Leadership

There’s a curious tension in the Gospels: everyone around Jesus wants to manage children, but Jesus frequently makes room to be “with them.” Learning to be present with children has great value for all of us. Children teach us to imagine and wonder again. They model a childlike faith, lack of guile and vulnerability that is often a mirror for our "adult" souls.

We believe the best long term thing we can do for our kids’ spiritual health is to include them in the authentic give-and-take relationships of an extended family on mission. Children need to see the adults around them living out an authentic faith. They need to be able to contribute. And they need space to ask their questions without fear and shame.

Presently, we take communal ownership for caring for children when we gather. We believe a significant need as disciples of Jesus is to learn these life skills! Safety is paramount, so this involves training and co-leadership. We want to teach our kids that church is not an obligation but a part of everyday life. We also want our children to know that there is no junior Holy Spirit or junior Bible. We disciple our children in life with Jesus in God's kingdom in ways that are accessible to them - aware of their limitations, but including them and respecting their dignity, youth, wonder and energy.

door of hope

In year one (2019), five families with (13!) young children and one recent college graduate formed a core planting team for Door of Hope. Many of us have been friends for well over a decade. We believe the church is a kingdom of priests, each gifted by the Spirit to serve for the building up of the body of Christ so that we may bless and serve the world in love. We are now in year two (2020) and retooling for the next phase of Door of Hope in Champaign-Urbana.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not currently gathering for Sunday meetings (in person or online). To chat with us and learn more, contact us at

our planting team

Dave & Stephanie

Amondson

Caleb & Lindsay

Brooks

Lacey & Matt

Dobsch

Amber & Jonathan

King

Fred & Erica

Kirstein

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up...”

Ephesians 4:11-12