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1001 new worshiping communities
The intersection of faith and art. That is what Rev. Shawna Bowman, cofounder of the Creation Lab calls this intentional space. “It grew out of a selfish desire of its creators to have and share a space that can serve as a creative outlet and safe space for experimentation,” says Bowman. “It’s about making, collaborating, and failing together.”
After weathering rains so heavy that they flooded the exhibit hall and much of the ground floor on the first day of the Go Disciple Live “Be the Light” Conference, some 275 attendees at the opening worship were particularly primed to hear a sermon on Jesus’ call of the first disciples at the seaside.
Todo empezó en Pittsburgh con un emparedado de Primanti Brothers. Cuando el Rvdo. Dr. Clinton «Clint» Cottrell, pastor y jefe de personal de la Iglesia Presbiteriana Cypress Lake en Fort Myers, Florida, se sentó en la famosa cadena de emparedados durante la 220ª Asamblea General (2012) para partir el pan con su colega del Presbiterio Peace River, el Rvdo. Miguel Estrada, su sueño desde hace mucho tiempo tomó forma.
Fostering community in an urban setting
Seven years ago, I started using the local Starbucks as a workspace to foster community through the café and arts culture in northeastern Los Angeles. This ministry, called the Coop, recently received a seed grant for 1001 New Worshiping Communities. I’m grateful for that and for what God has done to connect people to each other and to God. Over time, purposely making myself interruptible, I’ve built friendships with regulars of every age, wage and life stage. One of these people was “Selma.” Selma and her two young children had just moved into a studio apartment around the corner to escape domestic violence. Originally from Mexico and raised in the Catholic Church, Selma was now in a new neighborhood without support from family, friends or a local church. While believing in God, she was not interested in participating in any kind of religious institution. But she trusted me. And the coffee chats and neighborhood walks helped her connect to God, to a local friend and to a larger network of support.
Growing congregation finds purpose in helping others
A year and a half ago, 10 people gathered in Jeanie Shaw’s living room in Sacramento, California, to worship. Before long, they moved to her backyard. This past Easter, the growing group—more than 100 people—gathered to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and three adult baptisms.
Since 2009, Anna Hackett has been discerning a call to serve women who are recovering from sex trafficking and prostitution. It’s a call that seems obvious to everyone else, she says; yet it’s one she’s questioned, prayed about and tried to accomplish in her own strength for the past seven years.
It all began in Pittsburgh over a Primanti Brothers sandwich. When the Rev. Dr. Clinton “Clint” Cottrell, pastor and head of staff at Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers, Florida, sat down at the famed sandwich chain during the 220th General Assembly (2012) to break bread with his Peace River Presbytery colleague, the Rev. Miguel Estrada, their long-held dream took shape.
Patrice Hatley wears her title well. As coach and coordinator for the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, Hatley’s calling—and among her considerable gifts—is identifying, strengthening, and coaching leaders to serve and to grow Christ’s church.
Last year a classmate at the University of Washington invited Hanna to a meal and Bible study at International Friendship House in Seattle. Friendship House is home to International Disciples, a new worshiping community that seeks to empower international and American college students in the Seattle area to be global Christian leaders.
From the outside it’s a very non-descript place—a small building surrounded by buildings that are the homes of Amazon and Microsoft workers.
