Project Church Promo

Love this montage my homeboy Cory put together for Project Church.

Somethings in Life are hard to understand… from Project Church on Vimeo.

Tags: project church, video

Project Church Reflections (video)

Some reflections following Saturday night’s gathering at Project Church.

(RSS readers: Click here to view the video)

Tags: Church, Church Planting, missional church, project church, video

Project Church Weekly Update (11.14.08)

Saturday Nights @ Six | Alternative Fuel Coffee House | Downtown Rapid City

We’re changing things up this weekend at Project Church and you don’t want to miss it!

The first thing we’re changing is this week’s message.  We’re going to pause our current series, “True or False” and this week we’re going to look at the vision of Project Church. Where are we going? How are we doing? Why do we do what we do?  If there’s ever been a week to check us out for the first time or invite friends/family who might dig us, this is it.

We’re also adding a new element to our weekly gathering called, “Stories.” It will be a brief Q & A between me and someone with a story to tell. This week, we begin with story from a dude who’s recently connected with Project Church.   We’ll chat and then he’ll share his story with a song.  I’m really looking forward to it. If you or someone you know have a story you think others should hear, shoot me an email.

Some other items to note.

• Be a Facebook Fan of Project Church here.  There are some special goodies there so check it out.
• This Christmas season, we’re taking part in something called The Advent Conspiracy. More to come.
• There will be no gathering on Saturday, November 29 due to the Festival of Lights parade downtown.  This is a great city-wide event and I hope to see you there. We’re back in action on December 6.
• If you’re interested in helping out this weekend, be at Alternative Fuel at 5:30pm on Saturday.

So join us Saturdays night @ 6pm at the recently-expanded Alternative Fuel Coffee House in downtown Rapid City (next to the Firehouse Brewing Co.).  Bring a friend, grab a coffee, enjoy some live music, and discover more about Project Church.

Tags: Church, project church, Rapid City

Who is Jesus?

This week at Project Church we’re looking at the question, “Who is Jesus?”  Here’s a little video from our friends at Vintage21 to wet your appetites.

Tags: Christianity, Jesus, project church

The Story So Far

It’s been almost two months since we kicked-off gatherings for Project Church and the question I’m asked most is, “How are things with Project Church?”

Overall, I’m pumped about Project Church.  It’s humbling to be a part of something special.   We set out to be a church for people who don’t dig church (at least church as usual).  And week by week we’ve had explorers join us and some even come back.  All the while we’ve been true to the Gospel.  That’s what we wanted to do.  Be big on Jesus, big on people, and for us all to live the lives we are meant to live.  I’ve definitely been blessed and have had some profound high’s.

I’ve also felt the low’s.  And since one of our values at Project Church is authenticity, I’m going to share some of them with you.

My heart breaks more now than it used to
I want so badly for people (and myself) to live full lives by following Jesus and it breaks me to see us choose otherwise.  I truly love my church and have quickly seen the need for prayer and have had the fuel for loving yet strong teaching.  This weight isn’t a bad thing but it’s a reality that I live with because I want to see people live the lives they were meant to live.

I take things more personal
Not saying it’s right or wrong, but I’ve definitely been bummed when people don’t return to our gatherings.  Not so much the churchy people, but the ones who really need a church like ours. I don’t want to lose missed opportunities and I think we have. And when our strongest supporters can’t be there, I find it’s not quite the same.  There’s something about their support that really encourages me.

Momma said there would be days like this
Pretty much all of the things I’ve been told I would experience as a church planter have come true.  The week we had a $2 total offering followed by a $0 offering was tough. Especially with a $750 rent payment to the coffee shop.  Thankfully, God provided.  I’m also getting used to criticism. Not a week goes by that I don’t hear of some false rumor about me and my church by other Christians.  That really ticks me off and is often followed by discouragement.  Thankfully, my wife is there to cool me off and stand by my side.  I’m learning to deal with it, but again, it’s not easy.

But don’t feel sorry for me.

The truth is I love starting and leading this church.  I’m so blessed to not just have a calling but am able to live it.   Seeing the person who crossed the line from explorer of Jesus to follower of Jesus makes it all worthwhile.  Seeing people step into a church gathering who never would otherwise makes it all worthwhile. Watching people grow into the people God meant them to be makes it all worthwhile. The growth I’m experiencing personally makes it all worthwhile.  And knowing that I’m part of something much bigger than me makes it all worthwhile.

If you’re leading another church (or preparing to) please know that you’re not alone in this.

If you’re a part of another church, please pray for your pastors and do whatever you can to help and encourage them.

If you’re a part of Project Church, I love you and am so thankful that you’re a part of this with me.  God’s called us to reach a community and become a community.  We need you to help make Project Church the church Jesus had in mind.

The story of Project Church is just beginning…

Tags: Church, Church Planting, project church

Project Church Weekly Update

Have you ever wondered why God would allow suffering? I know I have.  And this week at Project Church we are going to explore that question further as we continue on in the series, “True or False” where we are examining some of Christianity’s most common questions. This is an important message for anyone who has ever gone through difficult times (which is all of us).

