plant and run

the NOLA Church Plant logo explained | September 26, 2009

So perhaps you’ve noticed that we unveiled our “logo” for the church plant. I’m really happy about it. It was designed by our friend Samantha Carr. She did a great job.

Just to be clear, this is not the new church logo. In fact, we haven’t even determined the name of the new church. Part of this church planting process is the gathering of a core group of people who will help to start this new church. We want that group to have a hand in the selection of a name and the inspiration of a logo.

So the purpose of this logo is to help us communicate the vision and dreams of this church plant. We need a movement of people, both in New Orleans and around the country, who will rally around us to support, pray and encourage this new church. This logo is one of the tools God can use to help spark that movement.

The logo is inspired by the Crescent City Connection Bridge that spans the Mississippi River in New Orleans. For us, it is a great symbol that represents a number of things…

First of all, we our moving ministry “across the River.” Berean Bible Church is on the Westbank of the Mississippi and the new church plant will be on the Eastbank. For four years, we have sent short-term mission teams over that bridge to help people rebuild [the Westbank didn't flood].

Secondly, we want to be a church that “builds bridges” into our neighborhoods. Frankly, we are sick and tired of church being defined by merely coming together for a Sunday morning worship service. We want church to also be defined by going together into the darkest parts of our world to bring the Kingdom of God to bear upon the needs we find there. It’s time to stop standing around waiting for the needs to come to us. It’s time to cross over the gulfs in our lives that prevent us from going to the other side.

Thirdly, we love our city! This bridge is a symbol that defines our town and we want to embrace and love it!