Let me take you back a year or so ago when I first met a guy named Jarrett Stevens. He’s the type of guy that everyone wants to hang out with, even the geeks like me.
Sure he’s got class, style, flare, and swagger (I mean, who wears a scarf during the summer?), but what attracted me was his calm sensibility and his deep interest in leveraging seemingly-disparate things for the Kingdom. I found that refreshing.
Jarrett cuts to the chase, sotospeak, and I’ll never forget the crisp autumn day where, after a brisk sip of his Starbucks addiction he asked me:
John, tell me this: What would a techno-savvy church startup look like? You know, one that would use social media well, I mean, really well?
And, if you know Jarret at all, then you’ve seen this posture as he asked me the Q: Cocking his head, putting his hand to his mouth as he leans in and then flashes a questioning smirk like he’s already got the answer.
I’m not sure, but I think it would be awesome.
That’s all I had to contribute, at first, but it got my wheels turning.
You see, this generation is unlike any previous generation in a way that is amazingly-unique: Technology, and especially web technology, is neither an auxiliary function or tertiary consideration; it is going to be a foundational element in how we do ministry.
And Jarrett, and his wife Jeanne, are pioneers.
You see, back then (and I honestly can’t believe it’s been a little more than a year), launching a startup church in this form and fashion was a dream.
And, to be quite candid, it still is.
But the form is advancing fast, and Soul City Church is the modern day petri dish of a new type of organic church movement.
I dig that. And that’s why I support them.
You see, I believe that in 10 years I’ll be able to look back and say that I took part of something fantastically-unique, groundbreaking, and legendary. I’ll be able to say that I was a part of a new model of how God breathes new life into dying cities and the decaying flesh called humanity.
I’ll be able to say that I was a part the most web techno-savvy church startup on the planet; one that will obviously encourage others to do the same.
And, you know, I’ll be able to simply say that I was a part of something special. And here’s your opportunity to join us.
Soul City Church is hoping to raise $150,000 so that they can move into the heart of Chicago and be vehicles of radical life change. In other words, while our year, 2009, is fast approaching it’s end, they see it just beginning.
Specifically they want to raise $6,000 dollars for their technological needs, which would include laptops, blogs, facebook, sitelets, viral videos, online spiritual growth assessments, and more.
Would you join me in supporting them? Check out YearEndStart.com and consider partnering with them to do something brilliant. Help them craft an incredible story while adding their story to yours.
(Oh, and Jarret, I know all the cool kids wear scarves; I’ve just never been that cool.)