City of God Church | Lafayette, IN

• Eric Roseberry
• Dec 3, 2009
• Series: Church Profiles

Planter Profile:  Eric & Jessie Roseberry

Briefly explain your calling to plant a church.

From the time I was in college my wife and I felt called to church planting. At that point we began to pray that God would give us wisdom and calling as to when and where. Last February through a series of prayer and spiritual counsel we decided that it was the right time, and that Lafayette was definitely the place.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)?

We've got two kids under two and God is really teaching me how to balance being a Husband, Father, and Pastor. Also, we are heavy on college students and so funding for the new work has been one of our major obstacles.

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network?

We were introduced to Acts 29 by listening to Pastor Mark weekly in college. For me, as a younger guy, it has been invaluable to have so many planters around me for advice and encouragement. There are so many land mines that I've avoided by having men in the network genuinely interested in our plant.

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant?

1. Pray for wisdom
2. Make sure your wife is 100% on board
3. If you can imagine doing anything else with your life it might not be time. Most guys I know that have planted and done it well wouldn't be happy doing anything else.

How do you personally disciple your family?

This includes teaching times together as an entire family, and times of prayer and study just for me and my wife.

My own walk is crucial in this process. It's importance that the discipleship of my family is a natural overflow of my own worship.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church?

Planting has led me to my knees more than any other time in my life, and I thank God for that struggle.

One example is particularly fresh in my mind. The week before we were moving off of the college campus into an existing churches building. The week before the move the church let us know that it wasn't going to work. However, the next day we were able to make a deal with a hotel that was in a better location, for cheaper, in the heart of downtown. There have been many instances like these where God has trumped our plans for the better.

How can we pray for you?

That the gospel would stay central in everything.

Church Profile:

City of God Church

Location: Lafayette, IN
Launch Date: September 2009

Mission, Vision, Values of Church

The mission of City of God Church is to be a gospel centered church that seeks the transformation of the individual, the city in which we live, and all of this is to display the glory of God.

We have five core values as a church:

1. God glorifying
2. Gospel centered
3. Biblically grounded
4. Spirit empowered
5. Life in community

Our vision is to create a community of people that love Jesus and the city in which they live. Our hope is that City of God can be a place where they can come to worship, be built up, and then sent back into their own context to be a faithful gospel minister.

How did you build up your core?

Meeting people anywhere I could. Lots of meetings at a coffee shop.

What is your philosophy of community in your church and what does that look like practically?

We tried to build in the importance of community from the beginning. This involves weekly community groups to help foster relationships, and most Sunday we attempt to have some type of community involving element of the service.

We also frequently teach on the vertical and horizontal aspects of communion.

What is your philosophy of evangelism in your church and what does that look like practically?

We stress the importance of personal relationships in evangelism. For most it seems like an awkward thing to do, but we frequently teach that God has already placed non-Christians in their lives. I want my people thinking through the grid of how they can make much of Christ in their every day life.