FAQ (a.k.a. Frequently Asked Questions)

1. How long has this effort been going on and how did it get started?
The relational foundation for this new ministry was formed around the 1993 Columbus Billy Graham Crusade and the Pastors Prayer Summits held in conjunction with the Crusade. Scores of friendships were deepened and new relationships were created as more than two hundred pastors and ministry leaders prayed and worked to prepare for the crusade and as groups of pastors spent four days at a time in worship and prayer.

In 1997 Paul Hoy, the founding pastor of what is now the Tuttle Vineyard, left the pastorate and began casting the vision of city reaching among Central Ohio pastors and leaders. Tyler Flynn joined the effort in 2000 after twenty-nine years in the pastorate, including fifteen years as the pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in northwest Columbus. The Mission Columbus Advisory Team was formed in September 2001. Since then the advisory team has met monthly to explore ways to help move forward the city reaching process.

2. Is Mission Columbus an organization?
Mission Columbus is an expanding network of relationships rather than an organization. The Mission Columbus Advisory Team has intentionally not created a highly structured organization so that it would have the adaptability and responsiveness necessary to help facilitate (and not direct!) this developing city reaching movement.

3. Aren’t pastors and ministry leaders divided by their theological and spiritual differences?
Although there are many areas of potential disagreement, there are many more things we agree on. Pastors and leaders understand that they must put aside their differences on the non-essentials and focus their energy on reaching the spiritually lost world with the Gospel of Christ.

4. What denominations are represented?
Almost every major protestant denomination is represented by pastors and leaders involved in this movement.

5. What ethnic groups are involved?
As relationships of trust continue to develop between black and white pastors in Columbus, there is the potential for a broad-based partnership in tackling the larger issues that face our neighborhoods and city. For generations the African-American Church led the way in addressing the social as well as the spiritual needs of the community, and the rest of the Church is learning from their example. Furthermore, as Columbus becomes more racially diverse, every effort is being made to build bridges to the leaders of the new ethnic communities and to affirm their role in reaching the city with the Gospel.

6. Are there city reaching efforts in other cities?
Yes! Many cities in the United States have a city reaching movement. Although every city has its unique approach to city transformation, most share the common vision of changing the spiritual and social landscape of their city through the power of Christ. For a directory of city reaching websites, log onto www.cityreaching.com.