Have you ever felt like you are floating through life and have this nagging suspicion that you were meant for more? Have you ever noticed that all around us are shattered hearts, broken lives, and complacent stories? Clearly, this world is not as it should be. Perhaps your life is not as it should be. Have you ever felt like there was more you could do? More you could become?

Me too.

My name is Jason Salamun, pastor of Project Church, and I’d like to thank you for visiting the website.

By now you’ve probably noticed that we’re not your typical church. Don’t get me wrong, we’re very much a Christian church. We love God, believe the scriptures, and hold to salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. However, Project Church is a new church who exist for the good of our city and our world. We’re an authentic community for people who are exploring Jesus and people who genuinely want to follow him. We’re a real church for real people.

People who want to discover the lives they were meant to live.
People who have honest questions about God, faith, and life in general.
People who are dealing with the messiness of life and need hope and direction.
People who are fed up with plastic religion.
People who may be stuck in a rut and tired of going through the motions.
People who want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

We’re far from perfect, but we’re committed to loving God, loving people, and living free and helping others do the same. We’d love to have you be a part of this story.

Elks Theatre Main Stage

We gather on Sunday mornings at 10am at the historic Elks Theatre in downtown Rapid City. Yes, church in a movie theater. It’s quite a unique experience and there’s plenty of parking downtown on Sunday mornings. The gathering lasts an hour or so, the dress is casual, the coffee is good, your kids will love our children’s ministry, and we have a nursery for the little ones. (Read more about what to expect)

Wherever you are in faith and life, you are welcome here. We mean it.

Check out the rest of the website to discover more about Project Church. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. However, nothing is quite like connecting in person.

We hope to see you soon!

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Grace and Peace,

Jason Salamun
Project Church

YOU WERE MADE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

We believe everyone is here for a reason. God has given us all hopes, dreams, passions, influence, relationships, abilities, and opportunities. These are not given to us to be wasted; they are given to put into action. When we live the lives we are meant to live, we become a part of something bigger than us. And together, we work to make the world a better place. All because of what Jesus did for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We believe that the church is a family of the forgiven and the light of the world. Where grace is on tap. Where change takes place. Where dreams come to life. We are called to be a movement of difference makers who fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) by living out the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40).

As we go, this is the operating system that guides every discussion we have, every decision we make, and every direction we take:

OUR MISSION (Why we exist)

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, AND LIVE FREE

At Project Church, all arrows point to Jesus. And he was very clear why he came: To seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Following his lead, Project Church began with this same motivation in mind: to help people take their first steps and next steps in following him. It begins with loving God, it leads into loving others, and this is the way to live free.

When people meet Jesus, lives change! When lives are changed, life around them changes too. And this leads to our vision.

OUR VISION (Where we are going)

TO IGNITE A MOVEMENT OF DIFFERENCE MAKERS

All around us there are stories that need to be changed. Wrongs that need to righted. Hearts that need to be healed.  Problems that need to be solved. Hope that needs to be given. Real people who need a real Savior. The gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) compels us to move, to act, and to love.  The gospel compels us to go and make a difference.

What makes our vision unique is that it’s not about “them”, it’s about you and your story. Are you making a difference right where you are? It starts with loving God and your neighbor as yourself.  Now, multiply that by 10, by 100, by 1000, etc. Can you imagine that?  We can. That’s the kind of movement we’re after. Real people making a real difference in real life because of a real God! 

OUR VALUES (What guides us)

GOSPEL – Grace on tap

STORY – The narrative of the scriptures guide our stories

MEANING – Everyone matters and is here for a reason

MOXIE – Make bold moves

HEART – Change happens inside-out, not outside-in

COMMUNITY – No one walks alone

AUTHENTICITY – Real with God, ourselves, and one another

CREATIVITY- Reflecting the Creator by unleashing our creativity

PRAYER – Aligning our hearts and wills to God’s

SIMPLICITY – Clarity over complexity

OUR STRATEGY (How we roll)

We intentionally limit formal programs and activities so that we can focus on living out our faith in real life and not just behind church walls.  As a result, our strategy is simple: We call it 4G (Gather, Grow, Give, & Go)

Gather – Sunday services are a great way to put your foot in the water of Project Church.

