There are various simple churches all over the country that I.G. has played a role starting. In Vegas there are several communities directly linked to I.G., and others that are a part of a city-wide network of MC's that I.G. helped start.
→ Contact/Host: Aaron & Morgan Snow - 817.808.2520 aaron@intentionalgatherings.com
-Demographic: Early twenties. Some college students, others not. Mostly single. Eclectic/creative/artsy/musicians. Most involved live in this neighborhood. Passionate about social justice, and bent towards the less fortunate.
-Mission/Focus: BEING Jesus to people in this neighborhood. Living out the Gospel, and BEING the Church. Discipleship, accountable relationships, seeking the welfare of our city, and the multiplication of “missional communities”.
-Weekly Gathering Details:
When: Tuesdays @ 7pm
Where: 1362 Dorothy Ave. #2
Las Vegas, NV. 89119
What: prayer, sharing needs/praises/stories, worship, planning, brainstorming.
→ Contact/Host: Rommel Santiago - 702.927.3862 - worshiponahill@gmail.com
-Demographic:
-Mission/Focus:
-Weekly Gathering Details:
When:
Where:
What:
→ Contact/Host: Greg Gonzalez - 702.416.3330 - greg.e.gonzalez@gmail.com
-Demographic: Early 20’s. Some College students, others not. Single.
-Mission/Focus: Empowering young people to live the Gospel in their city through a strategic network of organizations in the city. Seeking unity among the body of Christ in Las Vegas.
-Weekly Gathering Details:
When: Mondays @ 9pm
Where: Pecos & 215
What: prayer, sharing needs/praises/stories, worship, planning, brainstorming.
Music
I.G. Communities and Simple Churches in Vegas have done great things to serve those in need this year. Families have been blessed for Thanksgiving (See the latest blog post about a single mom and her kids that were blessed by the I.G. University Crest Community) and will be blessed for Christmas. It's amazing how God can use small groups of people who are in simple churches to directly bless those around them.
Student CPx was AMAZING. I.G. Vegas hosted this training on UNLV's campus Jan. 16-19. Over 150 people from cities and campuses all over the country joined us to be better equipped to take the Gospel back to dark places, make disciples, and allow new communities of faith to be birthed. We even got to see some Baptisms take place! Check it out!
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Movies
This page will be where we post links to videos of different community development/outreach initiatives, as well as information pertaining to Intentional Gatherings...
I.G. in Vegas 8 month update:
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I.G.'s journey to Vegas...
I.G. Vegas community cookout...
I.G. Vegas Homeless outreach in the park...
Baptisms with the homeless...
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Television
These are organizations, networks, or individuals who share a like mind and are partnered with Intentional Gatherings. Check out the links to their websites/blogs:
www.clubchrist.org
www.myspace.com/intentionalgatherings (Texas)
aholydiscontent.wordpress.com
www.glocal.net
www.shapevine.com
changingvegas.blogspot.com
branthansen.typepad.com
sexyreligion.wordpress.com
www.thesimpleway.org
Books
"The Forgotten Ways" by Alan Hirsch. "The Multiplying Church" by Bob Roberts. "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. "They Like Jesus But Not The Church" by Dan Kimball. "Organic Church" by Neil Cole. "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola & George Barna. "Revolution" by George Barna. "Reimagining Church" by Frank Viola. "Total Church" by Steve Timmis & Time Chester.
Heroes
There are opportunities all over the city of Las Vegas to get plugged into outreach, a "missional community", and other like-minded individuals. Here are some ways you can do so:
About me: Intentional Gatherings is a network of "missional communities", or "simple churches". A "missional community" is a small, tight-knit group of people dedicated to do doing life together, living out the Gospel, and BEING the Church.
Response after experiencing a "missional community" through I.G...
"I feel like I've been able to mentally understand the core values and purpose of Christianity, but I've rarely ever felt spiritually close to God. I can give some theologically correct answers and I try to live by them, but the basis of my action feels more like a rigid conviction rather than an overflow of the love God's given to me. I see in the I.G. family an authentic heart for God's people, and I hear stories of the Spirit moving in everyone's life. So, I figure that most of you have greater experience at engaging God and people in a way that has more depth than mere intellectual explanations. Yet I am unsure of how to make such a thing real in my life. I relate to Kierkegaard in that way."
The purpose of posting this is not to boast in anything that we have done as an organization, or I.G. Community. We simply feel that the statement is a beautiful picture of fresh perspective from someone who is new to organic church. I think this would have been his/her response to many other Organic/Simple Churches as well...To God be all of the Glory.
