From within political structures, schools and education boards, workplaces, social services, and other realms of city life, the gospel earns a hearing and makes a difference.
And in the end, great joy comes to the city.
As we work through these issues in the context of a new church plant that gathers in a movie theater and scatters all week long, we’ve developed a bit of a philosophy about how we want to transform northwest Arkansas in a positive way.
Specifically, we want to …
Plant a church that makes the good news both visible and audible to our community.
Scatter throughout the community as small groups that grow spiritually and serve practically.
Live the gospel, love people and share Jesus as individuals.
Bring down the cultural barriers that keep ethnicities separated on Sunday mornings.
Partner with the city’s governmental leaders to address real issues that affect local residents.
Partner with local charitable organizations, Christian or not, that address problems like hunger and homelessness.
Partner with local schools to improve education, minister to teachers and help hurting families.
Partner with other local churches in kingdom-focused projects.
Multiply as individuals, as small groups and as a church through new worship services, venues, locations and autonomous daughter church plants.
Minister to the hurting, the broken, the mentally ill and emotionally unhealthy through counseling and recovery ministries.
Support families, not by replacing parents as disciplers, but by supplementing and aiding parents in the discipleship process.
Is there more? Sure. This is not some to-do list or official statement we’ve adopted. And it’s not comprehensive. It’s just a list of priorities that I, as lead pastor, am thinking through continually.
I love northwest Arkansas with my whole heart. I loved living in Kentucky, and I definitely loved the humidity-free beach culture of southern California. But the Bentonville-Rogers area is my city. It’s my home, and I want to bring great joy to every neighbor I possibly can.
Today, after the morning service was over, a single Mom came to let me know that after struggling to feel at home in any church setting, she and her daughter agreed they had found a home at Grace Hills. I love that! That’s the joy of just one person who finds life in the gospel and in a church family.
May that joy spread and not stop spreading until Jesus comes again!
