OUR PURPOSE: why we exist To share the privilege of building a great and flourishing city through the transforming power of the gospel, for the glory of Christ.                                  

       

 

 

   

 

CHRIST CITY CHURCH CHRIST We are an unashamedly a Christian church, meaning simply that we live, teach, and follow in the way of Jesus Christ, who is the center of it all. Our teaching and mission stem from who Jesus was, is, and will be, as well as what he did, does, and will do. This culminates in what we call the gospel: the riches of the grace of God available because of the sacrificial death of Jesus for sinners. We place our highest value on his grace that we have received and desire to give to others. We believe that change or transformation of any lasting kind—in a person, a family, or a city—cannot happen apart from the gospel of grace-- grace that makes us disciples of Jesus.  

CITY We are a family on mission for the good of the city. While we are rooted in the Central West End and consider it home, we work for the good of the entire St. Louis metro area. At Christ City Church we hold a positive, balanced, and Biblically rooted view of the city. We see the city as a great and strategic place for Christ followers to live (go to school, raise a family, work, etc.) and minister today and see its potential for the benefit of human life and flourishing. We are here to seek the well-being of the city and it’s people.

CHURCH We are simply “those called together”. Church is not a building or a service but a community that is measured and shaped by authenticity. Community like this takes demonstrating love in and as the church, marked by humility and confession, listening more than talking, and mirroring the ring of selfless love that exists between the Father, his Son, and the Holy Spirit, as a new family.        

 

   

 

OUR MISSION: what we are about Christ City Church exists to represent and bear witness of Jesus to our city, through building community, serving others, sharing the gospel, and making disciples. We believe we can reach these goals through what we call “Gospel Communities” (GC). While a Sunday gathering is very important to us, we know that the majority of ministry to our city takes place during the rest of the week. Our GCs are groups led by devoted followers of Christ and are the means by which people are cared for, developed, and sent out into the city. These groups will meet regularly to eat together, pray together, study together, serve together, and share life together (Acts 2:42-47). Simply put, we do not aim to add anything new to our lives, but rather, intentionally approach life with the desire to build Christcentered relationships with the people around us. Our focus is our relationships with people in the community in which we live, work, and play.  

 

   

 

OUR REACH: central west end    

     

      The Central West End has a population of about 154,000 people and lies in the heart of St. Louis City. Here, you will find a historic community and much diversity on the socio-economic spectrum. It’s “Urban Eclectic”—meaning there are all kinds of ideas, styles, and tastes of life all brewing within the same pot, competing for attention. Thid is a great a place for the gospel of Jesus to take root. The Central West End is book ended by two nationally renowned universities— Washington University to the west and St. Louis University to the east. It is also the home of two nationally renowned hospitals—St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes Jewish Hospital. Furthermore, Forest Park is our backyard and within it, there is plenty to do—St. Louis Zoo, History Museum, Art Museum, the Boat House, the Muny, the Science Center and much more. The Central West End is also growing. In 2014, the American Planning Association named the CWE as one of the top ten great neighborhoods to live in. It earned this spot for its exemplary streets, neighborhoods and public spaces that add value to communities and foster economic growth and jobs. This has all evolved from years of thoughtful and deliberate planning by residents, community leaders, and planners. Christ City Church hopes to participate in cultivating this growth in the years to come. While there is tremendous good going on in the Central West End, the city is still broken. Like all cities, you will find your poor, downtrodden, and marginalized people who desire to be loved, to be heard, and to be included. Like all cities, you’ll find racial, social, and political tension as well as a clear disconnect within family systems. And like all cities you’ll find petty crime and a handful of people who bring discord towards others. It is our goal to participate in the lives of these people in the hope of bringing restoration to our city.

 

 

   

 

 

OUR IDENTITY: who we are   Family

Creatives

Disciples

 

Missionaries

Servants

 