Grow – We believe growth best happens in the context of community. This is why we encourage people to connect regularly with one another in groups to talk life, study scripture, pray together, or simply throw a party.

Give – We individually, and collectively, aim to live generously with the resources God has given us.

Go – Most often, it’s helping your neighbor, being there for a friend, or volunteering with an organization. As a church, we also organize strategic service projects, help start other churches, and join the fight against injustice around the world.

If this is a story you would like to be a part of, please join us this Sunday at 10am over at the Elks Theatre in downtown Rapid City.

Wherever you are in faith and life, you are welcome here.

FURTHER READING: Rhythms

“In essentials, unity.
In non-essentials, liberty.
In all things, charity.”
-Rupertus Meldenius

Our Statement of Faith follows the overall storyline of the scriptures as expressed below. Everything we do flows out of what we believe.
 

{STORY} What are the scriptures?

• We believe the Old and New Testament are the inspired Word of God written by human hands. (2 Peter 1:20-21)
• We believe the original writings of the scriptures are God-breathed and without error. (John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• We believe the scriptures are the supreme and final authority for life and faith (Isaiah 40:8)

{TRINITY} Who is God?

• We believe God is the Author and Creator of all things. (Genesis 1-2, Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 44:24)
• We believe God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal and are one God.(Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
• We believe God is altogether good, sovereign, just, wise, mighty, and loving. (Deuteronomy 32:4, Jeremiah 32:17, Mark 10:18, Acts 17:26-27, Romans 16:27, 1 John 4:8)

{HUMANITY} Who are we?

• We believe human beings are created in the image of God and are his masterpiece creation. (Genesis 1:26; Ephesians 2:10)
• We believe every person matters and has intrinsic value. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13-16)
• We believe everyone is designed to have a relationship with God. (Psalm 100:3; Micah 6:8)

{CRASH} What went wrong?

• We believe sin bled into the story through the rebellion of humanity resulting in shame, pain, distrust, despair, and pride.(Genesis 3)
• We believe humanity inherited a sinful nature and are separated from a right relationship with God. (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3; Isaiah 53:6)
• We believe human beings are incapable of regaining a right relationship with God through our own effort. (John 3:3; Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23)

{REDEMPTION} What changed everything?

• We believe Jesus is God become man who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born a virgin birth, lived a perfect, sinless life, and taught us to love God and others as ourselves. (Matthew 1:20-23; Luke 1:26-38; Mark 12:28-31; Hebrews 4:15; Titus 2.13; 1 John 3:5)
• We believe Jesus is the hero of the story who offered himself as the complete and substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all believers by dying on a cross. He rose again three days later, changing the story of everything, and bringing hope and restoration to our broken world. (Luke 23:44-46; 1 Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:13-14; Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
• We believe salvation is only found by grace through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God’s grace is not earned, it is freely given to all who truly believe. (John 3:16; John 14:6; Romans 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 4:11-12; Ephesians 2:8-9)

{FOREVER} What’s to come?

• We believe followers of Christ will spend eternity in relationship with Him in heaven. Those who don’t get what they want, an eternity apart from a relationship with God in hell. (Matthew 25:46; John 10:25-29; Isaiah 25:6-9; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
• We believe the salvation of believers is kept by God’s grace, not self-effort, and are secure in Christ forever (John 6:37–40; 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38, 39; 1 Corinthians 1:4–8; 1 Peter 1:5).
• We believe Jesus will return in all his power and glory to judge the living and the dead and usher in a new Heaven and new earth, where we will worship and enjoy Him forever. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 14:3; Revelation 19:11-16; Revelation 21:1-8; Revelation 22:1-5

{NOW} Why are we here?

