New Name / Same Mission

From the NACC, July 2, 2009 (click to see more videos).

This transition is something that we have been discussing for several years and is now becoming a reality. We will have a new name, but we continue to have the same mission: we will reach the unreached and unconnected in Chicagoland for Jesus by starting new Christian churches.

Why the change?

The time is right for a name that is more descriptive of what we do. We are an organization that plants churches in Chicagoland. We start new Christian Churches. At recent North American Christian Conventions, we have been asked by people attending: “What does your group do? What kind of churches do you start? Our new name will describe what we do, planting Christian Churches across the Chicagoland region.

The time is right for a name that is easier to remember. We recognize that everyone who knows CDEA recognizes that acronym describing our church planting organization. Through the years, I have come to realize that not everyone knows what the acronym really means. There can be some real confusion as to what the “E” in CDEA means (in fact, one time, I was introduced at a church with three different words for the “E” in a five minute segment). We who are already a part of the CDEA know to use only the acronym. When talking to someone new and the whole name is used, it becomes apparent quickly that it is a long name.

The time is right for a name that is more up to date. The word “District” is rooted historically in the Disciples of Christ denomination. Maybe this explains some of the recent questions we have received at the North American Christian Convention from people as to our heritage. Ignite Church Planting: Chicagoland will identify what our ministry is and where we do our ministry.

The time is right for Ignite Church Planting: Chicagoland. We will start new churches across the region that will accelerate the spread of the life-changing influence of Jesus.

The length of the name: For we who know what CDEA means, it is enough to use only the acronym. However, if a person does not know who we are, the whole name must be used. Invariably, a person will say, “Wow, that’s a long name.” While the length is not the most important item, it is important that we have a name that is more descriptive of who we are and what we do. We are a church planting organization, we start new Christian Churches and our area of emphasis is Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.

Why Ignite?

Fire is a powerful image: it provides warmth, protection, security, gives light, comforts, it is used to describe passion, and it brings cleansing. Fire in the Bible often showed the presence of God. God was there in the burning bush to Moses, in the pillar of fire that guided and protected the Children of Israel journeying out of Egypt, fire rained down on the sacrifice Elijah prepared proving that God was real and tongues of fire appeared over the disciples’ heads on the day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit arrived. The fire that was introduced to the world on Pentecost soon spread across the world as new churches were started.

This is the mission we will continue in Chicagoland by introducing the “fire” of Jesus into communities through starting new churches. Ignite restores a theme that once galvanized efforts in the region: Chicago must be evangelized.

For many years, fire has been a powerful image in this region. The history goes back to an event that took place in 1871: the Great Chicago Fire. This is a picture of the Chicago Fire Academy. The Academy sits on the corner of DeKoven Street in Chicago, the location of the O’Leary’s house in 1871. The fire originated in the barn at the back of the O’Leary’s property that night and destroyed a vast majority of the city before being quenched by rain. The months after the fire led a time of great growth and prosperity in the city as the city remade itself. In many ways, the fire paved the way for new growth to take place.

In the same way, we know what happens when people come to faith in Jesus Christ. A fire is kindled in their hearts that they feel compelled to pass on to everyone they know. This reality is multiplied as new churches reach new people groups across the region. We want to ignite a new spread of Jesus across Chicagoland.

The Need:

There are 10 million (+/-) in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana region. If current statistics are true, only 1 out of 3 people has any kind of faith commitment. Even if this number is true, I don’t know how much of an impact the 33% are having. This is why we must start churches that introduce the fire and passion of a relationship into people’s lives.

What would happen if 10% of the population could catch the fire of a genuine relationship with Jesus? Personally, I believe that this would create a positive shift in this region as people began to consistently live as followers of Jesus. Neighborhoods and communities would have the volunteer base needed to help people, community blight could be transformed as Christians get involved in making a difference, families in trouble could be saved, children’s lives could be improved. The presence of Jesus changes lives. This is why we must start churches that bring Jesus to people.

The Vision:

I want to lay the foundation for 1,000 churches to be started across Chicagoland. These churches will be started in a variety of settings: urban, suburban, small towns, “collar” communities, emerging and established communities, to different socio-economic groups, different ethnicities and backgrounds (I think you understand what I am saying). I know that this goal may not be realized in my lifetime, but…I want to lay the foundation so that it can be reached.

Bottom line: we want to reach 1,000,000 people in Chicagoland for Jesus Christ, believing that this will cause a “shift” in this region that will spread from here to touch other lives in many places.

How can I be involved?

Pray: We currently have over 200 people praying and fasting for new church planting in Chicagoland. Please be in prayer for us during this time of transition to our new name. Prayer is the battle! Contact Lance Hurley at HYPERLINK "mailto:lance@ignitechurchplanting.com" lance@ignitechurchplanting.com for more information.

Contribute: You can give toward the goal of starting new churches personally. We continue to pray and seek people who want to be a financial part of reaching the unreached in Chicagoland for Jesus. If you would like to contribute financially, please contact Robyn Moes at robyn@ignitechurchplanting.com or click on the donate tab on our web site.

Get involved: Attend one of the new Ignite (CDEA) churches in Chicagoland to “get the flavor” of a new church. Take a mission trip with your church to one of the new churches to help in a project they are undertaking. When a new church begins, take a group to help as “scaffolding” for a week. You will be pleasantly surprised by the excitement this will generate in your church as they see the unreached being reached.

Stay involved: Send names of people you think might be prospective church planters to Lance Hurley. We are always looking for potential planters. Send names of people you know who are moving to Chicagoland. We can help them connect to a new or established church in the area or try to get them involved in a new church that will start in that area. Send names of people you think might be potential donors (people who have a passion for reaching others) to the work of Ignite. Make sure that you spend time reading the information that comes from Ignite. This is one of the ways we try to keep supporters and friends informed. Check the web site for additional information and new updates as we continue to move forward.

Moving Forward

Ignite Church Planting is committed to accelerating the spread of the gospel across Chicagoland by starting new churches. Our name has changed, our mission will stay the same as we start new churches that will reach the unreached and unconnected of Chicagoland for Jesus Christ. (Luke 19: 10)