Ron on the Road: Jason Roberts
CrossCurrent Church was planted about nine years ago by Jason Roberts, Jason spent some time as an intern at Spanish River Church and was called to plant this church while serving at SRC.
Crosscurrent has experienced some incredible growth and they are now ready to launch their second worship service. Virginia Beach is home to several military bases and the church ministers to many of these families.
Jason and Aimee are parents to five children. Aimee is a busy mom, she home schools one of their children, and works as a birth coach for new Moms.
Crosscurrent has been involved in planting other churches right from their start. They give 10% of their general contributions to planting churches. Jason also coaches church planters through his work in Acts 29 church planting network. Their international work involves planting churches in England and helping to coach those pastors as well.
Crosscurrent shares a facility with two other churches. One of those churches is led by another former SRC staff member, Doug Haupt. It is great to see these three churches working together to reach their community.
Please keep Jason and Aimee in your prayers as they deal with a growing church, and the decision on when to launch a new site in the Virginia Beach area. Jason is an amazing leader and has a real heart for seeing the Gospel preached in his community.
Ron on the Road: Tyler Jones of Vintage 21
Vintage 21 is a church planting church, they give 12% of their general fund every year to help plant new churches. Tyler also serves as the Regional Director of Acts 29 and coaches new church planters.
Vintage 21 has seven weekend services at three locations. They are a very young church and have a large amount of college students that are members and regular attenders. The church is in the middle of a fundraising campaign to purchase 8 acres in downtown Raleigh. The property will be strategic in the growth plans for Vintage 21, and will serve as a community outreach center.
I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Tyler on Monday morning, where he treated me to a scotch egg (deep fried boiled egg), which must be a southern thing. Tyler is excited about the future of Vintage 21, and also concerned about the need of mature believers to serve in key leadership roles. Please keep this church and the leaders in your prayers as they step out in faith on the purchase of this property. Tyler and his wife Kimberly have three young children. Tyler is very grateful to the people of SRC for being faithful in giving to the vision of Vintage 21, so that now they too can help plant other churches.
Ron on the Road: Bryan Pierce of Seven Hills Church
On Wednesday, September 14, we spent the afternoon in Rome, Georgia, where 4 years ago Bryan and Krista Pierce planted Seven Hills Fellowship.
The Pierce's had the benefit of being close to David and Nori Nicholas's summer home.
David had the opportunity to preach at Seven Hills several times. Bryan shared how those times really helped him and his church. He also was able to attend one of David's last Gospel Boot Camps, which impressed on Bryan the need to share the bad news and the good news.
Seven Hills is a growing church community located in downtown Rome, they meet in an historic theater. They have also recently purchased and are now renovating a building attached to the theater. This building offers space for children's ministry, office space, counseling, fellowship hall and kitchen as well additional space for future use. The proximity of these two buildings to one another provides Seven Hills the opportunity to continue their ministry to the people of Rome through their established theater groups, community events, etc. while influencing them for Christ.
Ron on the Road: Scott Armstrong
Tuesday evening we had dinner with Scott and Kerstin Armstrong of City Church Eastside. The Armstrongs planted their church a little over three years ago in downtown Atlanta. On September 25 they will officially become a particularized church, which means they will have their own elder board and will govern themselves. It is a very exciting step for this church. Scott has been busy training the officers of the church, and they are now ready to be ordained as elders and deacons.
City Church Eastside rents space for their church in renovated warehouse called the Stove Works. The church also serves as an art gallery for local artists. This serves as a great outreach to the community. They shared some stories of folks coming to see art and hearing the Gospel.
One of the projects Kerstin has been working on is the development of a new children's curriculum that is for an age integrated group. This curriculum is available for purchase through their church.
City Church Eastside will be a church planting church. They are in the process of bringing on their first church planting intern, who will be working alongside Scott and Kerstin and will soon, with the help of City Church Eastside, plant his own church in the Atlanta area.
Scott and Kerstin have three daughters, ages 7,4 and 2. Pray for the Armstrongs as they continue to minister to this community that God has called them. They are very excited about what God is doing, and how He is using individuals within City Church Eastside. They have wonderful stories of people coming to Christ.
Ron on the Road: SRC Church Plant Road Trip
We began this journey on September 12, the goal is to visit 40 churches around the U.S., that Spanish River Church has partnered to plant. This will involve travelling some 14,000 miles and visiting 36 states over a two month period. Miriam and I left our home on Monday morning and are now three days into this journey. Our first stop was Stuart, Florida, where we visited with David Richardson of Treasure Coast Presbyterian. David has been serving as the senior pastor of TCPC for only 3 months. He has recently started teaching his first membership class and is excited about where he is taking his people.
David and his wife Christy have two daughters. They are experiencing all the challenges of a young family with the added responsibility of leading a growing congregation. Please pray for David and Christy has they struggle with time, and the ever growing needs of the Church.
That's all for now, we will catch up on the postings later today.