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Tony Campolo

I just learned that Tony Campolo passed away. When I was a new believer in high school, I heard Tony speak a few times and was encouraged greatly by his enthusiasm for following Jesus. I ended up devouring many of his books. I remember being inspired to serve Christ with my whole life a few times when I heard him speak. One particular time, I remember accidentally stumbled into this music festival at Six Flags in Georga, and there he was, passionately pleading with the crowd to follow Jesus. It was a significant moment in my early Christian life. During my freshman year in college at the University of Kentucky, I was discovering the power of prayer and had, for the first time, been writing out my prayers in a journal. It was always exciting… Read More »Tony Campolo

Christmas Celebration Gathering December 15

Join simple/house/organic church communities from the area for a special Christmas celebration potluck on Sunday, December 15th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We invite all to come ready to share stories of what God has done this year and celebrate the birth of Christ together. Drinks and meat will be provided, so plan to bring a side dish and/or dessert. We will have a meal and time to share stories and Christmas carols. Please feel free to bring a friend! Location:  First Southern National Bank, 3060 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY 40503.  Please park in the rear of the building and go up the stairs to the community room.   We do ask that you RSVP by Sunday, December 8th at this email: gavin@simplechurchalliance.com We hope you can join us! Meeting others involved in simple churches… Read More »Christmas Celebration Gathering December 15

Update: Network Gathering Sept 29 / Retreat deadline / more…

Fall Network Gathering   On Sunday, September 29th at 11 AM we will have a fall network gathering for all simple church friends!  Come together for a bring-your-own picnic lunch at Camp Kearney in the back of Jacobson Park in Lexington!  Note that some picnic tables are available.  We do have indoor space if the weather doesn’t cooperate.  Please take this opportunity to bring a frisbee, a football, or anything you and your kids might enjoy doing outside (Bikes? Fishing poles? hammock?). Perhaps this could be a great way to introduce a friend to simple church? We will pull folks together for a time of testimonies and worship at the beginning before we break out our lunches.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  RSVPs are always welcome as well (email here).  … Read More »Update: Network Gathering Sept 29 / Retreat deadline / more…

2024 Simple Church Retreat Oct 19-20

Come to Stanford, Kentucky’s second oldest town this year to connect with and learn alongside simple/house/organic church practitioners from around the region at the 2024 Simple Church Retreat/Conference October 19-20! Since 2012, we have hosted an annual overnight opportunity for Christians asking similar questions to come together for a time of equipping and encouragement—questions like: What is a church really and how simple can it be? What are the challenges we would need to overcome in order to be a part of a simple/house church? Am I even allowed to start a house church and if so how does that happen? What are the joys and victories people are experiencing in simple/house church communities? How does simple church fit into the bigger picture of what God is doing? If you have questions like these or… Read More »2024 Simple Church Retreat Oct 19-20

Updates & Prayer Requests

* We recently hosted author Wayne Jacobsen and his wife Sara for a day retreat/conversation. I was blown away by the response with almost fifty folks joining us in Lexington from as far away as Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee! I also was grateful that so many families in the region discovered us and connected with other believers.  We continue to witness a growing hunger for people to “find church” outside the box! If you are not familiar with Wayne, he helped contribute to the book The Shack; however, I highly encourage checking out the books Finding Church, He Loves Me, and So You Don’t Want To Go To Church Anymore?  If you happen to pick up a copy and read it, let me know!  I’d love to discuss with you!   Wayne and Sara… Read More »Updates & Prayer Requests

The Power of a Quiet Life

I wanted to make a short post encouraging all here to check out this recent message from Francis Chan: The Power of a Quiet Life. I am speaking at a baccalaureate service for Allan County Scottsville high school this Sunday (prayers appreciated) and in preparation have been thinking of many of the ideas that Francis shares in this talk. It is such a timely message for all of us! If you find yourself feeling the pressure to constantly update the world about your life on social media or if you are someone who just wonders if your life is big and daring enough for God, take a few moments and sit with this. I think you will be encouraged. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/HOzIKZs0ymE?si=k7R-DDjMvYesgvtN

A Conversation With Wayne and Sara Jacobsen – June 1 (ALMOST FULL)

NOTE:  ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT! On Saturday, June 1st we will host a conversation with Wayne and Sara Jacobsen here in Lexington, KY from 10am to 4pm.  Our conversation will address many of the topics in Wayne’s writings including the books Finding Church and He Loves Me. Over the past several years, I have handed out more copies of Wayne’s book Finding Church than any other as I have sought to encourage others to see the New Testament church in a simpler light.  What is more, Wayne has really helped me understand the vital connection between understanding the nature of the church and living in the reality of God’s great love.  When I learned that he was passing through the area, I was so excited to organize this gathering.  Perhaps your faith journey and church… Read More »A Conversation With Wayne and Sara Jacobsen – June 1 (ALMOST FULL)

Good Friday Gathering – March 29 6:30PM

Simple Church Alliance Friends… We are hosting a worship gathering on Good Friday, March 29 at 6:30 PM at The Prayer Room on Broadway in Lexington (1218 South Broadway, Lexington, KY)! We’d love to have you join us! We will have coffee and some light refreshments. RSVP’s are appreciated. If you would like to share a song, testimony, or Easter related reading come prepared to do so! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions! See you on March 29th!

More Law Than Love?

Is it possible that I could be unintentionally presenting God more as law than love, and if so, could I be a stumbling block to to others hearing and receiving the Good News?

Am I Willing To Be Misunderstood?

“Am I willing to be misunderstood?” I saw the title of a recent substack article from my friend, singer songwriter, and poet Zach Winters and it mediately cut to my heart. I thought about you here at this site. What a question! I can so easily fail to step out in faith and ever say anything of substance because I am afraid that others will misunderstand me. I want to share things and ask questions here that I haven’t. I have been misunderstood before and it can be debilitating. I’ve attempted to share things on this very site that others have misunderstood and walked away from the conversation after months of an exhausting back and forth which leaves me wishing I hadn’t even tried to express what I was thinking and feeling in the first… Read More »Am I Willing To Be Misunderstood?