There they were, “Under the Tree,” gathered on a vacant lot in one of the more disadvantaged neighborhoods in St. Louis. A group of men around my age simply sitting together and passing the time. It was the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdown orders had just begun, and our team was delivering groceries to families connected to the local school we partnered with. Many had been furloughed, and others were struggling with hunger after the school closed its doors. The first week, the...

A few years ago, I took myself away to a small apartment in Chicago for a couple of days of prayer and, to be honest, I was feeling a little frustrated with how slowly our vision microchurch was developing in St. Louis. I was oblivious to the fact that the struggle was such an important part of the journey. Within the first hour, I sensed God ask me a question that would prove life-changing, followed by a statement: “It is time to paint on a bigger canvas.” I knew that meant widening our...

Discover the why, what, where, and how of leading neighborhood gatherings that build worship, community, and mission in everyday life.