VENTURA COUNTY FRIENDS
Are we starting a church?
Not in the way you’re probably thinking.
To all of our friends in Ventura County, part of my (Andrew) role at NOVO will be to focus on what God is doing here in Ventura County. Simply put, the resources and coaching we are able to offer for Churches and Christians globally, we will provide locally for those in Ventura County. So what does that mean, really?
First, let me ask you…what would it look like if Christians, who discovered their calling, were surrounded by believers with the same passion and purpose? What impact would that community make in their neighborhoods or network of friends?
Now, imagine with me, what if there were 50, or 100, or 300 or more groups scattered all throughout the county? Would that family of Christian communities change the world around them? I think so!
So what’s it going to take to see this happen? What is it going to take to see the 60% of our population, who will never enter into what you and I call a “church”, experience God’s love?
It’s going to mean stripping down how we do church to the core essentials. It’s going to take returning to the core of what it means to be the church - community, worship, and mission. It’s going to mean changing our posture from simply asking people to come and see to actively going and becoming the church right where they are, outside of the four walls of a building. It means trusting God when you have more questions than answers.
And, for those of you who do have questions, although we may not be able to answer all of them, here are some we can.
Make it stand out.
Individuals
We work with individuals helping them to discover God’s call for their life and learn how to make disciples.
Communities
We take a group of individuals and help them form a community that’s focused on the mission of making new disciples.
Network
We help multiple communities form a network or family of missional communities that serve, support and encourage one another.
Movement
That network and community of missional communities work together to launch a movement of the gospel so Jesus is made visible and His love unavailable.
FAQs
Are we starting a new church?
Not in the way you’re probably thinking…
When you think of church, what comes to mind?
If “Sunday mornings”, “buildings”, “worship services”, or “programs” are your first thoughts, then no, we’re not starting a church.
But if you think of the book of Acts with the ideas of community, worship, and mission at the core of what it means to be the church, then yes, we are starting a church.
And to be honest, our heart is not to start “a church”. Rather, we want to see a network or family of churches develop all throughout Ventura County.
We want to do this by walking alongside leaders as they discover their calling, build community (mini-churches) around them, and live their lives centered on the mission to make new disciples of Jesus.
Can you be part of an existing church in Ventura County and still be part of what we’re doing?
YES! Of course.
Our heart is to love, serve, and resource Christians to do what God has called them to do! Right where they’re at!
Help! I still don’t get it.
Don’t worry, I still have questions too. Someone once told me, “if you had all your questions answered, you’d take the fun out of the adventure.”
So, if you’re looking for all your questions answered, you won’t find it here. But if you sense God calling you into an adventure beyond yourself, come join us!
What can I expect next?
If you want to know more about what we’ll be doing, then please let us know below.
In the next couple of months we will contact you.