Westside Partner, Christ the Victor Freedom Initiative, moving into a KCK neighborhood to better LOVE KC!
Once in a while, I attend a meeting where God gives such clear direction that I am stunned and amazed.
Westside helped launch the “Christ the Victor Freedom Initiative” (CTV) last year as a church for men and women who are incarcerated in our state prisons. We now have worship services in Lansing and Topeka Correctional Facilities with a total of almost 500 in worship each week. We have been working to plant a new congregation on Wednesday evenings at Avenue of Life for those who are released from prison.
Last night, at a leadership meeting for the new church, our team was discussing the men who are recently released from prison. Each of them is being mentored by someone from our leadership team. We have been able to find housing for them in an apartment complex at the corner of 18th and State Street in Kansas City, KS, about two miles from Avenue of Life.
As we discussed each of the men we quickly realized that they were all struggling with life on the outside. Early optimism gave way to harsh reality as we realized all of the men were showing signs of drug use and on a path that would lead them back to prison.
We talked about the need these men have for more constant fellowship. We talked about the urgency of establishing NA and AA groups. We talked about the community where they live and the spiritual darkness that is so real there. It wasn’t long into this discussion that someone suggested we consider moving our new church plant from Avenue of Life to the apartment complex where these men live. We realized we needed to be more aggressive in our efforts to disciples these men and establish a base for the gospel in the community where they live.
So last night the leadership team of Christ the Victor decided to take the church to the neighborhood.
We agreed to rent an apartment in the same complex to host Bible studies, NA and AA groups. At least once a week we will host a meal for the entire complex out of this apartment and at all times we will prayerfully look for ways to share Jesus with this community. Our hope is that we will not only effectively disciple the men in our congregation, but we also believe we can create an outpost for the Kingdom in the community.
Our hope is that we will not only effectively disciple the men in our congregation, but we also believe we can create an outpost for the Kingdom in the community.
This morning I was talking on the phone with Troy, the pastor of CTV. As we were celebrating this new move we acknowledged the profound need for a prayer covering. We invite YOU to pray for this new congregation. As we work to build an outpost for the gospel in this apartment complex we realize there is an enemy who will work against us. Pray for the spiritual and physical protection of our men and their leaders. Pray for the neighborhood to be transformed by the gospel!
Christ the Victor Freedom Initiative's vision:
To create an intentional Christ-centered community that values everyone's sacred worth, understanding what we have done and yet affirming what we can still be, united together through shared spiritual disciplines.
