ryan russell

For the better part of 6 months or more I have been mulling* over what it takes to meet and have friendships w/ new kinds of people. This processing really began some time after having lunch w/ Ron Jeremy & Craig. I am sure this sounds rather basic or maybe even odd, but to be honest, I am getting bored with having the same kinds of people in my circles of friendship. A better way of saying this perhaps is that most of my friends see the world the same way and I would like to get some more diversity of perspective and conversations. So with that in the forefront of my mind I have been endeavoring to strike up more conversations at random times with people I don’t know and who I did not meet at a place that would assume a unifying background or set of beliefs. I could elaborate more on the types of people I have met, but I don’t think it would make for engaging reading. Except maybe for the group of travelers I met in Sedona last spring while there with Rich & Ernie mountain biking — for that particularly unique evening I lack the creative ability to put the account down in type. Just ask me about it the next time we see each other in person.

This desire coupled with things I have learned from Craig and also experiences gained through StripChurch has begun to form some new ideas for what I plan to do here in Seattle. Rich (Nichol) and I have been batting around what God’s grace really could mean to those most in need of it and just how to go about dispensing that grace without the normal constructs or limitations associated with doing a brand new church launch in a city. What comes next will be rough when I first present it (October-ish) but I do think with some more thought-help and prayer that what we end up doing here in the city of Seattle (and other places as well) will be mostly unique and have a very powerful impact. More to come…

* “who uses that word?” – Jen

The next 9 days are going to fun, interesting and I am sure a little bit draining. Jen & I are first in Florida for a gathering of leaders w/ the Orchard Group. (They are the organization that we have landed with to help facilitate our new church launch.) The purpose of this gathering is to build some new working relationships with their key leaders that will ultimately translate in to better decision making and an incredible resource for us as we head out on this new endeavor.

After Florida we then head off to Johnson, Tennessee for 3 days of “assessment” for fitness to lead and launch a brand new church. Jen has been a bit more worried about this part of our journey than I have, so I am sure that she would appreciate your prayers. The process includes some psychological examination as well as a general interview process that is the last bit of the ‘approval’ process for Orchard Group to be our lead partner in the project.

Once we have these things wrapped up you should starting seeing a lot more details here about our new church plans, the move details, the formation of our ministry team, the leaders that are speaking into the plant and also the other partners that are lining up to be a part of the project.

Here is a bit clearer outline of where we are headed over the course of the next year or so with our church planting efforts. We are taking a very deliberate process of planning and execution.

well… i can officially say we are getting closer to making a city choice for our next phase of life & ministry. (i know that isn’t quite a certainty.) I spent tuesday through friday am in Seattle with Brent from Orchard Group. Since Seattle would be new territory for Orchard, he & Paul Williams met with George [CEA] & Jim [E. 91st St.] developing a potential partnership for this new work. The 5 of us plus Dean sat and talked Wed. morning about ministry, churches and the area. After that Brent & I (some with Dean too) spent the better part of 2 days looking at the city neighborhoods for potential locations.

Jen & I have been praying for God’s peace & direction. We began this journey with a real desire to be open to where he would have us to go. The only real parameters that we put on our prayers were that:

1. it would be out of the desert
2. it would not be in the mid-west
3. it would be a city in need of new churches

leadership articles now at: www.REDBIKELEADER.com

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we have more info. on the WHEN? part of our transition into starting a brand new church. it is coming in 2 steps.

[ miss something?     past posts 1 - 2  - 3]

at the end of Oct. i am ‘officially’ drawing to a close my 11 year staff ministry @ Central. (for those of you on staff I will be at the Nov. staff meeting to say good-bye and give you an in person scoop on these things to come.) as i have said before, our entire family has been richly blessed by our experiences and relationships while i have been on staff. although we are closing the chapter in our ‘employement’ era with Central, it is by no means an end to our relationship. Cal, myself and the key leaders at Central will be working to develop an ongoing partnership in ministry as we step into the future. 

first step | this leg of the journey will last between 6-18 months. during this time, i will place a leading priority of my efforts with the start of a brand new ministry in las vegas with my long time friend Craig Gross [Fireproof Ministries | aka. XXXchurch]. Craig has always been at the center of ministry pursuits that seek to reach those farthest from God. his new effort is an outreach ministry on the strip in vegas targeting key conventions (you will get to hear more about if you keep checking back here).

the second priority of my time I will be pouring into my business pursuits with Factor1Studios. Matt & I have had a very enjoyable working & creative friendship over the last few years. this last year we joined forces ‘officially’ to team up in bringing to life the dreams that others have for their businesses and ministries via web & marketing services.

the hope jen & i have for this period of time is for God to bring us a peace about WHERE? he is leading us and also allow for some additional study and preparation for starting a brand new church. to that end i aim to get some hands on experience by assisting Dean Kuest with his work at Pathways Church in the Seattle area as time allows. 

step two | i will continue to work with the Orchard group in our investigation period for WHERE? we will be landing. also, jen & i will be heading off to assessment at the end of Jan. (anyone want to watch the boys?) as soon as the WHERE? is decided upon, we will move there and get settled. Our new goal is to be there (where ever it is) no later than the middle of next summer and have the kids enrolled in school for the new year. the new church will open no later than sept. 2010 (that sounds really far away as i type it) but we would go on staff with Orchard 9 months prior to that. who knows though… it could happen sooner depending on how everything comes together. TONS of things go into developing a brand new church community. i will keep you connected to this journey here so that you can be a part of the prayer process.

thanks for your interest!

~ ryan & jen.