No Perfect People Allowed

For many people the perception of God and the church is that we have to "get it together" before we'd ever go to a church.  We say it in different ways:  "lightning might strike if I walk into a church", or "the roof would fall I if I went to church", and even "you don't know what I've done."

Here's what's great about Christ Church:  perfect people aren't allowed to attend. 

One of our values is that Life is Messy and we're okay with that.  The church is a group of people who come from varied backgrounds and one of the many things we have in common is that all of us are messed up, broken, and imperfect people.  So you're not alone ... we're not alone.  And the church is something you become a part of, not a place that you go to.  We are a group of flawed and forgiven people ... who still mess up ... but love God and his Son Jesus Christ. 

Jesus dealt authentically with people and at Christ Church we will be authentic about our life and our faith.  We're not perfect and we don't expect others to be perfect.  So, just come as you are!

Trust me, God can handle you junk, and so can we!

• If you are interested in being a part of Christ Church once we have our "grand opening" just email us and we'll keep you posted.  
• If you are thinking of joining our Launch Team (people committed to working towards and through the grand opening) email us too, we'd love to get to know you.

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Church Should Be Simple:  Love God and Love People!

-Ben

Connections

What a great weekend for Christ Church.  This was a weekend for connections.  On Sunday night we had a cookout for the people of our "core team" (our first recruits to establish Christ Church) and our "launch team" (people who've heard about what we're doing and want to get involved).  We were able to dodge the rain and have a blast with burgers, dogs, and smores.  The night was filled with conversations, laughter, kids running and screaming, Bob FM, and some kind of yard game that had our insurance guys nervous!  [No injuries reported! :)]

Connections were happening all over the place.  Time and again in the conversations going on around me I heard people discovering their interconnectedness, whether it was related to their children, where they are from, or past job experiences.  And that's exactly what we wanted to have happen.  More than a picnic over a holiday weekend, we wanted the people of Christ Church to connect with each other in a casual and fun environment.  There was no program, no agenda, and no schedule ... just eat, have fun, and build relationships.

Our hope is that Christ Church will be known for our relationships.  Relationships that are authentic - where it's OK to be who you are, without judgements and criticism.  Relationships that have Christ at the core and foundation - where people each day take one more step to understand and deepen their faith in Christ.  Relations that ask questions - where people who are curious, confused, and even critical of the church and Christ, can ask their questions and get real, life-giving answers.

If this is the kind of church you'd like to be a part of, then email us and let us get to know you.  There's plenty of room for more people at Christ Church.  I bet you'll be surprised at the connections you'll make.


Church Should Be Simple:  Love God and Love People!

-Ben

Values Driven

Values drive everything.  

What we value will shape how we live our lives, manage our homes, operate on the job, participate in sports, express our art, and how organizations manage as a business.  Values matter, and not just what's written on the wall.

One speaker once asked, "does what's happening down the hall match what's written on the wall?"  We can say we are about customer care, but when the actions of employees don't carry that value it is untrue for you.  We can say that we value family time, but when we over-stuff our lives or allow our lives to become overstuffed, it doesn't add up.

As a start up church we have the opportunity to build a values based ministry.  We have the opportunity, from the beginning, to create an environment based on our values.  There's no argument of "we've never done that before," because there is no before.   As we invite people to join our launch team (a team of go-get'ers and do'ers who will roll up their sleeves and work for the cause) we will be very intentional about our values.

Values will drive our programming; values will drive our decisions; values will be our filter for all good ideas.  Our church will not be short on people presenting good ideas; therefore, our challenge will be asking if the ideas align with our values.  If not, then it's a good idea that's not for us ... And that's ok. 

If you look at the life of Christ, you can see what he valued - people, redemption, and the confluence of life and faith.  He came to seek and save that which was lost.  The sick need a doctor, not the healthy.  He didn't come to condemn the world but to redeem people to a relationship with God.  He hung out at the watering holes of that day with people who were messed up spiritually.  In fact, he was known for it.  He lived among the people. [Luke 19.10; Luke 5.31; John 3.17; Luke 5.29-30; John 4; Luke 15.2] 

We hope to own those values as our own.  Check out our vision and values page above.  As we continue our start up phase, some of the wording may get tweaked and we may even add a few more lines of what we envision and value; but what we have so far is a pretty good indicator of what we want to be about.

