My journey from the church building and the pew to the vine and the branch began when my beloved church of ten years left my wife Liz and me, along with other beloved brothers and sisters of the congregation, by deciding to leave our denomination, which they no longer wanted to belong to. I share this story in a grace-filled spirit. It's not about my former church but about the journey to a new expression of church. Our remnant wanted to continue as a church and were looking at church in a traditional context. 

We would need a place to meet (building) and wait for people to come and sit (pew). I/We went to work in this traditional context and found that it has its place but, at this time, was not meeting our call to be disciples who make disciples. 

With the vision of the Ruiz family, we began looking at how others are being the church outside of the building walls and pews. We met in homes, coffee shops, parks, and while walking through our neighborhoods. We prayed, worshipped, and encouraged each other to seek intentional friendships in our communities.

One evening, a neighbor and member of my former church came to our house after being unable to find a church leader’s house to let her into the building so they could use the freezer, because hers had broken. She had her freezer contents with her. I told her I have a freezer in the garage and that she was free to use it. After she left, I realized I/we are the church. I/we need to be the church, be Christ in the neighborhood, the community, the city.

A Simple Church context joining with others who are doing church outside the building. God's church is a vine. A vine with branches (His disciples) being a presence growing through the neighborhood, community, and city.

I want to be one of the branches serving my Lord and Savior.

Let's be the church. CityVine Church.

I love you all,

Ed