Chris Rhodenhizer started Image Church in Dumfries, Va three years ago, and they're reaching over 350 people each week.
But you need to know the back-story because there are conditions that make or a break a new church before it starts...
Chris Rhodenhizer's father has led a large, traditional church in Alexandria for over 30 years. So when Chris started Image, it came out of the overflow of a thriving church.
Image started as an off-site campus for young adults because of space limitations. But when the ministry grew to over 200 people, Chris' father encouraged him to start a new church.
Chris navigated the loss of a facility and relocated once to find the best missional fit. But an elderly lady once handed him a check for $116,000 to put Image in a 5,000 square-foot facility, where they now meet... with additional space to grow.
It was a case of ROLLING ROCKS and DEEP ROOTS. Chris never had to start a core group from scratch. He was already leading them. These were people he had grown up with. And his father's church provided the people and resources to launch beyond the point of critical mass.
This is a series of posts based on my book Church in the Making (B&H, April 1) which explains what makes or breaks a new church before it starts...
1. GOOD GROUND
2. ROLLING ROCKS
3. DEEP ROOTS
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