The Jerusalem Project is a ministry of Calvary Church working to advance Christ’s church. Centered on Jesus’ promise that the Gospel would be carried from Jerusalem to the four corners of the earth through the work of local churches (Matthew 28:16-20), the Jerusalem Project partners with established churches, trains church leaders and plants new churches.
News
Celebration is the opportunity to remember the goodness and faithfulness of God to us. As we reflect on this year, the Jerusalem Project is celebrating God’s faithfulness as we continue to strengthen and encourage local churches. Hopefully you received a Jerusalem Project brochure in the mail highlighting the specific things we are celebrating. If you did not receive one, please stop by the Welcome Center and grab a copy. We hope the significant ways Christ continues to build his church, both locally in Michigan and around the world, encourages you and allows you to celebrate with us!
Give
- Online at mycalvarygr.org
- Text “Jerusalem” and the amount you’d like to give to 616-294-0700
- In Person by designating an offering to the Jerusalem Project. Envelopes are available in the Sanctuary. You can also mail your gift to: PO Box 1600, Grand Rapids MI 49501
Pray
Contact Chris Snedeker to be added to our prayer list, emailed monthly.
What Does the Jerusalem Project Do?
Partner
The Jerusalem Project partners with local churches as we work together to reach communities with the gospel.
Train
Thriving churches need mature, godly leaders. The Jerusalem Project provides training and resources to equip leaders to serve in a local church.
Plant
Planting new churches is a strategic way that the Jerusalem Project follows Christ’s mandate to take the gospel message to the world.
Learn More
Calvary Church has a long history of partnering with local congregations, training church leaders and planting new churches.
Despite the good work that was accomplished it became evident that coordinating many of these initiatives might strengthen our efforts.
In 2018, the Jerusalem Project was created with three interconnected divisions that work together to advance Christ’s Church. The three divisions of the Jerusalem Project are:
- Partnering with established churches (Acts 18:18-23)
- Training church leaders (Acts 18:24-28)
- Planting new churches (Acts 18:1-17)
Motivation: Love
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul speaks about planting the church in Thessaloniki and he writes that he was motivated to serve them with the same love and intense longing that mothers and fathers have for their children. His focus was not on earthly accolades, but on the reward of seeing those believers on the day when Christ returns.
As the Jerusalem Project serves other churches, it is out of love for Christ and the desire to imitate Paul as he encouraged, comforted and urged the church at Thessaloniki “to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (I Thessalonians 2:12).
Mindset: Mercy
In Obadiah, God is angry with Edom because they did not help Judah even as Judah was being sent into captivity for their sins. In Lamentations, God both promises to punish Judah for their rebellion and reminds them that his mercies are new every morning, and that he will never reject his people forever.
As the Jerusalem Project comes alongside other churches, our mindset is to be merciful to them as God has been merciful to us. We realize God is calling us to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [our] God” (Micah 6:8).
Mystery: The Church as God’s Dwelling Place
With the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the giving of the Holy Spirit, the church is the place where God dwells among his people by his Spirit. It is the place where the fulness of God is found.
This mystery is the foundational reason the Jerusalem Project focuses on the local church and the desire of our heart is Psalm 84, “How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you” (Psalm 84:1, 4).