Gospel. Community. Mission. Madison, WI City Church Mailing Address: 5812 Monticello Way Fitchburg, WI. 53719 Nate 608-345-5393 nhobert@redeemercitychurch.org Casey 407-694-5537 cjohnson@redeemercitychurch.org www.redeemercitychurch.info Seeking to Renew Our City through the Gospel Launch Plan
Our Call Our Vision Casey Before becoming a Christian, Casey moved from Wisconsin to Florida in search of significance. His first job in the Sunshine State was being involved in a nightclub startup. From there, he helped start two more nightclubs and discovered there was something he loved and was gifted at in starting things from scratch. After becoming a follower of Jesus, Casey started a young adult ministry. To his surprise, the Lord blessed it and it grew and was fruitful. Not only did many people come to know Jesus, but twenty eight couples met and married during the seven years Casey led this ministry. At this point however, Casey hadn t considered planting a church until seminary when one of his professors, Dr. Steve Childers, asked him, You planted nightclubs and you haven t considered planting a church? Then after hearing more of Casey s story, You planted Serving a ministry Sizesand haven t considered planting a church? Several years later Casey has served at Christ Community Church-Daytona Beach where they have successfully planted a church and started a network of pastors and planters called Visible Kingdom. Casey loves church planting, but not just for the sake of starting something new, but to see people come to know God and the transforming power of the Gospel. Nate The Hoberts moved to Madison, WI two and a half years ago to plant the Vine Church with a team of like-minded pastors. This call to Madison to plant was precipitated by two significant factors. The first was a deep desire to see those who did not yet follow Jesus come to hear the Gospel and in doing so respond in faith. This passion had been primarily lived out among students on campus for the past thirteen years. The second came while attending Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. During this time a robust view of the local church and its mission through the Scriptures became clear. It was during a church planting class that it became apparent that the most effective way to reach a city and transform a culture was through church planting. The Hobert s move to Madison to plant was driven by a vision not only to see merely one church planted, but multiple churches planted in Madison. They came with the belief that they would be on the team to plant the next church after the Vine. 2 Redeemer City Church OUR MISSION: Seeking to Renew our City through the Gospel. OUR VISION: To see a Gospel movement that reconciles a people back to God and into a true community that is sent out to love and serve our City. Through demonstrating and declaring the Gospel we hope to see our City experience spiritual, social, and cultural renewal to the glory of God. CORE VALUES: The fundamental convictions that drive, shape and undergird the mission and vision of Redeemer City: Gospel-Centered The Gospel is not the ABC s of the Christian life, it is the A to Z s. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the message through which someone believes and is rescued from life to death. It is also the message that needs to be believed to bring further growth and ongoing transformation into the likeness of Jesus for the Christian. Making disciples means all of life being under and transformed by and through the message of the Gospel and everything we do and believe as a church is rooted in this truth. Community Because of sin, our lives are fragmented and isolated and various divisions mark our City. The power of the Gospel allows us to transcend all divisions of socioeconomic, racial, and cultural lines (Eph 2:12-22) into one new family. This leads us to live lives that our integrated, not isolated from one another. This called out community serves one another and the broader City through the individual gifts in a collective whole. Mission When God calls his people to himself, he also sends them out. In John 20:21 Jesus says as the Father has sent me, so now I send you. This mission involves two things: 1) an intentional life lived in the various spheres of influence (workplace, neighborhood, marketplace, etc.) where we share the Gospel with those God has placed around us. 2) a life that is devoted to mercy that meets the tangible physical and emotional needs of those in our spheres of influence. The first is the declaration of the Gospel, the second is demonstration. Redeemer City Church 3
