2021 End-of-Year Update

My soul, praise the Lord.

Psalm 146:1

It has been a hard year, but looking back on 2021, we praise the God who is still reigning over the universe and working in and through people. We praise Him for His compassion, creativity, and faithfulness here in Cleveland.

New Space

Our church has settled into a new space, an excellent location downtown at East 13th Street and Superior Avenue. While being a mobile church for our first ten years was advantageous as we made our home in the downtown community, having our own space has facilitated new activities starting in 2021: mid-week Bible studies, prayer meetings, community bingo, tutoring, music events, fellowship meals, and international student nights. Other highlights of having our own space included hosting our first-ever Christmas Eve service this year with glow-stick candles and a cookie fellowship afterward, Browns watch parties, and hosting community-building events for the surrounding buildings. Each week, we are also seeing new visitors find the church and attend, which was harder to do when we were meeting in the hotel. We thank God for the excitement and energy that we feel during this season. Please pray that God continues to supply our needs in this space.

International Students

Cleveland State University is only a couple blocks away from our church, and now that travel restrictions have been lifted, the school is seeing about a thousand new international students added to the school each semester. Cleveland State has allowed us to continue having Bible study on campus, and about eight international students are regularly attending CityView on Sundays. Another answer to prayer, some of these students are strong believers and excellent musicians who have joined our worship/technology team. We have enjoyed times of fellowship exploring American and Indian cuisine together. Please pray that God continues to add people to the church.

Perk Park Outreach

The year was highlighted by opportunities to form relationships and communicate the gospel in Perk Park, a small park about a block from our church building. We played soccer and football there on Tuesday nights until it was too cold to continue. This ministry allowed us to reconnect with some of the children from the Allerton building who used to attend our Thursday-night teen service before COVID. We also were able to strengthen relationships with international families who are here at the Cleveland Clinic for medical care. One of the families we interacted with the most this year we had initially met in summer 2018. They saw us from their window and came outside to talk to us because they remembered the church from their previous times in Cleveland. Caleb had several opportunities to share the gospel with their 12-year-old son among others in our friend group. Julia and the other girl leaders connected with 10-year-old twin girls who loved to talk and hear about life in America which led to opportunities to share the gospel and talk about God’s love. In the fall as international students began to move into the buildings surrounding Perk Park, Caleb was able to connect with a number who were excited about the opportunity to play soccer and hang out with an American their age. These connections allowed him to share the gospel and invite many to come to church. Please pray for those who do not yet have a relationship with God.

Thursday Night Bible Study

Up until COVID came in spring 2020, we were having a Thursday-night teen service on the near west side where we live. Starting in summer 2020, this was reimagined as a Bible study on our front porch. Each week, a dozen students walk to the house after school. Fellowship happens around activities like basketball, games, crafts, and dinner. Currently, we are working our way through the Bible, one book per week. Ministering out of our home has given us a better opportunity to love and be light to all of our neighbors, including a number of adults who do not attend but who often sit on their porches in the summer and watch as we host Bible Study from our front porch. Please pray that we get to know, love, and worship Jesus more as a group.

Patmos Retreats

This fall, Caleb and other leaders took a group of men from church to a Christian camp retreat. This facilitated stronger relationships among the men in our church. The following weekend, we were able to take seventeen students and five leaders to the same camp. Our group won the camp competition, and our leaders were able to have many good conversations with our teens. This weekend was crucial in rebuilding many of the long-term relationships with teens that had been harder to maintain due to COVID protocols. Please pray for spiritual growth and camaraderie among our brothers and sisters in Cleveland, especially during these difficult times.

Family Update

After several years as a very part-time student, Caleb is finished with school. He graduated with a Doctor of Worship Studies in Ethnomusicology in December. You can read his work, which discusses worship leadership in Cleveland. Julia has also been studying part-time and plans to graduate with her second master’s degree this spring, a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry. We thank God for this opportunity to learn and grow. Another family update is that we have two teenage girls who have joined our family, aged sixteen and seventeen. As we navigate parenting teenagers, please pray for our relationships with them and their relationships with God.

Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and support that make these ministries possible. Glory to God!

Caleb and Julia