Have you ever experienced being a part of something greater than yourself?
When we connect our lives to God's redemptive story, that's exactly what happens. Our Triune God has created a story of redemption that everyone has a role in: redemption planned by the Father, accomplished by the Son, applied by the Spirit, and redemption received by sinners. Our role is to respond and receive this glorious, God-given, grace-based redemption. We respond by turning our backs on our sin and selfishness and by trusting in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. This is how we begin to experience something much greater than ourselves. Redemption by faith in Jesus is how we join God's story of redemption globally and begin to join God's work of redemption locally.
Christ Redemption's Story
Our story of joining God in His mission of redemption began in a local church in Kansas City, MO. We were a part of amazing church that preached the Word faithfully and loved one another authentically. We had no reason to leave the church. But as we grew in our faith, we became burdened for those who had not heard the gospel and did not have a gospel-preaching church nearby. We were realizing that so many people in this world did not have what we had in the local church, with the preaching of Christ and the love of Christ's family. That burden became a desire to church plant and a willingness to go to the least religious region in America. Knowing that church planting is one of the most difficult tasks and that New England is one of the most spiritually dark places, we wanted training for church planting. So, Heidi and I moved our family to Vermont in 2020 to begin our training for church planting with the NETS Center for Church Planting and Revitalization.
During our training, Heidi and I became clear on how we wanted to choose a location for the church plant. Because God is at work redeeming the lost for His glory, we wanted to go where God was already working and join Him there. That's where Manchester, CT comes in. Or, should I say that's where we come into the story of redemption in Manchester? Clearly, God has always been working in this area but many would agree that the Lord has been doing something unique in the last handful of years. Christ Proclamation Church was planted in 2014 by Steve and Linda Thiel. As the church has grown and drawn people from all over the Greater Hartford Area, it became obvious in 2020 that God was doing something special east of the Connecticut River in the Manchester area. With the gifting of a building, many families interested in a gospel-driven church, and several willing to work to start a church in Manchester, there was no doubt that God was at work locally to build a church. So, Heidi and I began in 2022 to prayerfully consider joining God in what He is doing in Manchester.
In 2023, Heidi and I moved our family to Manchester to begin the work of starting a new church. We began raising funds, reaching the lost, and recruiting believers to join us in reaching the lost. Over the past year, it's been amazing how God has confirmed for us this calling to join Him in His redemptive work in Manchester! During the summer of 2024, we have been hosting Bible studies with over 60 people at each of the gatherings. Non-believers have been at each of them too! This fall, we plan to launch Christ Redemption Church, with a vision to partner with other like-minded churches to start new congregations across Connecticut. We believe the Kingdom of God is built through local churches. And that's done best when local churches join together in gospel partnerships. May God be pleased to build His kingdom through the redemption of sinners in this area and in this generation!
Your Story
We've shared our story with you. But what about your story and life's journey? Have you received the redemption each of us so desperately need? Have you began to experience redemption in Jesus through repentance and faith? If not, you need to reach out to Jesus now. If so, praise be to God! Now that you've joined God's redemptive story globally, have you joined God's work of redemption locally? Our desire is that you'd prayerfully consider joining us in what God is doing in Manchester for His glory and our good. May we all join in God's mission of redemption, which is infinitely more glorious and greater than ourselves!