about
the vision
UNITING THE CHURCH OF COLUMBUS
TO BE FOR THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Our mission is to accelerate Christian connection, collaboration, and catalytic ministry for personal, Church, and city renewal.
We are cultivating a “gospel movement” in our city. The driving passion is to experience a more unified church that follows in the way of Jesus to cultivate a flourishing city.
the strategy
We accelerate Christian connection, collaboration, and catalytic ministry for personal, Church, and city renewal with these three strategies:
Lead For Columbus – we gather, launch, guide and equip Christian leaders through citywide events and pastoral, cause and vocational networks
Pray For Columbus - we mobilize unified, citywide prayer and worship for personal, Church and city renewal
Celebrate For Columbus - we celebrate stories and strategies highlighting collaborative and innovative gospel work across networks and neighborhoods
the connection
In 2014 over a dozen Columbus pastors from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds took a retreat and mapped out a simple theological vision for WHY we feel burdened to work together for our city. After many edits and hundreds of conversations, we have Columbus’ “Spirit of Agreement” that we hope will serve to draw Christ’s Church throughout the City together.
SPIRIT OF AGREEMENT
In partnership with For Columbus, we are a Gospel community that is a visibly united and sustainable outworking of the Holy Spirit. As unique congregational ministries, specialty ministries, and marketplace ministries, we commit to the transformation of our city by sharing and proclaiming Jesus Christ, pursuing justice and reconciliation, presenting a faithful public witness, demonstrating biblical generosity, and building authentic relationships across all cultural boundaries.
We affirm a Gospel community that is rooted in the whole counsel of God, consistent with the Gospel foundation of the first disciples and other historical city-wide Christian expressions, which is:
CHRIST-CENTERED
We proclaim the life, death, resurrection, and return of the Lord Jesus Christ by faithfully living out the Gospel in word and in deed.
CHURCH-DRIVEN
We mobilize congregations and communities of believers to carry out the Great Commission as the people of God gathered and deployed in the city.
DISCIPLE-LED
We encourage Christ-followers in all spheres of relationship, ministry, and influence with vision, passion, and resources.
CITY-REACHING
We collaborate with Christian leaders and city influencers to discern the city’s needs and work from a posture of humility to demonstrate Christ’s redemptive power.
KINGDOM-REALIZING
We serve to unify the various domains of culture and networks under the Kingship of Jesus Christ in order to experience the flourishing peace for all in Columbus.
"…Jesus is Lord and Christ” -Acts 2:14-41
gospel vision
the story
“For Columbus” is not a new idea, but it is God’s idea. In Jeremiah 29:7 God calls His people to “seek the peace of the city,” and many years later, Jesus prays in John 17:21 that we would experience the unity that he himself embodied as one with the Father.
Organizationally, For Columbus is the result of four unique ministries coming together as one– Mission Columbus (est in 2000), For Columbus (est. in 2011), Catalyst for Columbus (est in 2014), and Pray for Columbus (est in 2014). We all saw strength in unity, effectiveness in collective impact, and Spiritual power in moving together as a unified city movement.
Today, the For Columbus leaders and staff serves to connect the Church, collaborate for Kingdom impact, and catalyze innovated and unified mission across the city. Want to be a part of this story?
the team
Because this is a city-wide movement, it requires deep leaders from diverse backgrounds.
STAFF TEAM
NICK NYE
Executive Director
URSULA KEMP
Director, Pray for Columbus
CHRIS KELLEY
Senior Advisor
ASHLEY CHICKERELLA
Administrative Director
DOUG FRANCK
Advisor, Columbus Discipleship Network
RACHEL SMITH
Director, Columbus Discipleship Network
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SCOTT MALLORY
Highland Real Estate
BISHOP LAFAYETTE SCALES
Rhema Christian Center
CHRIS WATKINS
COhatch
DON WELLS
Wells CPA
DAVE DURELL
George Edward Durell Foundation
DR. WAYNE GORDON
Fairfield Medical Center
DWIGHT MONTGOMERY
National Christian Foundation of Ohio
JESSICA GATTON
Alpha USA