Why Madison? Why Madison? Population: 236,901 (81st largest Madison hosts the 3rd Largest congregation of Unitarian Universalists in the U.S. Freedom From Religion Headquarters in Madison (19k Atheist members) Constantly ranking as one of the most unchurched cities in America Only 4% Evangelical (leaving well over 200,000 people in Madison who are not attending an Evangelical church) Ranked the 22nd least Biblical-minded City in the U.S. (Barna Research Group, 2013). Even though Madison is well known in our Nation as a great place to live with innovative young adults and great amenities, it is desperately lacking the Gospel. The society looks to idols such as success, comfort, sports, alcohol, politics and leisure while radically objecting the Gospel. city in the U.S.) Metro Area: 568,593 (3 Counties) The Capital of Wisconsin, Madison is a city filled with "grass-roots elites" who will be a shaping force in tomorrow's national and global landscape. Companies like "Google" choose Madison for their mid-west division because of the "high quality of life and talent in the area". Highly regarded as a great place for young adults to live due to being tech savy and highly educated. Rankings #1 City in the U.S. for Young Adults (Kiplinger's Personal Finance, 2012) #1 Best College Football Town (USA Today Reader s Ranking, 2012) #1 Nation s Best Farmer s Market (& oldest) (The Huffington Post, 2009) #2 Best Place to Begin a Career (Forbes Magazine, 2009) #4 Best place to Live in the Nation (Middleton #1 in 2007) (CNN Money, 2009) #6 Bike Friendly City (over 100 miles of bike trails) (Cycling Magazine, 2012) #7 Innovative City in America (Forbes.com 2010) University of Wisconsin Madison is home to the University of Wisconsin with over 40,000 students including 4,000 Internationals. In achievement and prestige, the University of Wisconsin Madison has long been recognized as one of America's great universities. A public, landgrant institution, UW Madison offers a complete spectrum of liberal arts studies, professional programs and student activities. Spanning 936 acres along the southern shore of Lake Mendota, the campus is located in the city of Madison. 4 Redeemer City Church Madison is host to many tech savy companies including Epic (medical software design company in our backyardverona). Epic brings in young adults from all over the world and has more than 6,000 employees including adding 1,000 new employees in 2012. They are also looking at another major expansion in the near future. Hwy 14 Interchange. 19 Million dollar interchange from Hwy 14 is pitched as the next 20 years of growth for the city of Fitchburg. It opens up into a 450 acre development of residence and east side businesses on east side of Fitchburg. Estimated 450 apartment units under construction with talks to local businesses already in the mix. Redeemer City Church 5
The Johnsons Casey Johnson is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL (Master of Divinity with a church planting emphasis). Casey began his ministry as a young adult pastor in Orlando where he started and led Revolution Ministries. Upon graduating seminary, the Johnsons moved to Daytona Beach where Casey became a pastor of church planting and led the Visible Kingdom Church Planting Network. Casey grew up in Stoughton, WI but has been in Florida for the past twenty years where he met his beautiful wife Angela and they have two boys; Westyn and Emmet. Angela was born and raised in Central Florida and the whole family is looking forward to this adventure of planting Redeemer City Church in Madison. 6 Redeemer City Church The Hoberts Nate is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Nate has served the past three years at the Vine Church in Madison, WI. At the Vine, he has served as a teaching elder and has overseen the areas of college ministry and church planting. He has been married to his wife Amanda for 12 years. They have three children; Grace, Sam and Elise. Planting Fact: The Johnsons and Hoberts met in an airport in Orlando, flew on the same flight, and Casey was given children s books by the flight attendant which the Hoberts had left on the plane. Casey politely returned them to Nate s wife Amanda in baggage claim. At this point Casey & Nate had no idea they were both pastors. Six days later, Casey was to meet another pastor in Madison, but the pastor couldn t make it and sent Nate instead. The rest is history! Redeemer City Church 7
Accomplish Vision Seeking to Renew Our City through the Gospel City Groups (Gospel-Centered Communities living on mission in the City) City groups serve many purposes to accomplishing our vision. First, this is where we find true community in having meals with one another, studying Scripture together, and sharing our lives. Second, this is where serving our families, neighborhood and City begins. Third, this is where we encourage one another to live on mission with the Gospel. Without seeking Gospel-transformation in our City, we are merely applying bandaids to wounds. This is why living out Gospel-transformed lives is such an important aspect of living in community. We do this with one another and when we are going throughout the city. (Acts 2:42-27; Romans 12) Service (The Body of Christ, Our City, & Our