"I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant." - Joshua 24:13, NIV
“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-reaching catalyst.
As For Columbus steps into the future, we move forward with deep appreciation and gratitude for the giants on whose shoulders we stand. These “giants” include all the city leaders, pastors and intercessors who faithfully poured out their lives tilling and sowing the soil of the Church of Columbus for decades. The landscape we enjoy now of healthy relationships across churches, a host of nonprofit initiatives, and hundreds of engaged Pastors and leaders in our city is the result of the rich legacy of unity and city-reaching work we have inherited from our predecessors.
In an effort to honor and to celebrate the incredible work that has gone before us, For Columbus is publishing an ongoing series of spiritual history articles chronicling our spiritual heritage beginning with some of the first missionaries to our state in the 1700s to more recent milestones such as the Billy Graham Crusade in 1993. Visit our stories page here to read more.
In addition to the fertile soil and fruitful initiatives inherited from Mission Columbus and Catalyst For Columbus, the incredible favor and spirit of unity among leaders, stakeholders, and organizations joining this effort testifies to the Holy Spirit’s movement in our city. We all proclaim together: “to God be the glory!” As His hand is truly at work in Columbus, we give all the credit and honor to Him as He leads and guides us in the ministry laying down our lives for the sake of Christ.