I have been doing a host of interviews for Christian magazines, websites, and even a conference, and I appreciate the interest in the work we are doing. I have been careful not to come off as some expert in the church-planting realm as I am a relative new comer. I get the intrigue as people hear about a church being started in the midst of the urban poor and college students is rare, and a bit crazy. Most people wonder if God is truly leading me or if I am just an idiot. (smile)

We have started Vertical Church in the West End and Vine City communities of Atlanta. Statistics show that there is more crime, AIDS, drugs, prostitution, etc. in those area codes than anywhere else in the metro area. Add to that the 10,000 mostly African American college students in the midst of these neighborhoods. I do concede that on the surface that does seem a little crazy. But, my heart breaks for the community and the students.

I remember being in college at one of those schools and doing all that I could be a voice for Jesus on campus. While a student I, along with some amazing friends changed the character and perception of men at our school and we saw about 10% of the campus coming together around the purposes of Christ. Then, I became a college pastor and continued to love students there from a different perspective. I am invested in the University system there. There is also the reality that I come from an under-resourced urban environment and that community feels like home.

I turned down an opportunity to plant a church in another (some would say better) community. I was even offered over $200,000 to do so, now it took me a few minutes to say, no, but I did. Probably cementing the thought that I am an idiot. But, the truth is that my heart doesn’t break over the other area.

In my limited church planting experience, I don’t know how or why someone would go through the pain, stress, and struggle to plant a church in a community that they don’t weep over. How can you reach, help, and/or support those who don’t tug at your heart on a regular basis? I wonder if that is why so many churches are focused on “church events” rather than community engagement? It grieves me to think that Vertical Church could become a church that is so self-absorbed that we don’t care about the community in which we exist.  This is not a critique of other more established churches, just a young church planters wrestle.

The bible says, “Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. Matt 9:35-36

I think that is supposed to be what happens in my heart as a pastor. I should be heartbroken over the condition of college students, who don’t know God. I think I should be heart broken over the drug addicted. I think I should be heartbroken over single parent families. I should be heart broken over child sex-trafficking, not just in India, but also in my community. That is what I think it means to be “missional”. Our hearts break in such a way that we have to do something about it, both in proclaiming truth and in service to others. By God’s grace that is what Vertical Church will do.