outpouring of His Spirit. A regeneration of a people.

Shall we even consider crying out to God,

"Oh God, would you shake America?"

"Would you bring us to our knees?"

"Would you get the attention of this people?"

"Would you restore what is lost and hopeless?"

How desperate are you?

Hey Columbus!

2010-04-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Last night as our core group met together, one of the guys shared with us this scripture from Romans when Paul was writing to the people of Rome. As he read it, he said, "If I could say one thing to the people of Columbus, this is what I'd say"...

"I thank God for every one of you. That's first. People everywhere keep telling me about your lives of faith, and every time I hear them, I thank Him. And God, whom I so love to worship and serve by spreading the good news of His Son, knows that every time I think of you in my prayers, which is practically all the time, I ask Him to clear the way for me to come and see you. The longer this waiting goes on, the deeper the ache. I so want to be there to deliver God's gift in person and watch you grow stronger right before my eyes. But don't think I'm not expected to get something out of this too! You have as much to give me as I do you!" Romans 1:8-12 [Message Bible]

House of Prayer

2010-03-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

This Saturday from 8-9pm, I will be leading worship at the Toledo House of Prayer on the corner of Byrne & Airport Hwy. I was asked by a friend to lead worship last week at the same time and was pleasantly surprised by the richness of the atmosphere, the unity of worship and diversity of participants. It was a pleasant and surreal night, refreshing to the core. If you'd like to worship and pray with members of our team and others from around the Toledo area, join us this Saturday night at 8pm.

Chad

Haiti

2010-03-27T11:01:00.000-07:00

We just returned home after spending 10 days in Carrefour, Haiti assisting an organization called Light Ministries. Pastor Terry and his wife have been living in Haiti with their 3 adopted Haitian sons for 28 years. We helped to restore what little damage their church structure received from the earthquake, preparing it for weekly worship services and for the daily free clinic they offer to the community.

When I say little damage, I should qualify it with this observation - It appears that among the enormous destruction unleashed on Haiti, the churches stand, virtually, unscathed.

Government buildings, schools, homes, offices, hotels...destroyed. Churches standing.

The pastor's home stands in the midst of surrounding rubble. It's as if his entire block was thrown into one giant heap of broken concrete, while his home stands without a crack.

I'll be blogging more of my thoughts about this experience in the days to come. We traveled without laptops and quite frankly, worked so hard while we were there we hardly had time to reflect and really internalize what we experienced. As I take a few days to pray, reflect and make sense of my experience, I hope to share with you some of the things I saw, learned and felt.

Stories from the Short North

2010-02-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

We spent a few days in Columbus this week...

We set up shop in the Polaris area at a really cool new hotel called Cambria Suites. If you're visiting Columbus, I'd recommend this place.

Anyway, we focused a lot of our time in the Short North arts district. It's situated between downtown Columbus and OSU. Just passing through, it's easy to overlook its glamor and appeal, but after parking our car and trekking through the snow we found it to be everything it's cracked up to be, and then some...

The Short North is overflowing with young, creative and innovative artistic types. Trendy and diverse dining opportunities, impressive art galleries, sweet coffee shops, local boutiques like What the Rock and Milk Bar...Let's just say, Stephen fell in love with the place and was wishing he had worn his blue mo-hawk! It's definitely the kind of place that's thriving with potential - a seemingly untapped market if you will.

As we walked along the street, appreciating the rich, dynamic culture that was oozing from everywhere, a friend of mine said, "Intelligent and creative people just don't like church - Church is just not smart and it's most definitely not creative".

It got me thinking. How can we, as a church, tap into the creativity and artistic passion of a place like the Short North? How can we engage the artistic community and provide outlets for them to use their talent within the church? How can the church partner with these people, these shops and support their creative passion? Maybe it's a lost cause. Maybe they're just not interested in church. Maybe it's like my friend said, church is just not smart or creative enough.

Then we met two guys that ran a sweet fashion boutique right in the heart of the district. As we combed through their unique selection and carried on a semi-casual conversation with the two owners, the question finally came up -

"So what are you all doing in Columbus?"

"We're starting a church", I said.
"What kind of church?", they asked.
"A different kind of church", I added.
"How's it going to be different?", they inquired.

