The Best Is Yet To Come!

This spring, we are launching the Greater initiative at First Christian Church. Greater will be a season unlike any other – a two-year discipleship journey and generosity initiative to seek and save the next generation and blaze a trail for a bright future for our church and our region. Our dream is simple:

We want every person in the 330 area code and beyond to hear the good news of Jesus and be invited to know Him and become part of His family.

During this season, we will seek to walk boldly with God-sized vision and trust that He will call us to greaterfaith, dependance, and Kingdom impact.

The Greater journey is a call to a renewed lifestyle of faith and generosity – one that lasts long after this initiative is over. We’re committed to seeking His will and asking, “God, what do you want to do?”

A Note From Jimmy

Over the past several years, our church has walked through a lot of change. We’ve faced challenges, celebrated victories, and seen God do things that remind us He’s not finished with His Church – not by a long shot. But as I look ahead, I believe with all my heart that what God wants to do next is going to be immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine.

Our world is filled with noise – distraction, division, discouragement. But what if, right now, God is inviting His people to rise above all of that and step into something greater – to dream bigger, trust more boldly, and live more boldly for the mission of the gospel? 

For many years, First Christian Church has been a place where ordinary people have done extraordinary things through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. From a small group of believers stepping out in obedience to start a new church, to a thriving community that now spans generations and neighborhoods across Stark County and far beyond, every chapter of our story has been marked by courage, sacrifice, and a deep desire to lead people to be all-in disciples of Jesus.

Now it’s our turn to write the next chapter. The Greater vision is more than a set of projects or series of strategies – it’s a movement of faith. It’s about trusting that when we give God our best, He multiplies it for His Kingdom. It’s about believing that the best days for our church, our city, and the people we’re called to reach are still ahead.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to dream together, pray together, and commit together. My prayer is that God would do something greater in each of us – not just for what He wants to do through us, but for what He wants to do in us.

Let’s open our hearts and trust Him completely. The future is bright. The mission is clear. The time is now. And the best is yet to come.

Let’s believe for GREATER!

Primary Goal:
100% Engagement

First and foremost, this journey is a call to spiritual growth. Our primary goal is 100% engagement – that every single one of us would take a personal journey with God and learn what He might have for us as it relates to generosity with our time, talents, and treasure – and greater dependence on Him. It’s about stepping out in faith and watching our courage and conviction grow as we follow God’s lead.

Secondary Goal
$11,000,000

First and foremost, this journey is a call to spiritual growth. Our primary goal is 100% engagement – that every single one of us would take a personal journey with God and learn what He might have for us as it relates to generosity with our time, talents, and treasure – and greater dependence on Him. It’s about stepping out in faith and watching our courage and conviction grow as we follow God’s lead.

Greater Impact [$6.5m]

We want everyone who calls First Christian their church home to know God, discover hope, find a place to belong, and make a difference. These things are already a part of our DNA, but we want to raise the bar in the next few years, coming at them with greater intentionality.

Moving forward, we will work harder than ever to connect with others, raise up the next generation to know Jesus, be fully present in our communities, and serve our neighbors. We will continue to invest in the exciting ministry that’s already happening at our church through our regular annual operating budget.

Greater Vision [$4.5m]

We have a heart for our communities, and we want to do everything we can to bring the hope and help of Jesus to Stark County and beyond.

We want every person in the 330 area code and beyond to hear the good news of Jesus and be invited to know Him and become part of His family.

A few ways this initiative will support this greater vision include:

Our Meyers Lake campus will be completely renovated, allowing us to open the doors to the surrounding community and welcome them into our church family.

We also believe God is calling us to better utilize our current campus and existing ministries to be places and spaces that effectively reach those in our neighborhoods. This includes completing the remodeling of our Kids’ Ministry spaces and updating our lobby and other common areas to better serve our church and community.

We will build a marriage ministry that will strengthen and encourage couples and families.

We will develop and launch a leadership training program, including a residency program designed to train post-college students for full-time ministry and a lay leadership training program that will help people from all walks of life grow in Christlike leadership in their homes and workplaces.

We will launch a ministry to help train people to share their faith and lead others to Jesus.

HOW THIS WORKS

The Greater initiative is a two-year journey. During these two years, every gift given to First Christian Church will be used both to continue our ongoing ministries and to invest in the vision God has given us for the future. Both priorities will be part of a single budget, set by the elders, in response to commitments we make during the Greaterinitiative.

The generosity part of this vision is called a “one fund” initiative. You may have been part of a church campaign in the past where you were asked to give a second gift “above and beyond” your normal offering to complete a special project.

We believe it is healthier and simpler to give to a single fund. Both the Greater Impact and Greater Vision parts of this initiative are resourced through this one fund, meaning you won’t give to the general fund and an additional gift to the vision initiative. 

WHAT’S NEXT?

We’re asking everyone to link arms as a church family on a spiritual journey with God, to take the largest step of generosity you’ve ever taken with your time, talents, and treasure, as we move together to walk toward a future that is Greater than anything we’ve dreamed of yet.

>> Commit to Fuel the Mission

>> Set Up Recurring Giving

COMMIT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING GREATER

This two-year discipleship journey of generosity will be a season like no other at First Christian Church. To help you consider your next step, we are providing a commitment card. For some, that may mean joining us on this journey by making a commitment to start giving for the first time. For others, it may mean committing to give “above and beyond” what you’re giving now.

As you begin to pray about your financial involvement and what that will mean for your journey with God over this next year, check out this video from Lead Pastor Jimmy McLoud.

Ready to Commit?

Complete the online commitment card and your responses will be forwarded to a member of our team. You will receive an email with information about how to give and how to access your giving records.

Your total two-year commitment includes your current/regular giving, your expanded Greater giving for the year, and any special gifts you may feel led to give from your stored resources.

Online Commitment Card

DOWNLOADS

SERMONS