…to revolve the world around Jesus, one life at a time.

In a world that finds at its core “self,” our calling is to help people discover that true life is found as we revolve our lives around Jesus.

The Strategy

…intentionally developing biblical disciples in relational environments and by intentionally showing Jesus’ love to the community.

We want to get back to being the church that Jesus longs for; one focused on trulymaking disciples. Jesus did this through the power of relationships.  He modeled it with His disciples by spending time with them, intentionally.  Jesus also showed love and grace to the people He encountered.  We want to do this as well.  We can not meet every need but where God’s will intersects with the needs of the community and our gifts, that is where we want to focus our efforts; in intentional ministry to the community.

Our Values

Explore Faith – Axis is a true “Come as you are” church, where everyone is welcome to explore faith in God.

Experience Relationships – Life happens best in the context of relationships.  Developing authentic relationships with God and others are the foundational elements of life.

Express Love – Jesus expressed love and compassion to people all the time.  The church must do the same.

However, the American Church is losing ground.  In 2007, in the state of Ohio, only 8.4 % of the population were in an evangelical church on a given Sunday (American Church Research Project).  Only 2% of churches had even one convert last year.  That means that in many of the churches that are growing, much of it is from people moving from one church to another.   While the population is growing, the church is losing ground.

New church plants are turning the tide of that trend.  This is what led Stephen and Lisa to leave a healthy, growing ministry they loved where more than a thousand people gathered for the weekend, to embark on a journey of faith to plant a new church in Warren County Ohio.  This is a step of faith beyond the norm.

According to the US census, from 2000 to 2006, Warren County was the second fastest growing county in the state of Ohio.  There are 200,000 people who live in the county and many more tens of thousands in surrounding areas.  Yet,only 20% of the population believes it is important to attend a church.  As Jesus said, the fields are ready for harvest!

Worship in cinema is such a unique and fun place to have church. The spaces are open and there is room to grow.

Everyone is welcome and invited every weekend but January 9 is a very special day and a wonderful day to come to Axis and invite others!

Check out this video of our first year.

Thank you God for blessing Axis.  We are imperfect people serving and loving a perfect God!

I was reading Acts 4 this morning; where Peter and John prayed and led with boldness.  I want Acts 4 boldness. Our mission at Axis is the revolve the world around Jesus, one life at a time.  I believe that the revolution happens when we live that out. People don’t usually come to church because some big program or some exciting event.  People usually meet Jesus because someone they know had the boldness to tell them.

Sometime I have gotten that right.  Other times, I have blown it.

The other day I went to UDF after a church softball game with my family.  I was standing in line with my kids to get some ice cream.  My kids were active as usually.  My youngest, Jason, couldn’t see the ice cream flavors so he started to climb up the wall to see the variety.  A middle aged man behind me started to chuckle.  I turned and smiled warmly.  Jason got his ice cream. I told him to go find us a seat.  A few moments later, with big crocodile tears coming out of his eyes, I see Jason coming around the corning saying, “I dropped my ice cream.”  Again, I heard a chuckle behind me.  I smiled, perhaps not as warmly this time.  Then we went to sit down at the tables.  A few moments later this man and his wife sat down with their teenage son.  As I was sitting there eating my ice cream, I started to feel a prodding “you should start a conversation with them, you should invite them to Axis.”

I started to rationalize, even debate myself “they probably have a church.  I don’t even have an Axis invite card on me.  Maybe I do in my truck.  No, they are having a nice time together, I won’t interrupt.”  Several times as our families sat only a few feet from each other, my kids did something funny, he chuckled, I felt prodded.  Ultimately, the family got up, paused for a moment; the mom and dad even took a moment to hug each other.  Then they walked out.  I prayed to myself, “if they are still in the parking lot when I walk out in a minute, then I will strike up a conversation.”

Really??  Why is it that we make it so hard?  Why do we allow opportunities to pass all around us?

So…I’m confessing to you.  The ice cream is not the only thing that dropped that day.  So did the opportunity.  I vow to do better.  Eternity hangs in the balance.

It was an amazing day of worship and the atmosphere in the church was electric.  Since everyone is new, every person seemed to go out of their way to meet others and begin the process of building relationships.  We truly desire that this be a church that does was Jesus modeled.  Jesus loved people, he had compassion on them, he spoke the truth, he developed deep relationships with his disciples, he always focused on his mission of bringing the world to himself.

So it begins…and it continues…

Not knowing what to expect or how things will turn out is both a scary and a thrilling thing at the same time.  Yet, as I talk to our team, everyone I run into seems calm and excited.  We can only do our part.  God does the rest.

I will update the blog after the launch day.  In the meantime, pray.  Pray that God would do something amazing with Axis Church.