The Short Version
I mentioned this on the homepage, but it's noteworthy that everyone involved on our church planting team independently and without prompting sensed God leading them to Fayetteville. Honestly, that in itself is miraculous! And at the end of the day, that internal peace and resolution from God is all we need. Of course, we're still continuing to envision our move to Arkansas, and the longer we do, the easier our decision becomes. Keep reading below to learn some of Fayetteville's uniquenesses that further drew us to the city.
The Less Short Version
Some high points about our future home:
- SEC Country
- College Town
Me walking on the campus of Boston College
- Population Growing Rapidly
- Culturally Relevant
- Business Hub
Fayetteville's Unique Potential
When we plant a church, we're not just trying to reach a city; we're trying to mobilize a city - into business, government, schools, hospitals, missions, ministry, and more. As much as we long to see people come to salvation, we're just as passionate about equipping believers to go and impact their worlds for the better. Without a doubt, Fayetteville has spiritual need, particularly as its population increasingly leans towards humanism and post-modernism and away from traditional Christian values. But Fayetteville is also a well-churched town with a rich Christian heritage waiting to be activated.
What we've found to be the case in Aggieland we anticipate to be true in Arkansas as well: there are countless students who already associate themselves with Christianity but lack a clear demonstration of how to truly live as a Christian. All they've heard is 'go to church and be a good person.' To say it differently, there are so many who are already going in the right general direction, but have never shifted up from first gear - in large part because they didn't know they could.
Often, these people are just one catalytic experience - or one clear role model - away from trading their moderate Christian activity for a life of complete commitment to God and His purposes. And in our minds, there isn't a place on the earth we could better realize this vision than in Fayetteville, Arkansas!
What we've found to be the case in Aggieland we anticipate to be true in Arkansas as well: there are countless students who already associate themselves with Christianity but lack a clear demonstration of how to truly live as a Christian. All they've heard is 'go to church and be a good person.' To say it differently, there are so many who are already going in the right general direction, but have never shifted up from first gear - in large part because they didn't know they could.
Often, these people are just one catalytic experience - or one clear role model - away from trading their moderate Christian activity for a life of complete commitment to God and His purposes. And in our minds, there isn't a place on the earth we could better realize this vision than in Fayetteville, Arkansas!