• We believe the Spirit of God was promised by Jesus to guide our stories, teach and transform us, help us when we are in need, convict us of sin, empower us with spiritual gifts, and draw us near to Jesus. (John 15:26; John 16:13; Luke 12:12; Romans 8:26; John 16:8–11; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:11; John 16:13-14)
• We believe followers of Jesus are a family of the forgiven united as one body called the Church. Their mission is to make disciples of Jesus and join God in the renewal of all things. (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 13:47; Revelation 21:5)
• We believe every believer is called and empowered to make a difference in this world because of the difference Christ made for us. (Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13)

“I had always felt life first as a story. And if there is a story, there is a Storyteller.” – G.K. Chesterton

“A story involves characters who want something and are willing to overcome conflict to get it.” – Donald Miller

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou

Stories are powerful.

They inspire us, shape us, and give our lives meaning.

The story of Project Church begins with God and His story found in the scriptures. We believe that when we begin to grasp God’s story it helps us make sense of our lives. Our stories. Yet, when we read the Bible, and we look at the Church today, often the stories don’t quite match up. In some ways, we’ve lost the plot.

The calling to begin a new church started as a drive to show people outside the church that being a Christian may not always be what they’ve been led to believe. And to show folks inside the church that being a Christian may not always be what they think it is either. It’s something more. Something better. Something real.

In the Spring of 2008, a handful of friends gathered in the living room of the home of Jason and Gwyn Salamun. We dreamed, we shared, we prayed, we planned, we laughed, we served, and eventually we decided to go public and invite others into the story.

In the Fall of 2008, that small group began meeting at Alternative Fuel Coffee House in downtown Rapid City on Saturday evenings. Coffee and conversation filled the air as the scriptures were taught, Jesus was made much of, and strangers became friends, and friends became family. A trend we hope to always experience.

In late 2009, a door opened to move our gatherings to the historic Elks Theatre in the heart of Rapid City. After much prayer and discussion, we made the move into our current location and remain there today.

We’re still in Act I of our story and we believe we’re a part of something special…something bigger than us. In just a short period of time, we’ve adopted a school, assisted our local women’s and children’s shelter, raised funds to help provide clean water around the world, joined the fight against human trafficking and the sex slavery, started new gospel-driven churches, and more.  And we’re just getting started!

Our story is wrapped up in God’s story and we’d love for you to discover your part in it!  Join us soon for one of our Sunday worship gatherings and together, let’s help change the stories that need changing because of the story of Jesus that changed everything.

Love God. Love People. Live Free.

.

Your Friends at Project Church

Real. Authentic. Simple. Engaging. Nice.

Let’s be honest, visiting a church for the first time can be a bit awkward.  We understand, we’ve been there. If you’re considering checking out Project Church for the first time, here’s what you can expect.

Imagine a time where friends gather to connect (and make new ones) over coffee and tea, enjoy and sing along to some live music, and discover the timeless truths of Scripture taught in a way that’s relevant to life today.

This is what a typical gathering of Project Church looks like.

Expect to feel at home. No pressure, no intimidation, and no guilt.  The entire experience lasts about an hour and one thing is for sure…you won’t be bored and you won’t feel unwelcomed.

When we say, “come as you are” we actually mean it.  Wear a hat, wear your comfortable jeans, or get all dressed up.  All we ask is that you wear something.

Consider this your official invitation.

Hope to see you there!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Project Church
Elks Theatre | 512 6th St.
Downtown Rapid City, SD

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“Love one another.” -Jesus

Being a Christian is so much more than a mere label, it’s a way of life.  A pattern that’s integrated into everyday life not because we have to but because we get to. Not so much out of religious obligation but compelled by a love for God and people.  Love is what a disciple of Jesus should be known for and these are the rhythms we are striving for.

Follow
Above all, we seek to know, love, and follow Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions.  In every day and every moment, we look to Jesus as our great King and example.  Following Jesus is a series of next steps, each resulting in us becoming more like him. His footsteps may be large but they mark the path of the life in full.

Sent
Jesus sends us out, on mission, into culture, to be salt and light everywhere we go. In this sense, we are missionaries wherever we are (read more)…

Explore
To love God with all our minds means we are to be curious and filled with wonder at what God has revealed- in particular in the scriptures.  Through teaching and regular reading of the bible, we learn what it means to live the lives we’re meant to live and we are shaped by the very words of God.   We also discover more about our Creator and his creation in all realms of learning through story, wisdom, song, nature, imagination, and more.  However, our highest authority is our divine conversation with Jesus through the reading of scripture.

