About Mission Columbus

Mission Columbus
Imagine the secular community in Columbus spontaneously praising God because of the positive impact Christian churches and ministries are having on major spiritual and social needs in the city. To some this may sound like wishful thinking, but this is precisely what Jesus said would happen when His disciples – the city on the hill – join together to perform “good works” in His name. (See Matthew 5:14-16.) Mission Columbus is dedicated to seeing Jesus’ promise become a reality in Columbus.

Our Mission
• To mobilize the church* in Columbus to transform the city spiritually and socially.

Our Vision
• To bring the transforming power of the Gospel to bear on Greater Columbus by increasing the health and effectiveness of local congregations and para-church ministries, by creating character-rich partnering networks among pastors, Christian leaders and their congregations and ministries, and by engaging in collaborative ventures to resolve major spiritual and social needs in our city.

The Mission Columbus Advisory Team
Scott Arnold
Executive Director, Central Ohio Youth For Christ
P.O. Box 14804
Columbus, OH 43214
sarnold@coyfc.org

Robert Louis Caldwell, Jr.
CEO, The Faith Based Partnership Initiative
303 E. 6 th Avenue
Columbus , OH 43201
Caldwell_Robert@sbc.global.net

Tyler Flynn
Minister at Large with Mission Columbus
3011 Black Kettle Trail
Dublin, OH 43017
tyler@missioncolumbus.net

Paul Hoy
Executive Director, FloodGate Vision
4770 Hoover Road
Grove City, Ohio 43123
phoy@gccn.org

Scott Marier
Executive Director, Westerville Area Resource Ministry
175A East Broadway
Westerville, Oh. 43081
scott@warmwesterville.org

Bill Mowry
Area Director, The Navigators'
Church Discipleship Ministry
35 Brevoort Road
Columbus, OH 43214
bmowry1@Columbus.rr.com

Jim Swearingen
Executive Director, City Vision
2860 Alder Vista Drive
Columbus, OH 43231
jim@city-vision.org

Wm. Weiant
President, American Center for Civic Character
Principal, CompassUSA
3636 Cemetery Road
Hilliard, OH 43026

What We Believe
Mission Columbus adheres to the historic Christian faith as described in An Evangelical Celebration. For a copy of Celebration contact Tyler Flynn at .

Our Values
• Christ-like character in the church and in those who lead the church
We believe that God receives glory through the godly character and conduct of His people and that unaddressed sin in the church grieves God and discredits Him in the eyes of the world.

• Compassion ministries for the needy
We believe that the greatest impact will come when the whole Gospel is brought to bear on our city-great acts of love as well as the verbal message of salvation.

• Unity in the Body of Christ
We believe that the Body of Christ is not divided but is one under the headship of Christ.

• Partnerships within the Body of Christ
We believe that the task of the Great Commission is too great for any single church or ministry and that we will be successful only as we strategically work together.  

• Disciple-making congregations and ministries*
We believe that Christ has called the church to develop not merely converts, but mature, highly committed, reproducing followers of Christ.

• Reaching spiritually lost people
We believe that the church is responsible not only to build itself up, but also to take the Gospel to lost people from our neighborhoods to the nations.

• Partnerships with community leaders and groups
We believe that the church has much to offer the community and that working with community groups to help people in need will earn favor for the advancement of the gospel.

* A “disciple-making congregation” includes, but is not limited to, these components: vital worship, fruitful evangelism, life-transforming training, ongoing leadership development, strategic prayer and worldwide missions involvement.

Our Ten-Year Dream
A picture of what we believe the church and our city could look like in 2013…

Church Enrichment
• At least one intentional disciple-making congregation** exists within each of the thirty major communities in and around the city.

• The state of the citywide church is being assessed periodically.

• An ongoing, collaborative citywide venture is providing training in biblical literacy and ministry skills.

Ministry Partnerships

• A website is serving the needs of Columbus-area congregations and ministries.

• Pastors and ministry leaders are part of relationally healthy, character-rich networks in each of the thirty planning areas of the city.

• Partnerships between local congregations and ministries are resulting in effective community ministry in each of the planning areas.

• Best practices for congregational and para-church ministries are being studied and standards of excellence are being promoted by a representative forum.

City Impact Ventures

• A high degree of trust and cooperation exists between churches and the business, academic and service communities.

• Teams of leaders are mobilizing the church to engage in cooperative ventures which are having a significant impact on the spiritual and social health of the city.
            • The citywide church is addressing at least one urgent social need and one urgent spiritual need by 2013.

• A local Christian foundation is established and generates/directs funds to local ministries.

* “The church” refers to all the congregations and ministries that adhere to the historic Christian faith as described in the Lausanne Covenant.