Hello from Columbus, Ohio. Terry asked me to write down parts of our church planting story, and we’re excited to do so.
Our Church planting experience started a little different to some of the stories I have heard. Even though for the last 10 years we have been praying about church planting, and even had a few opportunities along the way, until this point, we knew God was closing doors as he continued to prepare us for this journey. Then early 2014 we moved from Chicago to Columbus in response to a job offer, however with a huge amount of confirmation that this was something God had prepared for us. After 5 months of looking for a church, Kathy and I (along with her parents who had also joined us in Columbus), heard from God that it was time to start a church. The words i got was “start small, start easy, start in your basement”. The next week we started! We have 4 kids, so the 8 of us met the first few weeks in the basement, and experienced an amazing time in worship, in studying the great commission, and taking the time to pray and hear from God what was on his heart for our new church. Our kids were involved, hearing from God, through scripture, through pictures, through impressions … it was a glorious start.
Fast forward 7 months (we started November 2014), we still meet in our house, and God has added some incredible people so far. Most who have had similar God stories in how God has been leading them to a point of wanting to see something new in Columbus. People who join a small church plant like this seem to be pioneers, leaders, people with great conviction of what God has for them. From time to time we have had over 60 people here, so our next step will include a bigger venue. Our church name is 614 Church - and you may not know what this means unless you’re from this area. 614 is the columbus region’s telephone area code. So we wanted to keep it nice and simple.
I continue to work at a local bank, and our family has settled well into Columbus life. Our partnership with NCMI and Church in the City (Chicago) has been a life-saver. After 2 months, Terry Kreuger spent the weekend here, in April Jody and Vanessa Romero were here, followed by Steve and Debbie Sudworth. Along the way, so many of our friends and fellow elders from Church in the City also came, not seeking platform, but truly coming here to serve and celebrate what God has birthed here.
If you want to visit us, you’re so welcome! Our website is www.614church.org, and we welcome your prayers. Pray that God would use us to see many people saved here. Pray that God would use us to display the majesty of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit through miracles, and signs and wonders! Pray that each of us would be so effective at loving people at work, at school, in our neighborhoods and in our families! That’s the community and culture we are believing for God to build in our church.
David and Kathy Swart
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