|
Coming Together
‘City’ of God
After years practicing law in downtown Los Angeles and years pastoring the residents of Skid Row, Kevin Haah was uniquely qualified to work with Stadia: New Church Strategies (Irvine, California) to plant New City Church.
Haah planted New City, which takes its name from Revelation’s description of a place where people of every background worship together, to reach the varied ethnic and socioeconomic population of LA’s rapidly growing downtown. The new church reaches both the city’s affluent, educated professionals and its homeless and low-income residents.
New City began meeting as a church last spring and officially launched in September with 200 at the grand opening. The congregation meets at the Los Angeles Theatre Center and services include not only a sermon and music but also small group break-outs for discussion and relationship building. The church also offers a complimentary brunch before each service to further encourage new friendships.
The church Web site summarizes Haah’s vision: a community “where people come together not because of natural affinity but because they are loved and accepted for who they are, and in their journey, come to a common redemptive experience through Jesus Christ.”
www.newcitychurchla.com
I Re-Wed
On February 13, Chandler (Arizona) Christian Church hosted a marriage recommitment ceremony for all interested couples. The “semi-formal” event included renewal of vows plus appetizers and wedding cake! Matt Myers, pastor of spiritual maturity, led the ceremony.
www.chandlercc.org
Sing Break
Members of Ken-tucky Christian Uni-versity’s choirs, students from the local East Carter High School choir, plus KCU choral alumni from around the country will perform a gospel concert in Avery Fisher Hall (home of the New York Philharmonic) in Lincoln Center this April. A live orchestra will accompany the concert and Dr. Mark Deakins, dean of KCU’s school of music, will conduct.
www.kcu.edu
Lean and Green
First Christian Church (Newburgh, Indiana) was one of several churches featured in a recent Evansville Courier Press article about churches saving money—and saving the environment—by focusing on “green” alternatives.
In addition to the church’s use of fluorescent lights and insulating concrete, the article includes FCC’s
computerized climate-control system.
“From his office at the church, facility manager Gary Hopwood can control the heating and air conditioning for each room in the 93,000-square-foot facility,” the article shares. “Each day, he looks at the church’s master calendar and adjusts the temperature based on which rooms will be in use. In December, the church’s gas and electric bills were $10,000, and Hopwood said this number would likely be much higher without the building’s green features.”
www.fccn.org
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS:
Surprising and Successful
‘Your Class Ring Could Save a Life’
Helping Victims of Abuse
A New Way to Raise Funds Via Golf
Teaming Up to Spotlight Homelessness
Helping Students Here and Abroad
Adding a Satellite Campus
‘Close Interaction that Doesn’t Fit a Formula’
‘The Best Link Between the Generations’
A Multicultural Model
Inspired by James 2
Putting Feet on Our Faith
Enriching the Neighborhood
Helping in Hard Times
Rooftop Exploit
A Network of Care
‘Training Rooted in Our Movement’
Accomplishing the Mission
Multiplying Blessings at Christmas
Training and Resources
Musical Partnerships
Online Services
More Than an Event
"An Explicitly Theological Agenda"
A Partnership with the Community
Hmong Worshipers Move into Own Place
Coffee with a Mission
Impacting the Community
Encouraging Entire Families to Attend
‘Festival Evangelism’ to Muslims
Growing Opportunities
Church Design Lauded
Prayers and Exercise
Fun Ways to Make Connections
Getting Away with God
A Model for Future Ministry
Florida Gator on the Go
It Never Hurts to Ask
"A Natural Connection"
Working Together in Kenya
New Ways to Serve
A Natural Connection
Following David’s Example
Doing Double Duty
Turning the Tables on the Teens
A Partnership of Churches
Introducing Couples to Christ
Illinois Hunters Feed the Hungry
Major Move Leads to Better Opportunities
11-18-07 -- Multiple Improvements Planned
11-4-07 -- Multiplying Missional Impact
10-21-07 -- The Church Van with ‘Free Stuff’
10-7-07 -- Emotional Times for Missionary Moms, Dads
9-9-07 -- A Place for Prayer, a Place for All
8-26-07 -- Cookouts, Bibles, and VBS
8-12-07 -- Changing Lives in a Day Or Less
7-29-07 -- Reaching Out to Arabs
7-15-07 -- A Second Site with Curb Appeal
7-1-07 -- Developing a Desire to Dig Deeper
6-17-07 -- Growing Leaders
6-3-07 -- Vacation Ministry School, Anyone?
5-20-07 -- Uniting to Serve
5-6-07 -- Real Struggles, Real Solutions
4-22-07 -- The Ministry of Giving Back
4-8-07 -- Cultivating an Interest in Missions
3-25-07 -- Morning Worship for Teens
3-11-07 -- From Preschoolers to Teens
2-25-07 -- From Christian School to Art Studios
2-11-07 -- A Ministry to Parents
1-28-07 -- Reversing the Sexual Trend for Teens
1-14-07 -- An Airline Industry Ministry
12-31-06 -- Partnership in Nebraska
12-17-06 -- Taking Jesus to the Community
12-3-06 -- Musical and Spiritual Training
11-19-06 -- Missions and Mentoring
11-5-06 -- Help for At-Risk Kids
10-22-06 -- Cardboard Catacomb
10-8-06 -- Community Building
9-24-06 -- 'Grace-Driven' Ministry
9-10-06 -- Introducing Skateboarders to Jesus
8-27-06 -- Reaching Families . . . With VBS!
8-13-06 -- Communicating Ideas About God
7-30-06 -- A Ministry of Clothing
7-16-06 -- Strengthening Marriages
7-2-06 -- Balloon Ministry Blesses Children
6-18-06 -- Church on the Move
6-4-06 -- Bold Moves Paying Off for Everyone
5-21-06 -- New Ministries for Hurting Families
5-7-06 -- Sharing Jesus' Love Through Daily Donations
4-30-06 -- Georgia on My Mind
4-9-06 -- Bringing the Old Testament to Life
3-26-06 -- Experiencing Exciting Adventures
3-12-06 -- Connecting God to a Wider Culture
2-26-06 -- Churches Using Dogs for Outreach
2-12-06 -- A Bike a Child Can Call His Own
1-29-06 -- Comforting Those Who Are Grieving
1-15-06 -- Preschool for Teens
1-1-06 -- Servant Evangelism for All Ages
12-18-05 -- How Will Your Church Celebrate Christmas This Year?
12-4-05 -- The Hot Place for Teens
11-20-05 -- Linking Adults with Young People
11-6-05 -- Stories of Successful Partnerships
10-23-05 -- Serving Specific Groups
10-9-05 -- An "At-Home" Mission Trip
9-25-05 -- At Work in New Orleans
9-11-05 -- An Evening to Remember
8-28-05 -- Up, Up, and Away
8-14-05 -- Growing Despite Limited Space
7-31-05 -- Christians Come Together Along Rio Grande
7-17-05 -- Reaching Into Downtown Savannah
7-3-05 -- Considering God's Call to Service
6-19-05 -- Community Involvement Being Noticed
6-6-05 -- Spring VBS Gets Great Response
5-22-05 -- 'We Call It Cyber-Evangelism'
5-8-05 -- Production Company Evangelizing Through Film
|
