New Around the Mission

Churches Work Together to RenewDC

January 27, 2011

Renew dc – the team of six representing three churches of the RenewDC initiative.

Church of the Resurrection, Church of the Advent and Church of the Ascension came together under the umbrella of RenewDC to host Chris Wright, International Director of Langham Partnership International in a weekend conference, January 14-16. Despite winter’s bitter chill, several hundred participants representing twelve local congregations came out in the blustery weather over the holiday weekend to participate.

Inspiring messages entitled, Reading the Bible for Mission, Saints in the Marketplace, and Missional Living gave perspective on how the Bible is about God’s mission to the world, not our own mission, and shed light on how He invites us to join him in redemption and recover what was lost in the fall.

Conference speaker Chris Wright, International Director of the Langham Partnership International and respected theologian.

“Chris talked a lot about the importance of work in secular jobs. He broadened perspective and changed paradigms about work so people could actually see involvement in mission as part of their piety,” explains the Rev. Chuck Colson, Rector of Church of the Ascension in Arlington, Virginia.

The Rev. Dan Claire, Rector of Church of the Resurrection, notes that the message delivered fulfills the goal of the conference to “stir up passion for mission.”

“I would love to see more mission across racial lines and in the marketplace; the priesthood of the believer in their own vocation,” he notes.

A highlight of the weekend came when for the first time in their history, all three congregations joined together for worship on Sunday at National Baptist Church.

“It was the first time we had a space large enough to accommodate everyone. It was an electric evening as almost 500 people came together for the final evening of the conference,” said Chuck. “Many of our members commented that it was great to see so many people they didn’t know, as well as reunite with friends who left their congregations to plant churches. They remarked that they missed their friends, but it was worth it!”

RenewDC’s aim is to establish neighborhood churches throughout metropolitan Washington and expand the family of God. They hope to plant two more churches in Washington during the next three years.

Want to know more:
Listen to conference teaching by Chris Wright.
Read about RenewDC in Gospel Coalition

Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Faith in Action