Imagine a circle of friends who are more like a supportive family. You share meals, encourage one another, struggle together through tough times and work creatively as a group to renew the city and bring justice to the poor and oppressed.

This is Rev. Jonathan McIntosh’s vision for Christ City Church, which will launch this fall in the heart of Midtown Memphis. He says, “Memphis doesn’t need another cool church. We need more people working together as God has called us to do, for the good of this city.” The new church’s vision is communicated through its name. Christ: live, teach and follow the way of Jesus Christ; City: a community on mission for the good of the city; Church: not a building, or a worship service, but a community.

McIntosh is passionate about social justice and desires that the church will equip persons to put feet to their faith. He explains faith in Jesus Christ as, “not about moralism, politics or church attendance — the very core of Jesus is grace extended to all of us, including the broken and the needy. This grace motivates us to care and to serve those who are disadvantaged and cannot advocate for themselves.”

Rather than a list of outreach programs, McIntosh intends to foster a posture of service, that is, an attitude of readiness and a mindset that actively seeks ways to help. The exact missions focus will be decided by the new congregation. “Once we begin meeting we will decide that together. We plan to honor the work of other churches in the area and spend some time listening to the needs of the neighborhood. Then, together, we will engage our community and begin work for renewal in this city,” says McIntosh.

Sunday morning gatherings will have a casual, contemporary feel but incorporate ancient elements, such as creeds and hymns. Teaching will be intelligent and grace-centered to appeal not only to believers, but seekers and skeptics as well. McIntosh points out that “the gatherings themselves are not church, they are the starting point for church.”

Christ City Church seeks to be a welcome place for those who have never attended church or have been burned by a past church experience. Having experienced a church rife with moralism, political agendas and a judgmental spirit, McIntosh understands why many young adults opt out, as he did for some time until he was drawn back by loving, authentic Christian community. Determined to cultivate that same feel within Christ City Church, he again emphasizes God’s grace — the grace “that allows us to go beyond mere tolerance and truly love those who are different from us.”

McIntosh has just begun to gather the launch team and plans to hold the first public worship service September 19. To learn more about him and Christ City Church, follow Jonathan on Twitter, see his blog, rethinkmission.org or email him.

Jonathan McIntosh was on staff for five years as a pastor and teacher at The Journey, a missional church in St. Louis. He is a student of culture and created The Journey’s cultural engagement ministries that have attracted media attention worldwide. He and his wife, Ashley, met and married in Tupelo, Mississippi, where they lived for seven years prior to moving to St. Louis. He believes, as one poet said, that “the world is charged with the grandeur of God,” and that our first job as human beings, Christians, and missionaries is simply to notice; to come awake to that grandeur.

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