City - Prospectus 06-01-2009

The city church | 0

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for the glory of God and the good of Fort Worth

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coming January 2010

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the city church | 1

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:: CONTENTS ::

Intro p.2Fort Worth p.3Vision p.4Basics p.5Strategy p.6Doctrine p.7-8Timelin e p.9FAQ’s p.10-11Budget p.12Partners p.13Involvement p.14Appendix A: Fort WorthFact Sources p.15Appendix B: Fort WorthZip Codes p.16Appendix C: Acts 29 AssessmentResults p.17-19

The city church | 2

:: INTRO ::

HOWDY!

Thanks for your interest in The City Church, a new church community coming to downtown FortWorth and to neighborhoods across the city over the course of 2010! In 2008 we started askingthe question, “what would it look like if Christians in the heart of Fort Worth

LIVED AS

thechurch, instead of just

GOING

TO

a church?” The simple answer was that it would look“different.” That summer we began walking through the process of church planting, and foundourselves surrounded by supportive individuals, churches, and organizations. We completed anextensive church plant training and assessment and with Acts 29, a missional church plantingnetwork of over 200 churches around the world, who approved us as church planters. Godseemed to be moving us in this direction, at times in spite of our own ideas and comfort level!Finally, in the spring of 2009 God’s leading became undeniable: we were supposed to plant achurch. It was supposed to be in the fast-growing, largely unchurched population of downtownFort Worth, and it was supposed to happen soon. Some of the stories and so-called“coincidences” that have confirmed this movement of God have truly amazed to us. So here wefind ourselves, admittedly a little anxious, but excited, expectant, humbled, prayerful, andknowing that we’re on the brink of something great that God’s doing.What exactly will The City Church look like? This prospectus explains some aspects of this“different” church – our vision, mission, values, goals, and the groundwork we’re laying. Butplanning and vision are only half of the process at best. The next steps involve believers, whoare passionate about God’s church and who are passionate about this great city and its people,banding together and taking bold steps as we live out God’s age-old mission of redemption andreconciliation. We are excited as we look forward to living out that vision, and we hope that youwill join this great endeavor! Thank you in advance for your time, prayers, and consideration.We look forward to seeing what unique part you’ll play in The City Church.For the glory of God and the good of Fort Worth,Ben Connelly, planting pastor On behalf of The City Church leadership team

ABOUT BEN & JESS:

Ben and Jess met when Ben was a youth pastor in Waco during their undergrad years at Baylor. He hired her to be a summer intern, andthree years after her start date, they married. Except for hisBaylor years, Ben has spent his whole life in and around Fort Worth.He earned Masters degrees from Dallas Seminary and has just under adecade of ministry experience. Jess is a “transplant” from Omaha, Nebraska, and is workingon a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling at Southwestern Seminary. During down time,they both enjoy snow skiing (as often as possible), good conversation with folks, music, andmovies. They’re excited to see what God has in store for The City Church!