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 to 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, and we have a nursery for the little ones. (Read more about what to expect)

Wherever you’re at on your spiritual journey, you’re invited to join us. We’re more concerned about where you’re going than where you’ve been.

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

Joining God in His Mission in the World

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The Project

God’s project is the renewal of all things and he has called us to join him! That’s the trajectory of Project Church: To Join God in His Mission in the World. We exist to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) by living out the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40).

In other words, his calling for us is clear: Love God. Love People. Live Free. And our passion is to make disciples of Jesus and help start gospel-driven churches who do the same.

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

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Design

Project Church is structured in a way that helps us focus on keeping the main thing the main thing.

This means we intentionally limit formal programs and instead focus on these three aspects of our church being the church. Each also serve as an entry point into our community and are equally significant.

Personal Relationships

• God, being a relational God, created us for relationships
• The Gospel travels on relational highways
• Our relational networks are our mission field
  
• Project Church all boils down to relationships

Missional Communities

• Beyond a small group into a genuine biblical community
• Journey together
• Care for one another
• Live out Rhythms

Weekly Gatherings

• Worship Jesus through teaching, music, prayer, & connecting.
• Celebrate God and recalibrate around his mission in the world.
• Designed with both explorers and followers of Christ in mind.

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“Behold, I am making all things new!”
-Jesus (Revelation 21:5)

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

We believe in God’s Epic Story.

This epic is revealed within the grand narrative of Scripture in a collection of 66 books known as the Bible. Inspired by God yet written by human hands, the infallible words of Scripture are God-breathed, without error, and are the supreme and final authority for life and faith.

In eternity, this story was formed.  It begins with the Author and Creator of all things- the one, true, sovereign God. He exists in community with Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit yet remains one God. He is altogether good, holy, just, wise, powerful, and loving.

In love, the Author created a world of wonder, beauty, and harmony for his masterpiece creation, humanity. Created in His image, human beings walked in relationship with the Creator and enjoyed the paradise of His creation. This is the beginning.  All was as it should be.

Then the story took a dramatic turn. Something had gone terribly wrong.

Sin entered the story through the deception of an evil serpent and the rebellion of humanity. Creation had fallen, paradise was lost, and separation came between humanity’s relationship with God and each other. Life was broken and nothing was as it should be.

In the darkest moment in human history, sin bled into the story resulting in shame, suffering, pain, distrust, despair, and pride. Although still bearing the image of God, all of humanity would now live in a fallen state of sin unable to rescue ourselves.

In the midst of this horrific event, hope and restoration is promised by God as He reveals the climax of His story. God would become a man with a mission to rescue his beloved creation and crush the evil serpent. God would write clues of His arrival into the story through various messengers, laws, events, and promises. All of which would be fulfilled through the hero of God’s epic- Jesus Christ.

Jesus entered human history miraculously as he was conceived by the Spirit of God and born to a virgin mother. Fully God yet fully human, he did what humanity could not do. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life teaching us to love God and others as ourselves. But it was his exclusive claim to being the only way to God, as well as his claim of being God, that led to his arrest, torture, and execution on a Roman cross.

He would show his great love for us through his willful yet excruciating sacrifice on the cross.  There is no greater love.

It is on the cross where the hero redeemed and rescued his beloved creation.
It is on the cross where the hero became our sin, enduring the just wrath of God.
It is on the cross where the hero became our substitute and paid the penalty for our sins.
It is on the cross where those who believe in him have right standing before God.
It is on the cross where we are cleansed from the curse of sin- past, present, and future.
It is on the finished work of the cross where Jesus died for us so that we might live for him.

But the story doesn’t end there…He came back!

Three days after being buried in a tomb, Jesus Christ rose from death defeating hell, conquering sin, and crushing the sting of death. He appeared to hundreds of witnesses and then physically ascended into Heaven and is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father.  Salvation is only found by God’s saving grace in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  God’s grace is not earned, it is freely given to all who truly believe. Those who believe will spend a life and eternity in relationship with Him. Those who don’t, get exactly what they want, a life and eternity apart from a relationship with God.

The story continues to be written through the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God was promised by Jesus to supernaturally guide our stories, work in the hearts of humanity, and draw us near to Jesus. The Spirit resides within us and works to teach and transform us,  help us when we are in need, convict us of our sin, secure our salvation, and empower us with spiritual gifts to advance the Kingdom of God on earth today.

