ReachColumbus

Reach Columbus is a joint church planting project among EFCA Student Ministries, EFCA Start Churches, the Great Lakes District and the Alleghany District.  Columbus, OH, is a large metropolitan area with 1.5 million people.  Almost a million (977,567) are  unclaimed (http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/metro/1840_2000.asp).  They don’t belong to any church of any kind.  Eighty-three percent are unchurched, and we have only one EFCA church. 

Click for more information about how these two churches started.

To visit their websites:

Scarlet City Project

Cross City Church

Please pray for comfort and God's presence for Gabe and Monica deGarmeau and their daughter Lilly, church planters with Jay O'Brien at the Scarlet City Church.  March 21, Deacon deGarmeau, their almost three-year old son, was struck by a car and died.  The following notice is from the family.

Deacon Kade deGarmeaux (4/30/2008 - 3/21/2011)

As many of you are already aware, tragidy has struck us at Scarlet City Church with the passing of Gabe and Monica's almost 3 year old son Deacon. He was such a joy to all who knew him. Deacon lived life to the fullest every moment of every day. His name, Deacon Kade, literally means “energetic servant,” and he genuinely lived and loved with great energy and passion. Like most little boys he opted not to walk anywhere, instead he would run or bounce, and he wouldn’t let you leave his presence without a hug and a kiss. In fact, this past Sunday, Gabe used Deacon's passion for service as an illistration in a sermon he preached describing how Jesus came to serve and obey the Father. When Gabe was sharing this story Deacon happened to be walking to the restroom to "potty" (which he regularly reminded us all that he was getting good at) and he turned to a friend taking him to the restroom and exclaimed, "My daddy said my name!"

This has been a week of sorrow for all of us.  We loved Deacon so much!  We have been comforted by thousands from all over the world who have been praying and weeping with us.  We are also experiencing love and grace from our Lord.  We cling to the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We have been comforted by numerous passages of Scripture.  Jesus' words in John 16:33 have been especially encouraging: "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world."

EFCA Start Churches