Amplifying the stories of the citywide Church.

For whatever reason, high school and college football games always start with a marching band. The outfits, the steps and turns, the drums. What words come to mind when you think of a marching band? Loud, yes. Confident. Happy. Expecting a win! So with the start of the school year just around the corner, how about we begin here in August with a marching-band-loud blare of prayer? Joyful. Thankful. Expectant. Confident that despite all the challenges young people face, God is

Have you ever tried to disciple someone who has such a drastically different life than you that it’s almost absurd? I’m not talking about, I grew up with a one-car garage, and you had two. I’m talking about different cultures, socio-economic statuses, levels of parental engagement, feelings of safety, you name it. And let me say first, I will never pretend it’s not messy and hard. But let me add that I have been so richly blessed in this work that I can’t imagine living any o

It’s not a secret.. you have ‘stuff’ going on in your life, externally and internally, and so do I. We both know that it can often feel like too much. It’s truly good news then to know Jesus has something to speak to (and do, in response to) this reality. Following Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples were locked in a room “for fear of the Jews” and He “came and stood among them and said to them,“Peace be with you.” (John 20:19). After showing them His hands He again said, “Peac

“What is your greatest need right now and how can we help you meet that, even if it’s cleaning floors, sorting back to school supplies, or landscaping for your new space? We just want to serve with you in whatever way helps carry out the mission." These words were a life-giving gift that demonstrate what is possible when over a dozen surrounding churches and community partners step in to serve one another in love in the name of Jesus. The L4 afterschool program is so much m

Welcoming Tom Dixon to the For Columbus Team We've felt the urgency of this moment building for a while now, and we've known it would eventually demand a response. For decades, God has been building a deeply relational network across this city with youth pastors, campus ministers, Christian school leaders, congregations, and nonprofits earning trust with each other, praying together, and actually collaborating instead of just coexisting. We also have an embarrassment of riche

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.'" Deuteronomy 10:17-19, NIV From Genesis 1:28 to Acts 8:1, migration has always played a part in God’s plan. We live in a

In June, we relaunched the For Columbus Worship Network! In the past, we had a similar cohort model that was primarily focused on worship leaders throughout the city. This iteration of the network is inclusive of worship leaders, musicians, and vocalists who serve in their local churches. We were blessed to be hosted by the 104.9 The River radio station, whose hospitality and desire to bless our citywide worship community was a true gift. When we gathered, we shared four thi

People are still longing for and seeking community as much as ever, they are just afraid to seek it in a church setting. Our missional communities provide a space where friendships can be built, conversations can begin, and faith stories can be told. In that context, disciples can be made the way Jesus made them – by walking together.

What a good and beautiful creation the family is! Marriage is a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. A parent’s love for their newborn baby is the closest thing we can imagine to the unconditional love our Father has for us. We see picture after picture in the Word, and the world around us, of how God shows Himself through His design for the family. God lingers on His instruction for families; teaching husbands to love their wives and wives to respect their husbands, tell

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

Disciplemaking isn't all smooth sailing. Even the most experienced and gifted disciplemakers can expect some bumps along the way. Rather than allow this to discourage us from trying, our local practitioners show us that we can learn from these failures and experience God's grace in the midst of it all.

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

Embarking on a life-on-life disciplemaking journey can come with costs. It can challenge us, it can cost us, it can be intimidating to start. But is it worth it? A diverse group of local practitioners weigh in with the fruit they have seen life-on-life disciplemaking bring to their lives.

As imperfect people working in a fallen world, ministry can get messy and discouraging. This advice from tested and effective disciplemakers show us we don't have to remain stuck and discouraged, but we can move forward in faith and see fruit on the other side.