Kaleo Church College | San Diego, CA

• Jake Chambers
• Feb 19, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles

Planter Profile:

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church

I was preaching, serving and volunteering like crazy at Mars Hill. I had a couple different jobs over the last few years but my passion was being the church and preaching the gospel to students. I began praying for the students of SDSU. In February 2009 Mark Driscoll announced that he needed 900 men to come to an A29 bootcamp and to talk to your campus pastor to see if you should go for free.

I talked to Pastor Jesse he said I should absolutely go. The first session was titled are you called to church plant? After that session I knew for certain I was called to plant a church and was pretty sure I was called to plant by SDSU. I figured I would plant in a few years as Mark said you would have a building, a core group and a firm place to plant when it was the right time. Five minutes later I met David Fairchild and he told me that they were praying for a church planter to lead a group of people meeting by SDSU. He told me they had a core group, a cheap lease on a building and were across from SDSU. It was all pretty crazy so I talked to my wife, community and pastor and all confirmed we were called to go.

We packed our bags and moved in August of 2009.

How did you build up your core? What advice would you give to guys in the core-stage?

We started meeting in missional community. I began leading two missional communities and training and discipling any dude that was willing. A lot of prayer. Prayer for the core and prayer for leaders to rise up in the core group. We started having lots of meals at our house and I began preaching the gospel and repentance in weekly gatherings. God really used the preaching of his word to build our core group. My situation was different though in that I came into a situation that already had a group gathering and somewhat meeting. So there was a set format for the preaching of the word.

My advice would be to pray, preach the gospel, really gospel people through their sin, throw parties, have lots of food and potlucks and encourage people to join in the serving, gospeling(counseling with the gospel) and praying.

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

SDSU is jacked up. I was called to campuses because God put it on my heart that it is upstream, influential and one of the darkest times and places. SDSU is considered to be one of the darkest of dark universities in the nation. Challenges are seeing people choose sin over repentance.

Another challenge has been transitioning a people used to consuming a service into really participating as the church. There were some unique hurdles when you are handed a group that does not know they are a core group. So it was a lot of meeting, praying and vision casting of why we are the church and don't just go to church.

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

I heard about while serving at Mars Hill Church. I believe the greatest benefit will be having a group of good soldiers to endure hardship with.

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

If you can do anything else do that. Only plant if you are called otherwise you will quit two weeks into it.

How do you pastor your family?            

Modeling repentance, doing the dishes, taking out the trash, going on dates, praying together daily, listening, encouraging and gospeling.

I encourage my family to serve where gifted, to confess sins, gospel me and ask questions about what they are learning in scripture, through sermons, books and life.

Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?           

Total Church... that book ruined my life... in a good way.

Church Profile: Kaleo Church
Launch Date: September, 2010
Location: San Diego, CA  

Mission, Vision, Values of Church

The vision is Jesus. It is all about Jesus always has been about Jesus and always will be all about Jesus.

The mission is College Area and the students at SDSU. To tell them with our words and our lives that it is all about Jesus.

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

The gospel creates a community transformed that lives a life that astounds the non believers they live life amongst. Gospel. Community. Mission.

Practically this means we love and serve each other, actually spend time together, speak truth into each others lives and brainstorm creative ways to love and serve our city. Wit non believers we make an intentional effort to introduce them to community, share the gospel and build relationships.

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

I came into a situation where there was a group of 15 or 20 people mostly consuming a night service. I was asked to sheppard a group of people that did not know me, or anything I was doing. I figured we would lose at least half of that group but by God's grace almost all have stayed and some on the fringe rejoined. God has given a lot of men humility to come under by leadership when they barely knew me.

Also in the midst of some tragic situations we have seen a fairly young community serve each other in radically sacrificial ways. God's grace is astounding.