THE PULSE


MY TURN:


Where would we go? T


By Joey Craft


his was the fi rst question my friend Nathan and I asked when approached by the leaders of our home church in North Caro- lina about the possibility of planting a new church somewhere in the U.S. We didn’t have to question if God was really calling us to this or even how it would work. I had sensed God growing within me a love for the local church since I became a Christian, so when we were pre- sented with the opportunity to plant and nurture a new church plant, the only thing left to consider was where to put down those roots. Together we began to pray, and slowly, like pieces of a puzzle,


God began to reveal characteristics of the city where He'd lead us. We knew it would be a place marked by diversity, an urban setting where we would be surrounded by future leaders, by college students who held the potential to impact our growing church plant and the city as a whole. Most of all, we knew God wanted us where there was a real need for a thriving local church. It would be easy to head into the Bible Belt and fi nd support for a Southern Baptist affi liated church


7 Fall 2012 • onmission.com


plant, but God didn’t want us to be comfortable. So we put together the puzzle and stepped out on faith into the city God set before us: Washington, D.C. Since moving to D.C. with our families nearly three years ago, we


have seen God’s faithfulness fall on Restoration Church. We didn't know a single person when we moved to the city, and God has since blessed us with a thriving and growing church community. Our goal is simply to reach out to our city as best we can, to make our pres- ence known in the D.C. area through service and outreach activities like block parties, local park cleanups, toy drives for charity and street evangelism. We see Restoration Church as a place made to serve the city as Christ served us. The gospel has impacted and affected the way we love those around us, and this is the foundation of our growing church plant. God led us to this city, and we are eager to see Him lead the city back to His glory.


Joey Craft is a NAMB church planter serving in Washington, D.C. Visit restorationchurchdc.com for more information about his service to the city.


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