The mission of Jesus was, and is, crystal clear: to seek and save that which was lost.  And that’s exactly what He did…and what He’s doing.

Through the Church, followers of Jesus are united as one body made up of various expressions of church.  They gather in prayer, worship, teaching, community, and mission with baptism and the Lord’s Supper being visible expressions of the gospel story.

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus and join God in the renewal of all things by announcing the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven and telling the story of God’s amazing grace, the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the ends of the earth- starting in our local communities.

Today, Jesus Christ reigns supreme as King of kings and Lord of lords. This epic will end when the King returns to earth in all his power and glory to gather his people, judge the living and the dead, and usher in a new Creation, a new Paradise, a new Kingdom, where we will worship and enjoy Him forever.

In the end, Jesus wins.

This is God’s epic story.

This is what we believe!

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The Apostles’ Creed

At Project Church, we also value the ancient roots of our faith and affirm the statements found in The Apostles’ Creed (circa A.D. 220).

We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
one holy Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.

Amen.

“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 the human drama we’re all in. Yet, when we read the Bible, and we look at the Church today, 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. It’s something more. Something better. Something real.

In the Spring of 2008, a handful of friends gathered in the living room of Jason and Gwyn Salamun with the intent of planting a new church. A community who believed earnestly in the gospel of grace found in Jesus and sought to live that out in our lives. A community who are meant for the good of the city and the world, not just for ourselves. A community who were guided by scripture and driven by love. We dreamed, we shared, we prayed, we planned, we served, and eventually we decided to go public and invite others into the story.

In the Fall of 2008, that group of friends began meeting at Alternative Fuel Coffee House in downtown Rapid City. 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 Sunday 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, fight human trafficking and the sex slavery, start new gospel-driven churches, and more.  In fact, we give away half our weekly offering to make a difference locally and around the world. 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.

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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!

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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.”

Leaders Follow Jesus.

Every healthy, living thing has structure and the church is no different. Here’s our simplified overview of what we believe is the biblical model of the church and how we approach church leadership at Project Church.

Jesus is the Head of the Church. The Senior Pastor so to speak. (1 Peter 5:4; Ephesians 5:23)

The scriptures are the ultimate authority for life and faith. (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

All arrows point to Jesus…always. (Colossians 1:18)

In scripture, the church is not a business or even a non-profit organization.

The church is a family of believers who love God and people. (Acts 2:41-47; 1 Timothy 3:15)

The church is the very embodiment of Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:15)

The entire church are priests. (1 Peter 2:9)

Ministers of the gospel. (Ephesians 4:12)

Storytellers of the gospel. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

With their words and lives. (Matthew 5:16)

From the church body, a team of leaders are called to lead. (1 Thessalonians 5:12)

Key word: called. (Hebrews 13:17)

They are the elders/overseers/leaders of the church. (1 Peter 5:1-2)

They are all equal. (Acts 14:23)

From among them there can be a leader of leaders. (Acts 15:22)

A first among equals so to speak.

Often, their primary role is teaching and preaching. (1 Timothy 5:17)

Not just anyone can or should be an elder.

There are biblical qualifications. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

And biblical responsibilities. (Titus 1:9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

In short, elders lead the church by following Jesus. (1 Peter 5:3-4)

And equip God’s people for works of service. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Taking on various forms and functions. (Ephesians 4:11)

There are other leaders called deacons. (Philippians 1:1)

Their role is serving by leading ministries. (1 Timothy 3:13)

They have biblical qualifications and responsibilities too. (1 Timothy 3:8-12)

The structure of a biblical church is marked by humility, service, cooperation, accountability, prayer, love, and gospel community. (Romans 8:9-18)

Followers of Jesus are to be in community and have a role in it. (Romans 12:4-8)

Churches usually call them members, owners, or partners. (Ephesians 2:19)

They aren’t to be spectators.

Here’s the deal:

They don’t just have a part, they are a part. (Ephesians 5:30)

If a healthy church is following Jesus they are joining him in the renewal of all things. (Revelation 21:5)

Together. (Acts 2:42-46)

Momentum grows. (Acts 2:47)

So do the people. (Acts 4:33)

And Jesus is made much of along the way. (John 12:32)

Project Church aims to be a biblical, healthy, loving church.