We just kept it rolling. They were intrigued, interested, maybe even a bit inspired.

After a few minutes, one of the owners told us about a very prominent church in the area. He said at least 8 or 9 of his friends went there and that they all played instruments and were apart of bands and stuff in the church. I asked him if he ever went with them. His response -

"They never ask me."

"It's weird", he said. "They go to church all the time. And they're never like, yo, you doing anything tonight? You want to come to church with us? I'm always doing stuff, hanging out. Honestly, I'd go if they asked me to, but they don't. So I don't have any idea what that church has going on."

"We'll, I'm officially and personally inviting you to our church", I said.

I couldn't believe it. We left, I got their business cards. And I was at a loss for words.

For too many churches, community has become the mission. A bunch of people from this church or that church all get together and hang out, in community. They do things with each other, in community. When community becomes the mission, its easy to forget the people who are on the outside of your [church] community.

When community becomes the mission, we lose. They lose too.
We all lose.

Rather, community is a result of mission.

Mission is what drives community. Mission is what creates community. Community isn't then, a bunch of people who just want to hang out. Community is driven by people on a mission, the same mission, which brings them together, in community.

So what kind of church will we be?

Our mission is what drives us - to be a church for God, the city & the world.

Our mission is to see the lost and the hurting, the hopeless and the oppressed, the seeking and spiritually restless meet Jesus. That's our mission. And we should always be doing our mission.

The moment we just want to start hanging out together because its fun and safe, we need to hang it up, close the doors and not pretend to be a church.

A church is a community driven by mission, a mission to seek and save the lost. And the more we do the mission, the more our community will grow!

Moving Forward

2010-02-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

Katie and I spent a few days in Columbus, during the BIG snow...looking for a house, talking to people everywhere we went about the church plant and getting a feel for the city. I am excited to say that quite literally, every person we talked to about our church plant was excited about it and wanted more information and to be kept in the loop.

Speaking of keeping people "in the loop", here are a few updates you should know...

Church Name / Logo
We've been surveying people from the Columbus area as well as interviewing people on the streets during our last few visits to help us finalize our new church name. In the meantime, we've been working with a design firm to create our logo and website. We hope to announce the new name in a week or so. Stay tuned!

Feature on Rethinkmonthly.com
"This is Just the Beginning", a short article from my blog, was featured on rethinkmonthly.com and a full length article is being reviewed and considered for their up-coming print publication. What an incredible opportunity to talk about what God is doing with our team and in Columbus! Follow the link and show your support by posting a comment. The more traffic we can drive to the site, the more opportunity we'll have in the future to be featured again! http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/2010/02/this-is-just-the-beginning/

Haiti Update
Our planned trip to help with Haiti relief has been temporarily postponed. We are currently waiting for a much needed X-Ray machine that we will take with us to the hospital where we will be serving. Please continue to keep the people of Haiti in your prayers.

Intercessor Prayer Team
We have begun to develop a list of intercessors that will commit to praying daily for our leaders and our church plant. If you would like to be part of our intercessor prayer team and receive regular prayer need updates, email us at ColumbusChurchProject@gmail.com

Full Circle

2010-01-20T20:08:00.000-08:00

I spent the evening at Pastor Tony Robinson's church in Sandusky. Pastor Tony was my first youth pastor. He used to drive me home from youth group every week and spend hours upon hours with me talking about God and the Bible and imparting spiritual insight and wisdom. I have always appreciated that season of my life. He is a selfless and Godly leader.

He invited me to speak at their Wednesday night service. It felt surreal. It was ten years ago, in that same building, where I heard God's voice and felt the call to start a church. It was there, ten years ago, that Katie and I stood in the back isle and God revealed to us a vision of reclaiming a lost generation, a picture of the reawakening that's about to take place in which young people, from every walk of life, every background and every denomination will come and be re-energized in God's presence, re-focused and re-committed to living out their faith in Jesus.

It's that vision that's driven me these past ten years and it's that vision that drives me into the future. What I know is this: we haven't seen anything yet! Sure, God's moved in some unique and powerful ways these last few years, but I am convinced that what we've seen so far is only the beginning! God's about to unleash something huge! Something Biblical! I just hope and pray that He allows us to play a small part in it.

