Recently, I had the privilege of seeing someone come to faith in Christ, and the church world seemed complicated for him and there was little that he thought it offered.  We went out to eat a few times to talk about his basketball program that was reaching kids, and eventually I challenged him to think about how these kids need direction outside of basketball, like a mentor.  I said that my church would be willing to help in any way we could, so he said I could volunteer coach a few teams to get to know the kids.  I also took a mission team and invested some time in his facility through clean up and organization.  One day he told me, “The kids need what you do.”  I believe that was the first clear sign that God was drawing him to Christ through seeing the church serve him with no strings attached. 

We met off and on for 8 months, talking about life, sports, parenting and I would always relate it back to something I learned in my own life while trying to follow Christ.  Eventually, almost a year and two months after we met, he came to me and said that he knew he needed learn the Bible better because he felt God was calling him to engage youth through more than basketball, but also through the message within the Bible. Now, we are planning to start a church that will teach kids and their parent’s basic life-skills which will open the door to the Gospel. 

He shares, “I was lost! I had no spiritual direction. I truly believe the Lord has been talking to me, but I was afraid that if I accepted Christ; I would have to live right.  I have always been a good person, but did not understand that wasn’t going to get me into heaven…. I stopped running!  As a husband and father, I had to set the example.  I have to show my sons that it’s alright to worship the Lord.  I have to show my daughter what type of man will be better for her.  And becoming a man of God; will make me a better husband to my wife.”

by Matt Jones

You're invited to kick off New City, an urban church on the west side of Cleveland. God is doing a new thing in inner city Cleveland.

"We at New City are real people.  When you come to New City, you will see real people just like you, who have good days and bad.  But you will also see that there is: No judgement.  No clicks. No religious fronts.  All are welcome at New City, a church for real people, learning to lean on God and community."

Saturday April 19th

7PM in the West Tech Lofts

2201 West 93rd Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44102

New City

Some of you might be asking Church of the Hills,  "Who are you and why are you here?" Quite frankly, it's alright to ask these types of questions. Simply put, we are a community of people who seek to be passionate Christ-followers by creating an environment where we can connect with God, one another and the world. Helping people to become growing, passionate Christ-followers is not a program of the church, it is the reason for our existence. Jesus was not in to programs or processes. He created an environment, a climate, a culture where he taught His followers what it meant to be a Kingdom citizen by loving the Father, loving others and the world. Jesus created a climate, a culture and an environment where He modeled these values.

Life can be confusing and messy! It is our desire and passion to keep what Christ held dear to His heart simple! Christ engaged his life in connecting with His Father, with one another and with the world. It is our mission to model what Christ did on earth and what He calls us to be as Kingdom citizens...disciples or learners.

Church Planting Highlight: Matt and Stacy Jones

Names of family members

Matt
Stacy
Joanna

Location

Cleveland, OH

When will you graduate?

I plan to graduate from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the fall of
2010.

Please briefly describe your ministry.

First and foremost, I am a missionary. My ministry involves developing
indigenous leaders in a way that brings about transformation in their lives
and in the lives of those around them.

What are your primary responsibilities in your ministry?

My primary focus is to make disciples that will impact the city of Cleveland
and its East Side suburbs known as “the Heights.” I also assist our
Baptist association in coordinating a regional disciple-making strategy
with NEO360. NEO360 is working through prayer, compassionate service,
and church planting to be a catalyst for a city-reaching movement in
Northeast Ohio, North America, and the world.

How did your church planting training at Southern help you in preparation for your work on the field?

Southern offered a solid theological base from which to work out how the
gospel must answer the deepest questions and meet the greatest needs
of any city and its people. Without the gospel, the church has nothing
to say. In particular, taking classes in church planting gave me a rich
perspective on North American church planting throughout history and
contemporary methodologies.

What is the greatest blessing received since you have been involved in church planting?

I have been blessed to see God transform people. There is no greater
joy than seeing the gospel penetrate all aspects of a person’s life and
transform him or her into an agent of change that advances the kingdom
of God into areas where it is most needed.

What advice would you give to those who are wondering if God is calling them to be involved in church planting?

I would encourage them to experience different approaches of church
planting in differing contexts. If you feel comfortable presenting the gospel
to multiple types of people regardless of their race or class and can
effectively equip multiple types of people to reach others, then church
planting will likely result from your efforts.

Regarding church planting, what counsel would you give to those who are called to serve established churches?

You must pray and believe that God could call anyone in your church
to plant a church. It is easy to unintentionally structure your ministry
so that it excludes people from feeling empowered to share their faith,
so attempt to expose your people to different methods of sharing the
gospel. Show your congregation that the gospel can be shared over coffee,
while meeting a physical or monetary need, or through addressing
current events such as global warming. People who can truly articulate
the gospel in a variety of ways will likely be able to see a vision God may
have for a new church in a given area.

New City Church lives to be real, relevant, and relational by sharing life daily with Clevelanders; In order to show and share the realities of God's love and forgiveness.

New City exists to be real, relevant, and relational with the gospel that will transform Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, Educational and Economic Poverty, through the lived and preached gospel of Jesus Christ.  By providing hope, help, and healing through discipleship and community partnerships for the restoration of the Cudell community and the greater Cleveland area.

 
Meet Preston

On November 9th, NEO360 (Northeast Ohio) held a meeting to cast a vision for a group of business leaders in Northeast Ohio.  Al Weiss, President of Worldwide Operations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Chairman, Vision360, shared the vision for church  planting. During the meeting at The Union Club, the captain of the serving committee, Preston Smith asked what the purpose of the meeting was.

Guy Stevens, Executive Director of NEO360, explained that they were the Church of Cleveland gathering together to create a movement of Kingdom advancing church planting.  Through casual conversation, Guy had the opportunity to ask Preston if he went to church, and if there had ever been a time in his life that he had made a faith commitment to Christ.  While the meeting was going on, Preston accepted Jesus Christ.

Later during the meeting, Preston stood up and told everyone that he had placed his trust in Jesus and was going to live a life worthy of God. Since that meeting, Preston's life has radically changed.  "Jesus has changed my life in a couple ways...the way I look at, appreciate and live my life.  Mr. Stevens gave me a book called I Have Been Born Again, and that's true.  I look at people in a different way.  I judge people differently, and I'm a lot more calm and willing to reach out a helping hand at work and at home."During the following weeks, Preston met with Guy Stevens for discipleship, and later he connected with Matt Jones, a church planter in Cleveland Heights.  Preston continues, "I believe in Jesus and I have the Holy Spirit with me.  As long as I read the Bible and believe, I'll continue to grow.  God is teaching me how to be a better man at home and in the workplace."

"We believe God has given us a vision for NEO and invited us to participate through Vision360," says Guy.  "Our steps have been confirmed by a soul being transformed through the  power of the Holy Spirit right before our eyes!  All of us who network with Vision360 seek to share with others that Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself.

That message in us will cause us to be a catalyst for  a city reaching movement in the entire world - starting in the dining room of The Union Club - with a hungry soul called Preston Smith."     

written by Amber Holmes
aholmes@neo360.org