Our Story
All
of us came to seminary as brightly enthusiastic church people; content, in many
ways, with the ministry that lay ahead of us, excited for what seminary would
give us, looking forward to careers spent serving the
church much in the way our forebears did.
However, it became clear to us as we went through our first year of seminary that something didn’t fit. The call that we thought would give us such life was instead drying us up. The life that used to have such purpose now seemed a hollow reflection of our sick world with a religious gloss.
At the same time, we began to find each other. We started a covenant group and discovered that God had placed the same burning discontent on all of our hearts. As time progressed, we came to the realization that God was calling us to be faithful in a different way.
During our discussions we found that God moved amongst the four of us in a way that went beyond mere synergy. God had put the same passion upon each of our hearts, had equipped with diverse personalities and gifts for a ministry team, and had given us all a desire to live in intentional community. In community, we can live our faith 24/7, hold each other accountable, and better reflect God’s vision for we all ought to live with one another.
As we read, prayed, went on retreat, and talked, a vision emerged; one where we would live in intentional community, and be Jesus to our communities in a new way for a new age; a way that eschewed the trappings of our materialistic society, a way that intermingled our lives with the last and the least; a way that lifted up Christ to those who thought that church had nothing to offer.
And so here we are, tying our dreams to reality. We’re examining what our call means in concrete terms. We’re searching for allies; people who will advocate for us, pray for us, and stand by us. We’re developing a concrete vision for what this new church will look like on the ground. We’re visiting places and praying; looking for a community we can give our lives to.
Here we are, birthing new church into reality.
However, it became clear to us as we went through our first year of seminary that something didn’t fit. The call that we thought would give us such life was instead drying us up. The life that used to have such purpose now seemed a hollow reflection of our sick world with a religious gloss.
At the same time, we began to find each other. We started a covenant group and discovered that God had placed the same burning discontent on all of our hearts. As time progressed, we came to the realization that God was calling us to be faithful in a different way.
During our discussions we found that God moved amongst the four of us in a way that went beyond mere synergy. God had put the same passion upon each of our hearts, had equipped with diverse personalities and gifts for a ministry team, and had given us all a desire to live in intentional community. In community, we can live our faith 24/7, hold each other accountable, and better reflect God’s vision for we all ought to live with one another.
As we read, prayed, went on retreat, and talked, a vision emerged; one where we would live in intentional community, and be Jesus to our communities in a new way for a new age; a way that eschewed the trappings of our materialistic society, a way that intermingled our lives with the last and the least; a way that lifted up Christ to those who thought that church had nothing to offer.
And so here we are, tying our dreams to reality. We’re examining what our call means in concrete terms. We’re searching for allies; people who will advocate for us, pray for us, and stand by us. We’re developing a concrete vision for what this new church will look like on the ground. We’re visiting places and praying; looking for a community we can give our lives to.
Here we are, birthing new church into reality.