Eat
We choose not to waste our meals.  We will seek to commune with others when possible and view each meal as a blessing from God.  With each food and drink we consume, we will remember the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf as his body was broken and blood was shed for us.

Presence
We reject any notion that we are to create our own subculture. Instead, we dwell within culture in order to influence, shape, and redeem it. We believe this whole world and everything, and everyone in it, belong to God. Like Jesus, we choose to enter the story in order to change the story.

Listen
We are charged to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. One tangible expression of love is listening. We will take opportunities to hear the stories of others. To rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. We also will listen to God and create deliberate moments of silence and quiet our hearts before our Creator.

Party
Backyard BBQ’s, gathering at the local watering hole, inviting friends to our home for food and fun. These are just a few examples of what it means to party. We choose to celebrate and enjoy life with people inside and outside our community. This is what Jesus did. A good party is like a little drop of heaven on earth and is a way of life for the follower of Christ.

Bless
We are blessed by God to be a blessing to others. This can come in many forms. An encouraging email, a note of appreciation, a kind word, an unselfish act, a helping hand. Wherever your imagination takes you. Being a blessing is to make deposits into the accounts of people. Showing grace is to do so whether someone deserves it or not. We will look to tangibly bless others daily.

Grow
Growth is a natural byproduct of every healthy, living thing. This includes people and churches.  Since growth comes from God, we will continually fix our eyes on Christ, search our hearts for any cheap substitutes to him, and repent of our sin and place them at the feet of our King.  We will seek to live lives of health and wholeness remembering there’s one throne and one source of genuine growth. In doing so, we will seek to fulfill Jesus’ charge to go and make [more] disciples.

Include
The arm of God is big enough to wrap around the whole world. The least we can do is wrap our arms around our neighbor, the people we come across in our daily lives. We will not play favorites based on social status but view all people as equally valuable under an almighty God.  Our community is one where people can belong before they believe and find grace overflowing.  All are welcome to the table.

Pray
We will be a people of constant conversation and communion with God.  As we live our lives, we will pray without ceasing according to God’s will.  We will thank God, worship God, be honest to God, confess our sins to God, listen to God, and always seek opportunities to pray for others.  Our hope is to be the go-to people for prayer in our relational networks without making a big show of it.

Share
We will seek to share our time, talent, and treasure with others. Generosity will flow out of the grace God has given us. We are to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. We will be an authentic community who shares one another’s burdens with a battle cry that “no one walks alone!”  This is pleasing to God and a fingerprint of a true disciple.

Fight
We will stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves and offer hope to the hopeless. We will fight against injustice and guilt-based religion by our actions and the Gospel.  We agree with scripture and believe for justice to roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.  In serving others, we serve Christ.  We will never forget that our ultimate mission is to bring good news and be good news to those around us.

Romans 12:9-18 (ESV):

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

A handful of frequently asked questions about Project Church.

I’m not sure what I believe. Can I still be a part of Project Church?
Absolutely!  In fact, Project Church is designed for both explorers and followers of Christ.  Where you can belong before you believe.  We are all on this journey together.

Are you connected to a denomination?
Project Church is a non-denominational church.  Meaning we have no affiliation with a particular denomination.  And although we are non-denominational, we are not anti-denominational.  We are part of a worldwide Church and we hope to network with like-minded churches and organizations who share in our mission.

What should I wear to church services?
We don’t care what you wear as long as you wear something.  We can tell you that the pastor will likely wear jeans and maybe even a cap.

How can I get involved?
We have an all-hands-on-deck approach to our church and want to provide a way for you to discover and use your God-given talents. If you want to get involved, simply fill out the volunteer interest form and we’ll let you know how you can get connected.

Since you gather in a movie theater, do you have a nursery?
Yes!  A safe, clean nursery is provided for ages 3 & under.