Amplifying the stories of the citywide Church.

It’s a long-standing axiom that we must always be exploring new ways of sharing the Message of Christ without changing the Message itself. The Message -the Gospel- is timeless, while our methods are often time-bound. This requires both a faultless fidelity to the Scriptures; particularly the teachings, works, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as an acute awareness of the culture and context of our intended audience. This necessitates a committed heart, a keen un

On May 19th, local business leaders are invited to The Stewardship Table, a new initiative launched by The Freedom Collective. The leaders of the Freedom Collective, who participate in the For Columbus Anti-Human Trafficking Network, desire to pour into the business leaders by creating a gathering where they can find community and wrestle through some common challenges. The goal is to provide a space for leaders who: See their work as a calling, not just a career Integrate fa

The process of fostering a deeper creative Christian community in Columbus has been a slow journey, but its fruit is now popping up all around us. More than ever before, believers all over Columbus (and beyond…more about that later) are connecting to discuss their work, share inspiration, and explore how faith gives us new eyes to appreciate what God has made — and is remaking — in our great city. Christ is glorified when His people behold Him in all His beauty and share tha

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20, NIV Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28 stands out as a blueprint for every believer. We are to go into the world a

Driving through downtown Columbus, you can easily find century-old church buildings that have been transformed into cafes, condos or concert venues. While the buildings still serve the community, it's disappointing to see them used as something other than sacred spaces. So, when a small congregation struggles to afford the upkeep of their large building, what options do they have? How can they ensure that their spaces will continue to be used for Kingdom work? In Columbus, mo

An annual highlight for For Columbus, the One City Summit took place on March 5 at One Church in Gahanna. Around 400 people attended this unifying event where pastors and church staff, nonprofit professionals, and working Christians gathered for equipping, networking, and taking action to collaborate for the good of Columbus. Three keynote speakers shared their wisdom on the theme of "Together for a Flourishing City. Bishop LaFayette Scales , founding pastor of Rhema Christi

The role of men within Western society has been under intense scrutiny from many sources and sectors for some time now. While this has left men to feel hard-pressed and lost, spiritual dynamics are also at play. Men generally don’t understand what it means to be a man in a society that largely doesn’t appeal to a source of ultimate truth outside of the self. Without personal choice being formed and guided by truth, everything becomes subjective, and malaise and malformation b

I am grateful to share that Rich Nathan has joined the staff of For Columbus to lead a new Pastoral Residency Program, launching this fall! For many in our city, Rich is synonymous with decades of faithful leadership at Vineyard Columbus, where he served as Senior Pastor and helped shape one of the most diverse and missionally engaged congregations in our region. But beyond titles and roles, Rich has quietly and consistently invested in people — across denominations, cultures

Although they come from different backgrounds and serve in distinct contexts, Amy Sherman , Bishop LaFayette Scales , and Alan Platt share a common conviction: human flourishing is at the heart of God’s vision for our communities. Each, in his or her own way, has devoted decades of leadership to exploring what it means for people, churches, and cities to thrive—not merely through strategy or structure, but through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Keep reading to le

Last week, For Columbus hosted our annual Network Leaders Day Away for all those currently leading cause or neighborhood networks, as well as those exploring leading one. Historically, hosting this significant gathering in the winter hasn’t provided too many challenges, although with the record snowfall this year, our venue and breakfast caterer weren’t able to be available for the event as planned. At short notice, Discover Christian Church (Dublin) offered a venue to gather

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." - Mark 12:17 In an era where immigration discussions often become polarized political debates, the church in Columbus has an amazing opportunity—and a biblical mandate—to rise above the fray and respond with the heart of Christ. This isn't about taking political sides; it's about recognizing the divine calling to love our neighbors as ourselves, regardless of their immigration status or the complexities of our curr

"Worship must be the heart of the church because Christ is the head of the church." – H.B. Charles Jr. It’s typical for human networks (or really networks of any kind) to trend toward complexity and specificity over time. We as humans beings do the same- from the womb to the height of our personal faculties in adulthood. If healthy, we develop physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We grow, we mature, and we enact our God-given gifts, within our specific sphere of

Dear friends and partners in the work of strengthening families, God is stirring something significant in Columbus. Across our city, we see the challenges facing families—but we also see leaders like you who are ready to respond with courage, compassion, and conviction. That’s why we are launching the For Family Network , a new collaborative effort of ministries, churches, and business leaders united to restore and champion God’s design for families in our city. We have been

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

Why “For Columbus” Must Capture the Imagination of Every Christian Leader By Nick Nye When N. T. Wright writes that “the whole point was never for your soul to get to heaven, but for heaven to come to earth,” he’s reminding us that Jesus didn’t start a religion of escape — He announced a Kingdom of embodied renewal in front of us. Wright states, “The unity of the Church is supposed to be a sign to the powers of the world that Jesus is Lord and they are not.” This insight c

Kindway is a discipleship ministry that works with incarcerated men and women, preparing them for release and supporting their transition into the community. Executive Director Christine Money and Director of Development Communications Juan Martinez discuss Kindway's approach to discipleship, which involves getting to know people, asking questions, and creating a safe space for them to be genuine.

On November 1, thousands of Franklin County families are scheduled to lose access to their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. About 1.4 million low income Ohioans, including 179,611 Franklin Country residents depend on SNAP benefits, according to data provided by the county. Almost half of this total, or 83,561 individuals, are Franklin County children. The good news is that local organizations are stepping up to stand in the gap for families in need.

At the heart of The Ohio State University, a new initiative is taking shape. Carmen House is a Christian Study Center that launched just six months ago, and is designed to help students and faculty explore how their intellectual pursuits connect with their faith. Carmen House Founder and Executive Director, Aaron Badenhop, also serves as a part-time lecturer at The Ohio State University in the GenEd Bookends program. He is an OSU alum and served on staff with Cru OSU for t

It’s Pastor Appreciation Month, and by extension, it’s an opportune time to love your pastor’s family well! Your pastor’s spouse and children can powerfully experience the love of the Father through congregants like you, so don’t miss out on opportunities to bless them not only this month, but every month. Be compassionate- The pastor’s spouse is often a volunteer who is involved in the work in some capacity, but we shouldn’t expect them to know or do everything related to t

Rich Mendola didn't come from a Christian family, and had never been discipled. But he received an uncommonly clear vision to mentor others, eventually leading him to a lifetime of discipling international students. His steady faithfulness has yielded impressive fruit the world over.