Centered on the gospel; expressed in community; on a mission from God. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)

A shining city on a hill. (Matthew 5:14)

An unstoppable force. (Matthew 16:18)

Remembering Jesus is the hero, we are the rescued, and under him we are all equal. (Hebrews 12:2; Romans 3:23; James 2:1)

To the glory of God and for the good of our cities. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Jeremiah 29:7)

Jason Salamun is the founding pastor of Project Church; a gospel-driven community committed to joining God in his mission in the world.

Jason Salamun (pastor)

His passion is to see as many people as possible live free by following Jesus.  He describes himself as a recovering hypocrite who’s striving to keep it real. And while he takes God seriously, he tries not to take himself too seriously.

Following four years of active duty service in the U.S. Air Force, Jason interned at a Lutheran church and eventually accepted a position to lead a student ministry in that church. After a few years, he transitioned into Training and Development working for a Fortune 500 company and he currently heads up a training department at a large financial institution while planting Project Church.

Jason met and married his wife Gwyn in Colorado Springs, CO in 1999 and somehow convinced her to move to his hometown of Rapid City, SD in 2001. They have two children, Reece and Regan, and are proud to call the Black Hills their home.

You can find Jason on Facebook and follow his journey on Twitter. He also drops thoughts and shares stories on his blog.

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10 Questions with Jason

1. What do you do at Project Church?
I do most of teaching on Sundays, quite a bit of the design, and oversee the big picture vision and strategy for the church along with some other leaders.

Dallas Willard and Jason Salamun

2. As a Christian leader, who are your influences?
Outside of Jesus, I’ve been greatly influenced by my parents, Russ & Dalaina Salamun. They were missional before missional was cool.

I’m also thankful for notable authors, pastors, and theologians who make much of Jesus such as C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller, Martin Luther, G.K. Chesterton, Dallas Willard, Francis Chan, N.T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Charles Spurgeon, Eugene Peterson, Mark Driscoll, Alan Hirsch, and Rick Warren. I could go on.

3. Where did you grow up?
I moved to Rapid City, SD when I was 11 and prior to that, I was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas (home of Buddy Holly). Every once in a while my ya’ll slips out and I also learned at a very young age never, ever, ever mess with Texas.

4. How did you meet your wife?
In 1999, I met my best friend and wife, Gwyn, through some mutual friends at a Mario Party and it was love at first sight. Who knew the video game, Mario Cart, could spark a love story?

The Salamun Family

5. What is something most people don’t know about you?
When I was 16, I was selected as one of the top 200 Christian youth leaders in the U.S. and went to a leadership conference in Israel. It was a pretty amazing experience and quite a shocker for this South Dakota boy who was pretty unsure of his faith at the time.

6. Besides the Bible, what’s one book that had a profound impact on you?
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. Everyone should read it. I reread it once a year.

7. What musical artists are you into?
I have a varied taste. I dig indie/rock from the likes of The Avett Brothers and Sufjan Stevens to outlaw country from guys like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings to jazz from the likes of John Coltrane and Miles Davis to vintage stuff from The Beatles and Leonard Cohen to CCM artists such as Derek Webb and Five Iron Frenzy to bands like U2 and Hootie and the Blowfish.

8. What are some things on your bucket list?
Here are a handful of them: I’d like to write books that people read, take a European tour with friends, experience my 50th wedding anniversary, help start 100 churches and life-giving causes, and be on Saturday Night Live.

9. Who were your childhood heroes growing up?
Hulk Hogan, Nolan Ryan, Bill Cosby, Johnny Carson, Mr. T, and Reggie White. (I watched a lot of television and sports as a kid).

10. Any favorite quotes?
So many to choose from, but I’ll leave you with five.

A lyric from the Leonard Cohen song, “Anthem”:
“There is crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

Insightful words from the great theologian, The Tick:
“Destiny’s powerful hand has made the bed of my future, and it’s up to me to lie in it…And you don’t fight destiny. No sir. And, you don’t eat crackers in the bed of your future, or you get all… scratchy.”

Thought-provoking quote from author Anne Lamott:
“You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”

Encouraging words from Teddy Roosevelt:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

This quote from John Piper messed me up (in a good way):
“The critical question for our generation-and for every generation-is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?”

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.