If something resonates with you or is stirring in you as you think of Christ Church of West County, then drop us a line, ask a question, or let us know if you're thinking of joining our launch team.  We'd love to connect with you.

In Christ,
Ben

Church Should Be Simple:  Love God, Love People!

Keep It Simple

Today, twice within the same hour, I was reminded of our desire to keep church simple for our people. Too often we create, with good intentions, ministries and programs to advance our cause only to realize over time that we've lost our heart for our cause and are just managing the programs. The programs become so emotional for people that to stop having one of them causes a lot of heartache and at times, confrontational conversations. We need to be reminded that the programs are not changing lives - Christ is changing lives. 

I realize as we begin to gather people looking for a Simple Church that we will have to be tenacious about keeping our church simple. Simplicity begins with focusing on Christ and then our values. Programs will express our values. When need be, our programs/approaches will change, but our values will never change. We desire a church that keeps it simple: love God and love people.

 If you resonate with that, then drop us a line and let us know how we can connect with you. If you're interested in more information on being a part of our launch team, helping us get Christ Church off the ground, then send us an email and we'll get back to you. We can already see things happening and opportunities to invest in the people of the West County.   Keep praying with us. 

---- A.W. Tozer: "...Every age has its own characteristics.  Right now we are in an age of religious complexity.  The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us.  In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart.... If we would find God amid all the religious externals, we must first determine to find Him, and then proceed in the way of simplicity... We must simplify our approach to Him.  We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few)."

Church Should be Simple: Love God and Love People 

-Ben DiStefano Lead Pastor

Alignment is a Beautiful Thing

As we continue to work at starting Christ Church in the West County, there's a lot of work that needs to take place. Yesterday, as we worked on a project, we had the opportunity to catch up with a couple of really good friends from out of town. Through both of these encounter - one planned and the other unplanned - we were encouraged and reminded that we are on the right path and doing the right thing. I cannot go into all the details, but I will say this: Alignment is a beautiful thing. 

Often we look for consensus or we look for confirmation. As we work on this start up church, I've used the word alignment. We see God aligning hearts, spirits, and values. We see answers to prayers - specific prayers - and take that as alignment. These comments, emails, and stories are a valuable treasure chest for us because we know that there will be days of frustration, challenge, and disappointment in the future. That's natural; it's a rhythm of life. But these stories of alignment are what will keep us centered and focused in those days.

 I hope that you have those kinds of stories, phone calls, and emails saved in a file or written in a journal. These are as much a blessing from God as the word's of Scripture.

• What areas of your life are you questioning or looking for answers?

Keep praying ... keep pushing through ... pray long on these, and begin looking for alignment that is true to God's nature, his word, and his values. 

• Below are two markers of alignment for us. They may not mean much to you, in fact they probably shouldn't. But they are powerful markers for us. 

"I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.' (Joshua 14:7-9 NIV)"

If you'd like more information on Christ Church or discover how to join our launch team, feel free to email us.  We look forward to hearing from you.

-Ben
"Church Should be Simple:  Love God and Love People"

A New Start

My wife, Amy, and I are pleased to announce that we are leading and launching a new start up church in Erie's West County.

For over a year now, we have sensed a stirring in our hearts and spirits to invest in the communities that we love and care about.  Fairview, Girard, Lake City, Albion, and beyond are communities filled with great people.  We feel God calling us to begin a new church that will be another point of light for the West County.  We look forward to working together with the churches and leaders that are already  there and bringing attention to the name of Christ.

There are a number of phases in the life of a start up.  Over the next few days and weeks we will be rolling out more information about our start up and our progress.

• For now we ask that you pray for us as we follow God's leading.  Pray for the people of the West County.

• If you have a heart for God and a heart for the people of the West County, we invite you to pray about joining us.

Feel free to comment below and/or email us for more information.

"Church should be simple:  Love God & Love People"

-Ben DiStefano

Lead Pastor