The District Church. Young Church Planting in Riverside

[Metro Jacksonville]

The District Church. Young Church Planting in Riverside



Boyd Bettis is a young evangelical pastor starting an evangelical church in Riverside called "The District Church".  Jesse Wilson is the popular young writer who writes for Void Magazine and is and is a major Jacksonville advocate.  They join Stephen Dare for a video chat about starting a new church in a hipster district, the perils of drinking cheap beer and a new emphasis on embracing the urban culture.  Join us after the jump for a look at how the face of young evangelicals is changing.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-aug-the-district-church-young-church-planting-in-riverside

[77danj7]

Great stuff

[scottjaxfl]

Cool story about this new church, Stephen. My partner and I are always looking for news where the christian community and the gay community live in harmony and acceptance. Thankfully that is happening in Jacksonville more and more. I would add, though, that Trey Brunson, his dad, and First Baptist Church are as intolerant as they were during Homer Lindsay's heyday. Trey and his dad were either on or near the front row during the City Council debates on the Human Rights amendment debate and they had a time of celebration at FBC to honor the council members who voted against it. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[ronchamblin]

I love the name... "The District Church".

I've occasionally driven in the small off-the-beaten-paths around Jax and am amazed at the many little churches.... some areas having a church each block.  Frequently known to exist only by little signs hung on the house front, or by the sign on the door of an old warehouse, some seem large enough to hold only twenty people or so.       

How interesting it would be to shoot photos of all these little churches and then publish, black and white, in a book titled...."The Churches of Jacksonville".  My guess is that the project would allow us to discover that there is almost a thousand of these churches around Jax... indicating that the spiritual and social needs are perhaps being well tended.       

The names are very interesting too, some being quite colorful.  For an interesting contrast, one could place a photo of the huge FBC on, say, page 87 of the book, right amongst some of the smallest church fronts.  In order to have a full photo of the FBC however, I would have to rent a plane and fly over the city for the photo, taking in the ten or twelve blocks of the great compound located on the northern edge of the city core.

But onward Jesse and Boyd.......if reading the forum.....onward ...... with a wish of good luck and good will to you both, as there is always room for another church, a place to engage man's spiritual and social needs and inclinations.  You both seem to have your feet on the ground and are obviously intent on engaging the community in positive ways.  I expect that your church will grow and have continued good impact on the community.

If I were inclined to religion, worship, or churches, I would probably find myself more comfortable in yours, as compared to one of the mega-churches.

[boydbettis]

Hey Ron!

Thank you for your kind words! Also, love the book idea. Might be a really fun project. Maybe we can collaborate on it some day!

BTW... love your bookstore, a bunch of the folks in our church shop there. Thanks for what you are doing in our city.

Boyd

[Stephen]

Welcome to the neighborhood Rev. Bettis.....

[Dmh]

Great article. Also check out a recent Church Plant in Springfield. The Image Church
@imagejesus.com

[danno]

There is another church plant in Riverside that meets at the Sunray Cinema http://www.thewellchurchjacksonville.com/

[Jacksonvillemom]

The Well at Springfield is a church plant led by Rev. Susan Rogers. It meets at City Kidz Cafe. Its worshippers are dedicated to being the presence of Christ by serving the community.

[Cheshire Cat]

Welcome District Church!  I wanted to share with everyone that tomorrow afternoon at exactly 5:10PM Florida time there will be a world wide prayer to move humanity across the globe toward peace.  At that exact moment in their own time zones, people around the world will be stopping to take a few moments to pray/meditate on world peace.  It has taken a great deal of sharing of information to get the message out.  I know I will be taking a few moment's tomorrow on 8/25 at 5:10PM to meditate and pray for humanity to awake to a more peaceful way of being.  I hope you will to.