The seeds of FELLOWSHIP CORONA were planted long before our first Sunday morning service on August 5, 2018.

 

My wife, Trish, and I were young believers when we met in a college chapel service 35 years ago. Our involvement with the campus ministry not only brought us to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, it also strengthened our faith exponentially and changed the trajectory of our lives. What had the most significant influence on both our faith journeys on campus was the ministry of racial reconciliation. We were beyond blessed to take part, laboring to advance the cause of Christ’s Kingdom as one made up of faithful believers "from every nation, tribe,  language, and people."(Revelation 7:9-10)

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It has been many years since our college days, but what God continues to show us through our journey and in His Word is that for true disciples of Christ to rightly represent Him in the world, four things are required:

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• We must be filled and empowered by the Spirit of God.

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• We must continually seek Him through prayer and the faithful study of His Word.

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• We must obey His commands and personally revere His Word as the Truth.

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• We must be willing to step outside of our comfort zones to acknowledge, understand, and overcome the barriers of selfishness, pride, history, race, nationality, nationalism, class, and gender that hinder us from being the church that truly honors God and the soul saving sacrifice of Christ. This is a humbling and crucifying work that is critical to unity in the body of Christ.

 

We are convinced that an ethnically diverse church is the New Testament model and one of the most effective witnesses to the world of the healing and transformative power of the Gospel. We believe that when Christians choose to segregate themselves (in church and life; whether intentionally or thoughtlessly) from one another based on worldly social constructs, we forfeit a key aspect of the abundant life that God promises to those who believe in Christ Jesus and we jeopardize our Christian witness.

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We also believe that there is a move of God’s Spirit across our nation and world to correct His church; bringing it into more authentic and faithful alignment with the commands of Christ, with the Gospel message, and with the unified diversity described among the first century believers and citizens of His coming Kingdom (John 17:17-21; Acts 2:5-11, 10:44-45, Revelation 7:9-10). It is our desire, aim, and humbling privilege to submit to his correction and to participate more fully with him in this work; this ministry of (vertical and horizontal) reconciliation.

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We fully recognize that the task before us is difficult. So much has happened since August of 2018 including a global pandemic that took the lives of far too many neighbors and loved ones all over the globe. Widespread strife, stress, suspicion, and anxiety have been brought on by political figures and news outlets intent on stoking the flames of division and discontent, perpetrating lies, and tearing at the seams of this nation's democratic ideals and institutions. Of all things, we did not anticipate that a portion of the professing American church would play such a significant role in creating and sustaining the chaos. Through it all, what has been made plain is that too many Americans calling themselves Christians have very little idea of what it truly means to pick up their crosses and follow Jesus. They demonstrate no understanding of what Jesus meant when he said that "my kingdom is not of this world"(John 18:36). Too many of us have indulged a destructive habit of ignoring, or only selectively applying, the Lord's command to love our neighbors as ourselves or, even more challenging, to love our "enemies" (real or perceived; Matthew 5:44-46). Instead, when threatened with a loss of worldly comfort, material possessions/wealth, status, privilege or power, many have fought and continue to fight (some to the point of violence) to hold on; this, even though the scriptures are clear that the priorities of a Christ follower are antithetical to such things.

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In Mark 2:22, Jesus explains that new wine is not poured into old wineskins, but rather into new wineskins. We contend and believe that the structures, routines, and culture of what has passed for church in much of America represent the old wineskins that cannot accommodate the corrective, revolutionary, reformational, and unifying work the Lord wants to do among those called by his name. Even as we recognize the unique and difficult challenges of shepherding

(1 Peter 5:1-4) a community of believers who are SERIOUS about following the Jesus of the Bible, we acknowledge the incomparable power of God’s Spirit to accomplish His plans and purposes for His glory and our collective good! We, therefore, strive to be a people who avail, surrender, and submit themselves to God’s marvelous work; the building of His spiritual house from "living stones" of every shade, shape, size, and hue (1 Peter 2:4-5).

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We, along with the leadership team at FELLOWSHIP CORONA, invite you to be a part of this amazing, eternal story (2 Corinthian 5:20).

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In the Service of Christ Jesus, our Lord and King,

Pastor Mel and Trish Campbell​​