Family: Because of the family that we are, we intentionally value community with each other. Through Jesus we believe we are children of God,brothers and sisters with each other; the family of God. As a family we see it as our joy as well as our obligation to personally care for the needs of one another—both physically and spiritually. (Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16, 1 Corinthians 12) Missionaries: Because of the grace we have been shown in Christ Jesus, we too have been sent to live beautiful lives, worthy of the gospel we believe, proclaim and partake. Therefore, we are to make disciples of all people within the context of our community. (Psalm 49:1; John 1:14; 20:21: Colossians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21) Servants: Because of the love and example we have in Christ Jesus, we serve. Jesus said, “I am among you as one who serves…” As followers of Jesus, his Spirit calls us to serve in the same humility. This means joyful submission to God and to each other, as well as anyone else God brings into our lives. (Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:12,16; Matthew 5:16; John 12:26) Disciples: Because of the truth God has revealed, we give our minds and hearts to Christ as his disciples. We devote ourselves to the regular practice of spiritual disciplines as a means of growing in grace, training, and equipping each other for the work of the ministry. (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 14:27; John 15:1-17; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:2) Creatives: Because we desire to be good stewards of our gifts and talents, we appreciate and embrace creativity. We believe that taking time to create, work, and restore beauty in ways that reflect our Creator God’s creativity is an important role we have as Christians. (Genesis 1-2:3; James 1:17; Ephesians 2:10; Proverbs 22:29; 1 Timothy 4:14-15)

   

 

 

OUR RHYTHMS: how we live Eat Multiply

Rest

 

Give

Work

 

Eat: We make eating together, as a Gospel Community, a weekly habit. Jesus called us to remember him and his sacrifice for us through a meal. When we eat together, we commune around this truth. It is also a constant reminder of our dependency on God and his provision. (Acts 2:42; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Corinthians 11:17-33) Give: We have been called to give of our time, talent, and treasure to one another and towards our neighbors. This goes back to the promise of Abraham, that through him all the nations would be blessed. We are such a people—the vessels of God’s blessing to those around us. (Proverbs 3:27, 21:26; 22:9; Malachi 3:10; Matt. 6:3-4; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9) Work: We know that the majority of Christ’s followers work in the public square—the ordinary everyday world. As we labor, we contribute towards society and culture and this, too, is the mission of God. The early church did not isolate themselves in a corner and talk about doctrine all day. They got out and saturated their communities with the gospel message—in word and in deed. (Genesis 2:18.15;Ephesians 4:28; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Proverbs 14:23) Rest: We know life can be busy, demanding, and stressful. This is why we believe we are at least to give one day of rest. As God’s people, our rest becomes a decisive, concrete, and visible way of opting for and aligning with the God of rest and provision. (Exodus 20:18; Hebrews 4:9-10; Matthew 11:28; Psalm 37:7) Multiply: We are always pursuing what it means to share the Gospel within our city in order to make disciples who will make disciples. (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:22; Acts 12:24; Hebrews 6:14; Jeremiah 29:5-11)

     

 

 

SUPPORT: we need your help Christ City Church has a 3-year financial plan that includes external giving sources (churches, partners, etc.) and internal giving sources (launch team members, regular attenders, etc.). In the fourth year, Christ Church plans to be completely autonomous from any external giving sources, having its entire ministry funding coming from members and regular attenders of the church. We will be calling our people to be faithful in their Biblical responsibilities to give financially to the local church. We believe the Bible teaches the tithe (1 Corinthians 16). Though we no longer are held to the Law, we believe the standard for our giving, if anything should be higher than that of the Law, as Christ himself taught. In order to meet our 3-year financial plan of $260,000, Christ City Church is looking for churches and individuals to join us as financial partners. We ask that you would consider giving financially for two years as we launch and grow as a church. We understand that some donors give above and beyond, while only some give a little. Whatever the case may be, a one-time gift or a two-year commitment, a large amount or a small amount, we are more than appreciative of any financial blessing we receive. *Years 2 and 3 increase by $40,000 due to staff and facility/equipment needs. Year 1 will be strictly in homes. Year 1: (2015/2016): $40,000 (External), $20,000 (Internal)= $60,000 Year 2: (2016/2017): $50,000 (External), $50,000 (Internal)= $100,000 Year 3: (2017/2018): $20,000 (External), $80,000 (Internal)= $100,000  

$100,000   $90,000   $80,000   $70,000   $60,000  

Internal    

$50,000  

External    

$40,000   $30,000   $20,000   $10,000   $0   Year  1  

 

Year  2  

Year  3    

   

 

Prayer: Below are the three areas we would ask you to pray for:

1.

Words (Ephesians 6:18-19) “Praying.... also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth.” We need the right words, both in casting vision to others and in presenting the Gospel.

2.

Doors (Col 4:3-4) “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word.” We need all sorts of wide open doors to plant Christ City Church.

3.

Discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14) “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Words that come from God are spiritually discerned. We need both an individual and collective spirit of discernment to plant Christ City Church.