Joining the Effort in Haiti

2010-01-15T21:11:00.001-08:00

Columbus Church Project, Inc.
A Church for God, the City & the World.

Our hearts have been deeply moved by the tragedy that has devastated the people of Haiti. As a team working toward planting a church in the Columbus area this year, we realize that to be only a small part of our mission. Yes, we are building a church for the city of Columbus, but more importantly, we are building a church that honors God.

A church that honors God is a church that responds when calamity strikes. A church that honors God is a church that cares beyond its walls; a church that loves beyond its borders; a church that moves beyond its city limits to bring hope and healing to the hurting and oppressed. Haiti is in dire need of hope and healing. It's time to respond.
To Donate Directly to the Haiti Relief Fund [Donate Now]

Pray for Haiti.
Pray for our safe travels.

Live Work Play Columbus

2010-01-14T09:31:00.000-08:00

Check out this video from liveworkplaycolumbus.com
We've found this site to be a great resource while trying to get to know the city!

Join our Church Launch Team

2010-01-11T13:28:00.001-08:00

If you'd like to join our Church Launch Team,

the first step is to get connected.

Send us an Email and you will be added to our E-News mailing list.

What is The Church Launch Team?

It's a team of family, friends and locals willing to support us through prayer and short-term financial commitments as our core team is sent out to the Columbus area this Fall to plant a NEW church. Sign up for our E-News Letter and you'll be contacted this week with up-to-date information on the church plant as well as with a list of prayer needs.

Our team thanks you for your support!

Worship with us Sunday Night!

2010-01-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

This Sunday night, January 10, we invite you to worship with us. Meet our team and hear the vision of the Columbus Church Project. Did I mention there's gonna be incredible worship led by Chad and our awesome worship band? If you know someone on the team or want to know more about what God is leading our team to accomplish, or if you'd just like to enjoy a night in God's presence with a bunch of ordinary Christians expecting God to do the un-ordinary, we'll be waiting for you!

Boulevard Church of Christ in Sylvania is allowing us to use their facility for this special night.

The night starts at 6pm.

Invite a friend and be inspired.
A NEW Church for a NEW Decade is on the RISE!

7041 Sylvania Avenue
Sylvania, OH 43560-3527

A NEW church is born.

2010-01-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

Today marks a historic moment. On this first day of the new decade, a core group of nearly twenty gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg to dedicate themselves to the mission of Christ by committing to plant a NEW church in the Columbus area this year!

Tonight, the Columbus Church Project was born.

As the first decade of the new millennium passes, reflection of past events and hopeful vision for the future was the discussion of the night. A look back at the last ten years brought for many memories of joy and happiness. For others, memories of pain, loss and sorrow. It hasn't been an easy 10 years. America has had some of its greatest challenges since its' birth.

The American church has seen better times as well. In the past decade, we've seemed to have arrived at a point in history in which it appears impossible to reverse the trend of an emerging post-Christian America. But even still, as we look ahead, we are hopeful. Hopeful of a brighter future. Hopeful of a re-awakening, a spiritual revival, a nation's return to Jesus.

What has the message of the church been these past 10 years? "The Church is in Decline", "Only 4% of this Generation are Bible-believing Christians", "There exists a mass exodus of young people ages 18-34 leaving the church", "The American Church is Dying".

What an opportunity that stands before us! In the darkness, how much brighter the light of Christ can shine! And so we begin on this first day of a new decade the journey of our lives.

Our goal; to be a church for God, the City and the World.

To reclaim a lost generation, standing in the gap for the 18-34 year olds who are mostly absent from the American church. To create an environment by which people are energized in the presence of God and His Spirit, committed to loving one another sacrificially in community as a city within a city and focussed on completing God's mission by taking the gospel to the ends of the earth and the hope of Jesus to the hungry, lost and needy.

If you are interested in supporting the Columbus Church Project in any way, we welcome you to worship with us on Sunday evenings at 6pm beginning Sunday, January 10. The location will be announced one week prior. Our projected launch date in Columbus is Fall 2010.

"To Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen!" -Eph 3:20

Chad Fisher

For more info, follow this blog and/or email columbuschurchproject@gmail.com