Here’s what’s on deck for the rest of the series:

October 18 - Does God Exist?
October 25 - Is the Bible True?
November 1 - Why Does God Allow Suffering?
November 8 - Who is Jesus?
November 15 - What’s the Truth About Heaven & Hell?
November 22 - Why Don’t Most Christians Act Like Jesus?

Other News and Announcements

• This week we are going to have some special music by Shawn Michael Shoup.   He’s quite talented and I think we’re in for a treat.
• On Saturday, November 29, we will not have a formal gathering due to the Festival of Lights Parade downtown. There will be thousands of people downtown that night and I encourage you to be a part of it and connect with others in the city.
• We will be back on track December 6 when we begin our new Christmas series, The Advent Conspiracy.
• If you would like to help out at the gathering, show up at Alternative Fuel at 5:30pm and we’ll get you plugged in.
• If you’re interested in exploring Scripture further, I encourage you to check out this article I wrote for our church titled, “A Divine Conversation.”
• Did you know we’re on Facebook?  Be a fan here. It’s another way to get to know one another.  We’re also launching a MySpace page if that’s how you roll.
• If you’re on Facebook, check out this cool video that Cory Church (one of our Projectors) put together for Project Church.
• Don’t forget to vote!

Missional Communities
Soon we will kick-off our missional communities.  This is the primary way we connect with others within Project Church and live our lives on mission together. These smaller groups of people (8-20) provide an opportunity to develop relationships with others and live out the rhythms of authentic community. If interested, reply back to projectchurch@gmail.com.   We will have more on this soon.

So if you’re in or around Rapid City, join us this Saturday night @ 6pm at the recently-expanded Alternative Fuel Coffee House in downtown Rapid City (next to the Firehouse Brewing Co.).  Bring a friend, grab a coffee, enjoy some live music, and explore Christianity’s most common questions with us.

Grace & Truth,

Jason

Tags: project church, Rapid City

This Weekend @ Project Church

Happy Friday Everyone!

This week at Project Church we explore the question, “Is the Bible True?” as we continue the series, “True or False” where we are examining some of Christianity’s most common questions.  This is an important message for anyone wondering if they can trust the Bible.

Here’s what else is on deck for the rest of the series:

October 18 - Does God Exist?
October 25 - Is the Bible True? (This Week)
November 1 - Why Does God Allow Suffering and Evil?
November 8 - Who is Jesus?
November 15 - What’s the Deal with Heaven & Hell?
November 22 - Why Don’t Most Christians Act Like Jesus?

Missional Communities
Soon we will kick-off our missional communities.  This is the primary way we connect with others within Project Church and live our lives on mission together. These smaller groups of people (6-20) provide an opportunity to develop relationships with others and live out the rhythms of authentic community. If interested, reply back to projectchurch@gmail.com.   We will have more information on this soon.

Join us Saturday night @ 6pm at the recently-expanded Alternative Fuel Coffee House in downtown Rapid City (next to the Firehouse Brewing Co.).  Bring a friend, grab a coffee, enjoy some live music, and explore Christianity’s most common questions with us.

About Project Church
The idea behind Project Church is to be an authentic community where people can belong before they believe. Where we can wrestle with doubts, explore why Jesus is such a big deal, and take next steps in living the life we are all meant to live.

Tags: project church

Project Church Musings

• I heart Project Church!
• We began our “True or False” series by looking at the question, “Does God exist?” Incredibly humbling to teach on that but I got some very good feedback from some explorers saying it helped them.
• Next week we tackle the question, “Is the Bible true?”
• One of our Projectors fell 50 ft. in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado a couple of weeks ago and broke her back and wrist.  Yet she made it to our gathering on Saturday night.  That’s pretty amazing.
• We will begin our missional communities soon.  I’m very excited about that and the fact that we have a few leaders for them.  More to come on that.
• Went to a pub on Friday night and determined that it would make for a sweet 2nd venue for Project Church.
• I think I’m the oldest person at Project Church and I’m 30.  I take that back, my parents are.
• We have so many needs its not even funny.
• I have a lot to do so I suppose I should stop blogging for now…

Tags: Church, Church Planting, project church

True or False: Exploring Christianity’s Most Common Questions

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” - C.S. Lewis

This weekend, Project Church begins our new series, “True or False” as we explore Christianity’s most common questions.

No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, there are some major questions most all of us wrestle with.  And beginning this weekend, we will explore some of these together.  Here’s the rundown:

October 18 - Does God Exist?
October 25 - Is the Bible True?
November 1 - Why Does God Allow Suffering and Evil?
November 8 - Who is Jesus?
November 15 - What’s the Deal with Heaven & Hell?
November 22 - Why Don’t Most Christians Act Like Jesus?

Also, immediately following the gathering this Saturday (10/18), we are having a special after-party for those wanting to discover more about Project Church and how to get plugged in.

So join us this Saturday night @ 6pm at the recently-expanded Alternative Fuel Coffee House in downtown Rapid City (next to the Firehouse Brewing Co.).  Bring a friend, grab a coffee, enjoy some live music, and explore Christianity’s most common questions with us.

Childcare is available for children 3 & under, baristas are ready to serve you up a delicious beverage, and when we say, “come as you are” we actually mean it. Wear a hat, wear your comfortable jeans, or get all dressed up. All we ask is that you wear something.

Tags: Christianity, Church, project church