FAQs
How did this happen?
New City reached out to one of the Northridge Deacons months ago to build relationships and see if any help was needed. Over time a relationship was developed. Northridge had been declining for years and was faced with difficult decisions in the near future. By God’s grace the leadership from the two churches united on a proposal to replant Northridge as a new church under New City Church’s leadership, and on July 12, 2020, the Northridge congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor of this proposal!
What is a church replant?
Church Replanting is “the rescue, redemption and restoration of a church at or near the point of death, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God and the good of the community.” (NAMB) It is like church planting but differs in that a healthy congregation comes alongside a dying one to bring new life, a new vision, and a renewed sense of mission. Church replanting honors the heritage and community of the legacy church, enabling the church to restart with new resources, a new name, a new ministry philosophy, new life.
How can I get involved?
We ask everyone to pray for the replanted church, that God will move in mighty ways to use the new church to advance His mission. Everyone is invited to visit for worship services as well (currently Sundays at 11am). In addition to prayer, we need volunteers and Core Team members. Volunteers can serve on a rotating basis in parking/connect, kids ministry, music, tech/sound. Core Team members commit to being an active part of the replant for a period of time (see below).
What is the Core Team?
The Core Team is the foundational group of people who are committed to seeing the replanted church thrive under Jesus’ headship. This team is comprised of all legacy (Northridge) congregational members who desire to stay and be a part of this movement. The team also includes any New City partners who are willing to invest 9 months (through April 2021) in the replant, living as partners with the replanted church congregation, serving as volunteers, and helping advance the culture change to the new mission and vision. Finally the Core Team will include others invited by legacy and New City team members who decide to become a part of the replant. Later in the Core Building Phase, the Core Team will begin gathering to pray, celebrate, train, and plan outreach.
What will change for the replanted church? Will the traditional activities (Quilting Club, Hilltoppers) continue?
Over time, many things will change. Every aspect of the church, from Sunday worship service elements to Sunday School to back office processes, will be reviewed and adapted to align with the new mission and vision. Some changes will be made gradually and some will be made quickly. Groups who wish to gather at the church for an activity, like the Quilting Club, can continue doing so. Over time we will work with these groups to explore ways they can leverage their gathering to deepen their identities in Christ. For example, could the Quilting Club use its quilts to care for the homeless, and/or invite the unchurched in the community to join the Quilting Club where they will also learn about Jesus?
Who will preach? Who will be the Lead Pastor?
During the Core Building phase, until a Lead Replanter-Pastor is established, New City Church will provide preaching each Sunday morning from a rotation of the New City Elders. New City Church will kick off the Lead Pastor search; this process will be led by New City Elders.
The Lead Replanter-Pastor will perform three basic tasks:
1) He loves and cares for the replanting church members. He seeks to warm their hearts to the Gospel. He seeks to help them lay down the idol of the past and cling only to Jesus through a fresh experience of the Gospel. He does this in many ways. He does it in his preaching and teaching. He does it as he spends quality time with the congregation. He does it by modeling a life of Gospel-centered joy, not joy in numbers or results or control but joy in Jesus. For many generations, the members of dying churches have seen leaders who seem to find joy in results or control and not in the Gospel. It will take considerable time to deconstruct that in the members. But it is time very well spent. It will be the foundation for trust and change that will be required.
2) He does the work of a church planter in the community. He learns all he can, he volunteers and imbeds himself in the community. He understands his call is not just to the dying church but to the community. He seeks to locate, evangelize and disciple young men. Dying churches have typically been unable to connect to millennials, especially millennial men. Yet nothing can provide a more solid foundation for replanting than a core of millennial young men who are making disciples. It is highly likely that when the dying church was just beginning and reaching its community it had an abundance of young men age 20-39 in key leadership roles.
3) He serves his community with radical generosity. While the dying church may not have many resources, the Replanter is charged with the task of securing partner churches and networks to conduct ministry and meet needs in the community. Serving the community brings a new branding to a dying church. It serves to engage the millennials you are seeking to reach and it provides the older members with a reason for the church to exist. It is in the area of radical service that the older members and the new people who are reached begin to work together. It is around the identities of family, servant and missionary that new DNA is developed and new church life forms.
What will the worship and music be like?
New City Family churches seek to sing the Gospel. Our music is carefully selected to tell and walk through God’s Big Story of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration every Sunday morning. The style of music chosen is designed to minister to existing people and connects with visitors from the community, striking a balance between the existing congregation and outreach.
What is the governance structure? How are decisions made?
As part of the vote to replant, Northridge adopted New City’s bylaws and governance structure. The replanted church will exist under the leadership of the New City elders, with all operational decisions turned over to New City, until the replanted church can become self-sustaining and self-governing. Decisions are no longer made by committees or through congregational votes. During the Core Building phase, all day-to-day decision-making is handled by a transition team who will work with the New City Church, Macon Elders.
How will Sunday School and Missional Communities work in the replanted church?
Sunday School and Missional Communities are similar in that a small group of people meet regularly to dive deeper into Scripture, to share prayer requests, and to care for one another as family. There are a few key differences also:
1) Missional Communities typically meet in homes during the week
2) Missional Communities are designed to share leadership, where all members are invited to use their gifts to lead in different areas (meals, prayer, music, sermon discussion)
3) Each Missional Community has a missional focus, where the group invests in activities and/or service opportunities with the goal of reaching those who do not know Jesus
4) Missional Communities are open, always seeking to invite outsiders into the family
5) Missional Communities are multi-generational, with members from all stages of life caring for one another
As Sunday School groups resume meeting, we begin evolving these groups to include the elements of Missional Communities. We will increase focus on our identities in Christ and how we can live them out together in our Sunday School groups.
Is the replanted church open to the public?
Yes! We desire that anyone interested become a part of this movement. However, during the Core Building phase, the Core Team will focus on inviting others relationally to become part of the replant. As we transition to the Launch Phase, we will take a broader approach, with signage, outreach events and social media advertising.
What is a Family of Churches?
A Family of Churches is made up of independent and interdependent local churches that work together for the advancement of the Gospel. Each New City Family church exists to help people live in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that church planting and replanting are an important part of carrying out this mission. God is glorified when New City Family churches and other churches cooperate to edify, protect, encourage and support one another. In time, the replanted church, as part of the New City Family of Churches, will grow large enough to help other churches who are declining or dying.
Does New City take over church assets? Does money exchange hands?
The replanted church will exist as a separate corporate entity, with assets that are separate from New City Church. No money exchanges hands between the churches. As needed New City Church will help cover a portion of the replanted church’s expenses, until the replant is self-sustaining.