We just ordered 150 Moleskine journals (pictured below) that we will be handing out to everyone at Center City this weekend. We are going to be reading through the Word together in 2013 as a community.The following is a letter from our Spiritual Formation Pastor, Joseph Phillips, that will be included in each journal. Gives a great description of what we are aiming to do this coming year as we gather around the Word as a community. Read. Pray. Gather. Go.------------------------------------------------------------------Center City Family -Four words sum up our desire for you at Center City...

We hit another mile marker this past week in the journey of bringing Ebenezers Coffeehouse to Uptown Charlotte. We found out that we have officially finalized our filing with the state of North Carolina. Thanks to the generosity of many, the filing fee for the state and the lawyer fees have been covered and we are able to move into the next phase of the journey and we are prayerfully considering next steps.Thanks to all that have invested into this process. Each one of you are shareholders in this vision to bring this coffeehouse/venue to Uptown that will in turn give all profits to...

You have a name. That's a given, of course. Now think about this: the God of all creation knows your name. He knows everything about you. Good. Bad. Trivial. Deep. Surface. Everything. He knows the great victories and shameful defeats. He knows the public successes and the private struggles. He knows the doubts that you have about him and the questions you ask. And in spite of all of this, he is madly in love with you.He knows your name and he calls you by name. He wants to talk to you. How can you talk to God? Start with the Word. He speaks to us through the Bible. Continue the...

I taught this past week on a simple phrase: the first impacts the following. Matthew 6:33 beautifully depicts this principle: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." It's pretty easy to get things out of order. In our effort to live a meaningful life, we invest our first (and most valuable) efforts into various activities: __ social justice__ pursuit of financial security__ relationships__ insert your first hereWhen we seek FIRST the Kingdom of God, the Word tells us that it impacts all of these...

If you call Center City Church home, I have a confession to make: You don't need me.As your pastor and shepherd, I find unspeakable joy in leading this church family. It's a calling that includes great passion and commitment. But I always want to be careful to make sure that our church family is pointed to Jesus, not to a person given temporary oversight of a community of faith. You don't need me. You need Jesus. You need the Word of God as your guide that points you to him. My entire aim as the shepherd of this community is to try to find creative ways to help you engage with the Word...

One of my favorite things that we do at Center City is a once a month prayer walk around Uptown Charlotte. There is something so unifying about joining together with others to agree in prayer as we walk around the city. I am not sure of all of the significance of this, but there's a unique perspective that comes from actually getting out and walking the streets of the city that you love. People come to life as you walk by each individual. Businesses pop out of the landscape that you otherwise would have never noticed as you drive. And there is a spiritual dynamic that comes from getting...

I am coming out of a monthlong funk.This month has been a season of wrestling, questioning and struggling. And I'm becoming more and more convinced that it's not all that bad to be dissatisfied. On the outside, all things have seemed great. Our church has grown. Lots of involvement from our people. Our church is simple, powerful, beautiful and meaningful. But something has been missing. And so the wrestling ensued. Questions. Complaints. Doubts. Insecurities. Lamenting.Thanksgiving helped me come out of my funk. Taking a couple of days to break away, pray, spend time with my family...

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church. This was one of the most impacting week's that I've had, personally, in the 2.5 years that we've been blessed to be in Charlotte. A beautiful word picture of what I see when I pray for our community.[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/53906440 w=400&h=225] reIMAGINE - Imagery of the Field from Center City Church on Vimeo. Matthew 13:31-32 paints a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of God as a mustard seed that is planted in a field. We explore this passage and Pastor David then shares the picture of what he sees when he prays for...

Here's the current ministry positions that I'm praying will rise up for our church family. As a church plant, the challenge is that we are not yet in position to pay our amazing staff, so these positions that I'm praying for would be part-time, unpaid leadership positions within our church family.If you're interested, or know somebody who has a passion for the city, you know where to find me. And if you don't know where to find me, email me: [email protected]. Center City Kids Director Responsibilities include working with the Center City Kids leadership team to equip, train,...

What a day. In less than 24 hours we have seen 25 people come together from Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Missouri, Tanzania and Cambodia to raise the $850 that it costs to file our non-profit with the state. I am so humbled, grateful and encouraged tonight.We have been working on the dream to bring Ebenezers Coffeehouse to Uptown Charlotte for six years. Today is a reminder that there are so many that stand with us and are willing to invest in the process of seeing this non-profit coffeehouse/venue come to life in the heart of our city.Thanks to all that gave. You're shareholders in the...