This past weekend I made a big announcement at The Door about some major changes that are coming up. The following is an overview of what I shared during that service. I wanted to let everyone know as clearly and as effectively as possible about some of the changes that are taking place.
Over the past two years our ministry, Take the City, has had the incredible privilege of partnering with Teen Challenge in the use of their building off Hurst Drive here in Columbus, GA. We were informed this summer that because of some big changes within their ministry and because of growth they now need to assume full use of their building. They have given us until September 1st of this year to use the building for our regular ministry activities like Take the City Weekends and The Door Sunday night services.
First off, I just want to say how thankful we are to Teen Challenge for all of their support! The use of their building has been a blessing for a long list of reasons. We have thoroughly enjoyed being able to be there and totally understand their need to use the whole building. Our plan during our final The Door service at Hurst Drive is to take up a special love offering to bless them and their ministry. God is doing amazing things there!
Secondly, I want to share a little bit about how this transition will affect our ministry and the various things that we do each month. Starting in September we will no longer host our Take the City worship, prayer and outreach events at that location. Our plan is to host our events for the rest of this year in various local churches in our area. Also, The Door, which is our Sunday night encounter service, which includes people from various churches all over the area, will cease to meet after our August 27th final gathering.
So what’s next?
After reading this announcement you may have some questions so I want to address some of those…
Our plans for a future building are under way currently but the process is probably going to take quite some time to find a suitable place, secure the location and do the necessary renovations so that we can begin to use the building. We hope that by next year we will have a ministry center located somewhere in Columbus that will not only host our various ministry activities but even house other ministries and initiatives in the area.
Our plans for The Door is to take a season to step back and pray. We will stop hosting these Sunday night services starting in September and enter into a season of prayer about what is next. We’re currently considering: stopping The Door services permanently, maybe hosting them again in the new building or possibly doing something similar but with changes to the name, time and day of the week. Right now we don’t have a concrete plan for how to move forward except that we are going to simply begin to pray about what God would have us do. We want to ask you to please be in prayer for our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers as we seek God’s instruction on what is next!
A few more thoughts…
This has been a big change and we have had to make some really hard decisions especially over these past few weeks. We know that through this transition that God has plans to bring us into even greater things than we could even imagine. Our dream is to forever see this city and cities around the world transformed by the power of God’s love as revealed in the Gospel. We know that the gospel is the only hope for our city, nation and the nations of the earth!
I want to ask anyone reading this letter to simply add comments below if you have any questions. Also, feel free to reach out to me directly.
Andrew Chalmers
andrew@take-the-city.com
I just wanted to thank everyone at The Door for allowing me so many opportunities to play and worship with you all. I have enjoyed it so much. God Bless you all and you are in my prayers. Thanks, Jon
Local integration, with commited, relational, ties to a local church is something that needs to be considered.
God’s investment into the local church, regardless of denmoniation, was, and is, the key, to expanding the Kingdom of God. It is also fudamental to expanding the call, the vision, the purpose, and the future of ministry, This includes yours.
Submisson is a tough word, but it is necesssry.
Find those (locally) who love you with reckless abandon. Find those who support your vision, who will at the same time tell you, without flinching, you are moving in a wrong diretion. And, then, be ready, willing, and able to come under the direction that is presented.
Love is the key; but it will, more than certainly, challenge everything you could possibly imagine.
You, we, need trans-local input and accountability, but without the same connectivity with a local church body, you will continue to experience the closing of doors. In this case The Door.
Seasons are changing: Your vision for taking a city has not. God wants this more than you will ever know. But, you’ve got to take one city at a time.
Find those local connections, the people of God, that love you, that love what you’re doing, that require accountablity on a local level, and – then – find God. Then, you will find power to do more than you’ve ever imagined. This is the future. [Deut. 7:22]
Stunnning opportunities lay just ahead. Never, ever, believe different.
Kmart bldg on Macon road is empty
I haven’t attended the door or take the city as often as I would’ve liked, but you guys were always a blessing whenever I did attend. I know for a fact that this season is only in preparation for exponential growth to keep doing great and powerful things for the kingdom! Onward and upward! – Kayla <3
We all know that God opens doors that No man can close and closes doors that No man can open. I’m l the way in Goshen Indiana, sobbing with joy over some of the stories on the work you’ve done for the Lord JESUS CHRIST. I need to make you aware that the DOOR WILL always be open when you’re willing to keep it open for the work of our God. Don’t be discouraged because he’s only moving you around where He wants. Let the redeemed say so. Thank you my brothers and sisters. I love you, Family of God….
Rosalind Rae Keenan, FULL POWER MINISTRIES, (I’ve never used a building, I AM a temple be of God, out here in the highways, byways and hedges) 😀 Keep looking to the East, for the BEST is yet to come!