About Us
Community Matters
We foster a sense of community through consistent gatherings where we explore what it means to be part of the family of God on mission together. This helps us to learn together what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, both from his word and through our collective experiences.
Our Values
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AUTHENTICITY
We seek transparency with God, ourselves, and others. We hope to be a community that accepts the, struggles, gifts, and uniqueness of each person. We foster a culture where everyone experiences freedom to be their true selves and accepts others in return. In accepting God’s love we believe it also prods us to grow into maturity as we encourage others to do the same.
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SIMPLICITY
Let’s get back to the basics of discipleship and keep things simple. Simple things can reproduce, grow, and spread. When things get complex it makes it hard for every community member to take ownership. Simple does definitiely not mean easy or simplistic. We know following Jesus is challenging and it’s why we focus on the things vital to becoming disciples who make disciples.
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GOSPEL-CENTERED
We are people of the book, informed by the Scriptures and discovering truth together. We believe the life and teachings of Jesus changes lives when pursued with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength. We are a community that prays, makes disciples, is rooted in Scripture, and pursues God’s purpose (mission) in the world.
Why We Exist | The Problems We Solve
Many followers of Jesus have not experienced discipleship and therefore don’t know how to disciple others.
You can't pass on what you haven't experienced. Overall, the church in the West is not making disciples, who then make disciples and reproduce. The way of life that The 242 community provides facilitates an authentic life and transformational discipleship where small communities are trained up to help others find, follow Jesus, and then help others do the same. See 2 Timothy 2:2.
Many believers don’t realize or exercise their spiritual gifts.
We often rely on centralized leadership for following Jesus and don’t realize our spiritual gifts, we empower the spiritual giftings of each member of the body and provide opportunities to exercise them. See 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Romans 4:12-8.
Dependence upon event driven churches for fellowship.
There may be a time again in the future when event- or building-based (‘cathedral model’) churches are closed or persecuted (as we saw during the pandemic), we can’t rely solely on churches for fellowship. Fellowship should be daily, not once a week. See Acts 2:42, Ephesians 2:19, 1 John 1:7.
Many believers don’t experience spiritual family.
Many Believers (despite attending church regularly) are not fully experiencing the Holy Spirit as part of a spiritual family. A spiritual family (i) knows each other on a deeper level, (ii) lives life consistently together; (iii) serves/is on mission together; (iv) is there to support each other; (v) grow in faith with each other through Scripture and (v) encourage each other. See Proverbs 27:17, Luke 8:19-21, Romans 12:5, Hebrews 10:24-25, Colossians 2:6-7.
The church in the West is shrinking and a Christian worldview is dissipating.
The church in the global South & East is now sending more missionaries than ever before and is also sending them to the West. Small, reproducing groups of disciples are a proven strategy to reach those far from Jesus from all ethnic backgrounds that live in our local communities. The "nations" have now come to us. See Matthew 24:14, 28:18-20.
What We Do | Our Solutions
Model and build spiritual family on mission….
by inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell among us in fellowship, modeled after the Fellowship of Believers in Acts 2:42-47. Build trust that the Holy Spirit is always active and is the one leading and guiding into the Truth.
Organize and encourage small group fellowship….
in homes and informal places, independent of hierarchical, event based churches. We meet wherever it is most conducive to reach the most people far from Jesus and to form them into reproducing disciples.
Raise leaders who raise leaders, raise disciples who make disciples….
so that everyone is realizing and exercising their spiritual gifts “so in Christ we who are many form one body.” (Romans 12:4)
Provide sound Triune Gospel-centered doctrine and teaching….
to nourish leaders and all Believers. Facilitate a culture and environment where people can learn about the Triune God and how to faithfully follow Him.
How We Deliver Our Solutions | 242 Programs
Small Group and House Church Support
Meet weekly to model a reproducible framework to live out the mission and vision of The 242. Providing coaching, training and encouragement for small group/house church leaders. Financial support for related hospitality expenses (facilities, food, heating) and materials necessary to conduct small groups.
Community & Mission Support
Financial and development support of ‘outside’ faith-based community & service organizations consistent with the 242 mission. Encourage volunteer service to these organizations.
People Support
Financial support for mental and emotional health, ‘life skills’ and other counseling/coaching services for singles and couples. Scholarships for pastoral/discipleship development (conferences, courses, etc.) Includes case by case special support for folks with unique needs.
Media Outreach
Development of video, audio, documents that help people know the Triune God through scriptures to include messages, history, literature, etc.
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”