about

To build a valuable platform that convenes the Church, collaborates around Jesus’ mission, and catalyzes the whole gospel for Columbus.  

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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.

“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. 

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Over decades, Christian men and women in Columbus have longed for, striven in, and prayed for a movement to arise where the gospel is saturating every space of the city. Different groups have emerged that saw a more collaborative church, leaving this generation a legacy of leadership and vision.

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In 2019, the Catalyst team began gathering leaders from the marketplace, local congregations, and non-profits for a series of conversations about cultivating a gospel movement in our city. Current demographic changes were presented, siloed mission in the city was felt, and a deeper resolve for collaboration began to emerge. The four “Leadership Summit” gatherings became a foundation for stepping together into a new season of serving Columbus. 

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Today, the For Columbus staff team serves as a staffing resource to build the “For Columbus” space with the desire to build out new initiatives and cultivate collaboration for our city.

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.

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.

THREE C'S THAT LEAD TO A MORE FLOURISHING CITY.

Convene – Gathering pastors, non-profit directors, and marketplace leaders across denominations, races, vocations, etc to encourage wholistic gospel transformation. (Acts 2:42)

Collaborate – Working together around causes and communities to push out the whole gospel to the whole city. (Acts 2:47)

Catalyze – Stirring up innovative and valuable resources to solve issues that can’t be solved alone. (Acts 2:45)

Because this is a city-wide movement, it requires deep leaders from diverse backgrounds.

ASHLEY CHICKERELLA

Administrative Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS