For New Albany Network

What does stepping into our creational mandate look like as citizens of Christ’s Kingdom? This commissioning from our Creator God originates in our identity as ‘image bearers’. Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created man in his own image, in the

image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” What does it mean to be created in God’s image (Latin: imago Dei), and how does that inform our daily existence?

Imminent New Testament theologian, N.T. Wright, sums it up as follows: 

"bearing God's image is not just a fact, it is a vocation. It means being called to reflect into the world the creative and redemptive love of God. It means being made for relationship, for stewardship, for worship—God has put humans like an angled mirror in His world so that God can reflect His love and care and stewardship of the world through humans and so that the rest of the world can praise the Creator through humans.”

In order to fully realize this called as God’s image-bearers, a dynamic, intimate relationship with our Father God is necessary. A lamp sitting on the table is only suggestive of its intended design, but when it is plugged into the wall and turned on, it reveals its whole purpose.

It’s in light of this understanding, we then live into this creational calling by responding to Jesus’ invitation to ‘walk and work’ with Him in every situation of our daily lives. How does this vocation relate to the place in which the Lord has planted us? How do we take up our responsibility in the place we call home? In part, it’s expressed in the ‘oneness’ of God’s people, and how we collaborate for the good, the flourishing (shalom), of the place in which we live. The neighborhood/community networks For Columbus helps form and support are a direct response to our calling as ‘image-bearers’. One of these networks is the For New Albany network.

For years, a number of dedicated Christians have been praying for their hometown of New Albany. They’ve been praying God’s best over relationships, businesses, government, and churches in the region. However, they’ve not stopped there. These committed believers began inviting other Christians, starting with pastors from across New Albany, to gather and pray together, and to collectively discern what the Lord desires for their city. The launch of this new initiative was October 1st, 2025 over breakfast. Another follow-up gathering is planned for January 2026. The vision is to expand the invitation from pastors to all those who desire to lift Jesus Christ up, and to participate in His ‘Kingdom Come’ across New Albany. He has great things in store! When we live out God’s intended desires and designs for our lives and His world, He blesses us beyond our current frame of reference, doing “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us”, demonstrating His “glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

If you’re interested in joining, or sense the Spirit’s lead to launch a Kingdom network across Greater Columbus, reach out to us at hello@forcolumbus.org- we’re here to support what the Lord is doing across our city!