Our mission at Relevant is to spiritually transform people who transform their cultures.  Basically, our mission is to be a transforming church.

We believe we have identified what it looks like for Relevant to live as a transforming church.  When we are fulfilling our mission, the following three Glocal (global + local) Transformation initiatives will happen simultaneously

• Culture Investment: Serving within our local culture, meeting the biggest needs
• Nation Engagement: Engaging Un-reached People Groups (UPG) globally; leveraging natural infrastructures for maximum transformation opportunities
• Church Multiplication: Equipping leaders to start new churches with similar DNA

Becoming a transforming church will not happen by accident; therefore, in order to stay focused on living as a transforming church, we have made the decision to give away 25% of all tithes and offerings given within Relevant toward these three initiatives from this point forward. 

When I felt God calling me to start Relevant, I met with over 30 pastors and church leaders from across the country to ask them to prayerfully and financially partner with us until we could get Relevant launched successfully.  After months of appointments, I was so discouraged because only two churches made the commitment to help us.  The reason that almost every church gave for why they couldn’t financially partner with us was – “We just don’t have any money right now with the economy in the state that it is in.” 

I believe the local church is the hope of the world, and that every local church needs to do everything in their power to help launch new local churches.  The world cannot be transformed without a church multiplication movement.  This movement will not come from the head office of a denomination.  This movement will be born from local churches. 

While in the process of launching Relevant, we made the decision that we were going to be part of church multiplication from day 1!  We are officially only 2 months into the existence of Relevant Community Church, but we have already started engaging in Church Multiplication.  We have partnered with Pastor Kevin Pringle who is planting a church in the inner-city of Lincoln, NE, called One 80.  Within a 10 block radius of where they are planting the church, 10 different languages are spoken.  One 80 needs an enormous amount of financially support, because most of the people whom they reach are living in poverty. 

Yesterday, we had Kevin Pringle share his story with the people at Relevant, and we were able to hand him a check.  It was amazing to walk out of our Worship Service yesterday and have a local church be excited about advancing God’s Kingdom when it does nothing to benefit themselves.  This is what we are all about at Relevant!!!

Pastor Ronnie

The Sunday Worship Service yesterday was AMAZING!  I normally don’t say that…but it truly was.  Not because of the music.  Not because of the message.  Not because of the number of people there.  It was amazing because we got to see how God transforms ten people’s lives, and then watch them take part in the ceremonial washing called baptism to publicly declare their new association with Jesus. 

1. Buck Rasmussen

2. AJ Hocevar

3. Amanda Stark

4. Megan Vesper

5. Stacey Walling

6. Rob McShane

7. Kirby Leininger

8. Jill Nelson

9. Debi Jaeke

10. Natalie Meeske

Baptism is my favorite thing to do as a pastor, because I have never seen some one’s face look the same after they come out of the water…and that held true yesterday.  If you missed it, we will put the pictures up on facebook soon.  You can also download the podcast this week. 

Pastor Ronnie

We will be having our first baptism service at Relevant on 11/15.  I can’t wait.  Baptizing people is one of my favorite things to do, because of what it means and signifies.  We would like to see everyone at Relevant who should be baptized, get baptized on 11/15.   However, a lot of people have asked me what baptism means, and if they should be baptized.  In order to help answer those questions, below is a quick synopsis of what Relevant believes about baptism.  If after reading over this, you feel like it is time for you to “take the plunge” :), sign up on the website by 11/12.  If you have any questions, or would like to talk more about baptism, please feel free to call or email.  We would love to help you work through everything. 

Pastor Ronnie

What Relevant Believes about Baptism

What does baptism mean?

·        Baptism does not make you a Christian: Baptism publicly illustrates what took place in a person’s heart when they became a follower of Christ  

·        Baptism illustrates a follower of Christ uniting with Jesus’ death and burial: Baptism is a symbolic water grave that illustrates the death and burial of a person’s old, sinful life when they become a follow of Christ by putting their faith in Jesus (1 Cor. 15:3-4)

·        Baptism illustrates a follower of Christ uniting with Jesus’ resurrection and new life: Every person who puts their faith in Jesus goes from spiritual death to spiritual life.  For Christ followers, baptism is a symbolic resurrection to a new Christ-centered life free from the slavery of sin (1 Cor. 15:3-4, Rom. 6:4)

When is a good time to get baptized?

·        When you become a Follower of Christ:  As soon as you have put your faith in Jesus by asking him to be the forgiver of your sins and leader of your life, you can and should be baptized.  There is no reason to delay!  If you’re waiting until you’re perfect, you’ll never be ready. (Acts 8:36-38)

Why get baptized?

·        To publicly declare a new association to follow Jesus – someone other than whom you have been following before: The act of baptism is as an outward expression of an inward decision

·        It connects and binds us to the community of faith: Baptism is not just an individual experience.  When a person is baptized into Christ, they are joined with his body (the Church).  (Rom. 12:13)

·        To follow Jesus’ example (Mark 1:9)

·         Jesus commanded it (Matt. 28:19-20)

How does Relevant do Baptism?

·        Baptism by immersion: Others hold varying thoughts and traditions related to baptism, but from where Relevant stands, the metaphor of immersion is both dramatic and significant.  Through baptism we are drenched in God, enveloped in God’s presence, and brought from death to life.  The water grave is a perfect expression of this reality

·        Infant Baptism: Some denominations choose to baptize infants.  While we recognize the right of other churches to practice infant baptism, we understand Scripture to teach that only professing followers of Christ qualify for baptism.  Baptism does not make you a Christian, rather it shows you believe.  At Relevant, we practice the dedication of infants, rather than the baptism of infants.