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
Jul 26
On Sunday, July 24 Calvary Church ordained Josh Karhan in an evening service.
As part of the Jerusalem Project, Josh participated in a one-year ordination and commissioning class where the cohort read books, wrote a personal doctrinal statement and discussed pastoral ministry. Following the class, the elders recommended that Josh pursue ordination when his request came to the board. A council of local ordained pastors met to discuss with Josh his doctrine and philosophy of ministry. Following the day together, the council affirmed God’s call on Josh to ministry and recommended the elders ordain him. The elders unanimously affirmed Josh’s qualification for ordained ministry.
Participants in the service included members of Josh and Alyssa’s families, New Heart Church pastor Adam Anderson, Calvary Church elders, HSM students, and Jim and Lisa Samra.
Jul 12
On Sunday Greek pastor and Jerusalem Project partner George Tolias and his family gave an update on ministry in Greece during our morning services.
We praise God for new churches that are being planted. Pray that God’s Spirit will bring many to understand the Gospel through his church in Greece.
Jun 21
This past Sunday, Lisa introduced the Greek residents, Kostas and Theodoros, who shared their testimonies.
Jun 19
This summer the Jerusalem Project is welcoming ministry partners from Glyfada Evangelical Church in Greece to Grand Rapids. Two Greek residents, Kostas Kapralos and Theodoros Panagiotidis, will serve alongside Calvary staff and volunteers through July 15. Thank you for continuing to support the Jerusalem Project as we partner, train, and plant.
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 branches that work together to advance Christ’s Church. The three branches 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).