We are Christian City Church International

We are a group of ministers - men and women, and churches, joined together with a common sense of vision, friendship, compatibility and love. We like each other - most of the time. We are Boomers, Busters, Gen. Xer's, and Digitals. We love to hang out: laughing, loving and being together. We believe longevity in relationships has dividends.

We are traditional and orthodox in the sense that we believe, preach and model there is salvation in no other name than Jesus. But we aren't traditional or orthodox in our presentation of the ageless, culturally pan-applicable gospel of grace. We have a commitment to cultural relevance, but it isn't our bottom line. Our hearts are in heaven - our feet in the 21st Century.

We believe in apostolic leadership (as opposed to the opposite). We have little faith in committees, and leaderless democratic church government. And we accept, promote and rejoice in a diversity of application - the how to's. We have some templates' but believe that the colouring in still done by the individual, guided by their context, community, culture and ingenuity.

We run with the reviving power' of the Holy Spirit, faith and vision', where is God for you' and whatever else works. We are inspired plagiarists and discerning pragmatists - most of the time.

Our focus is on church planting, church life and church growth - we are local church boys and girls. We love the big gathering; we love small groups. We are largely urban, urbane and industrialized in our focus, connection and call - be it Western or Eastern. We love America, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe - with no current plans for the Arctic Circle. We have few theologians, but lots of practitioners. We aren't fundamentalists, but we are believers. We aren't agitators or activists but we change people's lives - forever.

We pray loud and long, aggressively and believingly. We love the Word of God, and we live as though it's true - most of the time. We go regularly to church, even though we know it is the people. We worship and worship, give and give and give and we live happy, normal and moral lives - so far as I know. We aren't too deep, so as you can't find the bottom, nor are we particularly shallow - neither intellectual snobs, nor illiterate simpletons.

But we aren't afraid to think for ourselves.

We don't want power over God's people (over anybody for that matter) - we want them to think maturely and Christianly for themselves, and we teach them so.

We go where timorous folk don't - we live there. We are honest about our humanity (that complex marvel full of promise and debilitating contradiction): failure, sin, temptation, marriage, money, sex, life, death and taxes - most of the time. We talk about things that matter to people: their lives, homes, families, children, relationships, aspirations, businesses, fears, pains, needs, joys and successes.

We love life, literature, learning, laughter, art, music, family, young people, wine with a good meal and great friends, Fatso the Battlers Prince, aerobatic pilots, New York (any city we happen to be in), Phil's paintings, computers, technology (its not the Beast people think),

We aren't too keen, or fused, with: weak, instant or filtered coffee, any artistic endeavour that is prefixed with the word Christian'- its bound to be tacky even though performed by people with a good heart bless them, religious trips to Israel (he is not t/here he is risen) dancing with ribbons, church buildings that look like church buildings, too many prophecies, Kenneth's comics, prophets of doom (especially when they predict disaster to a place far from their own kith and kin), all sorted nuts and flakes,

We believe in faith, hope and love, a bright, colourful, positive and encouraging church atmosphere - a church that the unchurched are attracted to. Filled with music, light, supernatural happenings, vision, purpose, loving people, and great preaching.

We are irreverent, risky, fun, conservative, serious and holy. We are human. We live with paradox. We have contradictions. We celebrate humanity. We are closet mystics. We are Christians - We believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (even though we have no real idea how Trinity works - who does?).

We love People. We love each other. We love Phil and Chris. We really love God, and He loves us.

We are C3i. We are Christian City Church International.

Or at least - I am.

© Ps Simon McIntyre

Christian City Church International

For people who thrive on the busy lifestyle associated with living downtown, this might be the perfect place for those seeking to fill that spiritual emptiness in their lives.  I think I might check it out.  At least for some good coffee.