World) We will not only serve each other but serve our City. We will identify local needs within our City and fill those spaces with Gospel intentionality. This will include social justice, loving and caring for the people God has put in front of us, and seeking the good of our City. (Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Thes. 5:11, 14; Gal 6:2; 1 John 4:7; Rom 12:10; Mark 10:42-45; Hebrews 10:24; Jer 29:7) Equip (Equipping People to Serve) We are committed to investing in the lives of people, not only to reach them with the Gospel and not only to teach them the truth of the Gospel and how to faithfully follow God, but to equip them to do this with others as well. This equipping involves three crucial areas: Personal growth, discovering and developing gifts, and leadership development. (Mark 10:45; Luke 10:1-3; 1 Peter 4:10; Eph 4:11-13) Church Planting (Multiplying Churches throughout our City and the World) We believe planting new churches is the most effective method of evangelism. If we are going to see our City renewed by the Gospel we re not only going to need several new City Groups spread throughout the City, but many new churches in our City to reach new generations, residents, and people groups. This commitment to church planting locally will be linked with a vision for church planting overseas. (Matt 28:19; Acts 6:9,12) Vision for the City (Networking & Partnering) If we are going to see our City renewed by the Gospel we will need to partner with other like-minded churches and organizations and in some instances, even churches and organizations which are not like-minded. This will begin by hosting a Church Plant Network gathering where we invite pastors and planters to think locally about how the Gospel can fill all the spaces of Madison. It will be a gathering where we train, encourage, and pray for one another. This may also include City Gatherings for missional training (such as Porterbrook), partnering together to plant new churches in strategic areas of our city, and partnering to meet social needs (homeless, hungry, orphans & widows). Our goal through these strategic partnerships is to see the Gospel renew the city of Madison. (Phil 1:3-6; Ecc. 4:9-12; Prov. 27:17; Matt 18:20; Heb 10:24-25; 1 Cor. 3:9) Time Line Here is what the next year and a half will look like in the planning of Redeemer City Church: TIME March-June 2013 July 2013 July-Aug 2013 Sept.-Dec. 2013 Jan. 2014 Feb. 2014 Feb-Sept. 2014 TIME LINE Church/Network Partnerships: THE VINE CHURCH Madison TASK Support Raising/Core Gathering/ Vision Planning Johnsons move to Madison (Hoping to have 75% support raised) Support Raising/Core Gathering/ Vision Casting Launch Team Training Launch 2 or more City Groups Light Worship Gatherings of City Groups (Continue Monthly until launch) Launch Sunday Gatherings (at some point in this window) 8 Redeemer City Church Redeemer City Church 9
Partners Needed Partner With Us In order to fulfill the mission and vision of Redeemer City Church, we need people who will partner with us in prayer, provision, and participation. During our start-up phase we will rely heavily upon donor contributions while moving steadily toward becoming a totally self-supporting church by Summer 2017. Please pray for us and with us to see if God might lead you to become a partner and see this vision for the Gospel-renewal of Madison become a reality. Serving Sizes To Give, go to www.redeemercitychurch.info click on the Support Us tab and follow the instructions. This is a safe and secure method that allows you to transfer funds electronically from your checking account without the hassle of envelopes and postage costs. Mail is an option; if it s not possible for you use the online donation resource, you may mail your donation to: Redeemer City Church c/o Nathan Hobert 5812 Monticello Way Fitchburg, WI. 53719 *Redeemer City Church is a non-profit organization so all donations are tax deductible and all donors will receive appropriate year-end documentation. To receive updates through email, just go to our website and subscribe to our blog. We will send out prayer requests and updates so we can keep you informed on the progress of Redeemer City through all stages of the plant. * The majority of the above will come from individuals (The Church body) but we will also receive some of this support from strategic partners in the Acts29 Network, The Vine Church, Christ Community Church, and other partners to be added in upcoming months. Some of the support from strategic partners may not be financial but could be equipment and other resources. If you would like additional details regarding the budget and fundraising plan, please contact us at us at one of the two emails on last page and we will share that information with you. In addition, be sure to check out our support website for more information: www.redeemercitychurch.info. 10 Redeemer City Church Redeemer City Church 11