Who I'd like to meet: The desire of Intentional Gatherings is to build the kingdom of God through the multiplication of "missional communities" all over the country, unifying the body of Christ in cities, and empowering followers of Christ to BE the Church & live the Gospel in context of community.
Beth's Baptism from Aaron Snow on Vimeo.
In Paul's letter to Corinth, he says, "What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas[a]"; still another, "I follow Christ."
There is a groaning anger in the hearts of Christians to peruse an authentic gospel living. This desire for truth is mirrored by the underdevelopment of true missional leaders in the process of discipleship. A person who comes to Christ is only justified as a Christian by their change in heart, mind and spirit - and at times action. It is impossible for human wisdom to exist in a Christian realm, because God has made humanly wisdom invalid. In replacement to human wisdom, Paul writes about the power of the Spirit - or in his case "spiritual wisdom" - and that those who do not posses it will account the ways of Christianity foolish (1 Cor. 2:9).
We can only hope that in God's heavenly wisdom and perfect timing that whether we are serving in a manner of small cell groups, different local organizations, denominations, etc. That all was baptized in the name of Christ. Why should the main reason be to care which denomination is right? It can be for certain that there are certain key qualifications to follow in order for a certain denomination to be called Christian. For example, a Christian organization that does not follow the doctrines of Christ can loose its accreditation as "christian." A Christian organization that does not believe in the Trinity - although some exists - may not be christian. The overall argument is not which denomination is right or wrong, but what a life of a Christian looks like. True Christianity is not defined by its success in numbers, in its elaborate halls, or monetary growth. Christianity is defined by a change, a choice, an action, some can even call it a purpose.
There are many aspects as a Christians I wish I can share with someone who has not met Christ. The feeling, t
How does one develop courage? Could it be the idea that fear is not written in our vocabulary?
I would have to say, it is extremely hard to be extremely good. And that the courage is not that I can be good or I lack the fear to be bad, but its the reason that fear still exist and t hat I choose good rather wrong.
I heard a pastor say:
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but it is the outcome when fear is present."
An upstanding person can always be seen through the outcome of their actions, during times of great stress, fear, anger, etc....
so what is courage?
(more to come) (I expect to write a blog about this one)
I have kept myself in solitude lately, for various actions that I wish I could take back. And for that reason, I need my time with God, I need my time with my Redeemer. As I look through my life, the goals, aspirations and the small accomplishments I have made over the years I have lived here in Las Vegas, I realize that my life is really lost without the commission laid upon me by Christ, Jesus.
The Church in all of its glory lacks the potential to do any real good. The many programs and self help books of the 20th century has boomed this age of faith to the corporate world which is business of America. That rather than the act and spiritual nature of God within a mans soul, there, instead exists an omission of faith. What do I know? perhaps I may be wrong, perhaps the world has it right, and I have it backwards. What do I know? I don't have the proper credentials to give an exact opinion of the business church of today. Perhaps in the granduer scheme of things, it is quite better that the church has become corporate, that maybe in the billions that we spend on flat screen T.V.s, entertainment equipment, state of the art video and recording equipment, we can turn our eyes to the people much less fortunate than us and give them the dollar they deserve.
I have always believed that to destroy any virus, you have to start from the source and work your way out. It should never be worked from the outside, in. So why do we leave Sin City? why not reform it, with an outcry of believers to the masses. I only speak because i was once as guilty with this cause as any one of you!! what should we do? watch as peoples souls die from within us, that like any tree we cannot cultivate our brother and sister, that we allow them to fall and suffer.
If a Christian leaves the faith because of our lack of discipleship, is it because that Christian was never written in the books, and that he was really a non-believer mascarading as a believer? Or could it be that we la
i am absolutely excited for the conference coming up!!! I have definitely been praying for strength lately, especially from the hidden spiritual battles that goes on every day.
For many people it seems the concept of God is built around a god who's outside of everything, a God who essentially is somewhere else; a God who made us and stands back to bask at the magnificence of what He has done, and from time to time comes here. - Rob Bell
Sometimes I feel there are many people who talk about Christianity as if the faith was a calculation, a plan, a program, a list of things we have to do and learn before we can truly understand God's character. I do not want to admit that, but it seems the more I screw up (not intentionally and with no motive to stay in the rut i am in), the more grace abounds. The more I pray, the more hardships I endure, but the hardships is taken with joy, for I know through it coms the blessing. I am tired of having to plan this and plan that!! I am tired of having to cry every night because I do not know what I have to do to become a better Christian for a Creator who loves me regardless of who I am. I should stop rambling, but this is my devotion for now....
Oh retched me!!!
For wasn't it God who said
Let the world look to me for salvation... for I am God.... there is no other...
