the quad cities

The Quad Cities is a blend of youthful energy, progressive ideas, American values, artistic expression, and economic growth, right in the heart of the Midwest.

Hosting a population reaching almost 400,000 the Quad Cities is midway between Minneapolis on the North and St. Louis on the South; Chicago on the East and Des Moines on the West.

The area's 300-mile market of nearly 36.5 million people comprises nearly 15% of the nation's population making it the largest 300-mile market in the United States West of Chicago.

The Obama administration has awarded $230 million in federal funding for an Amtrak connection between Chicago and Iowa City that will establish a passenger rail link in the Quad-Cities for the first time since the 1970’s. This will unite the Quad Cities to the markets and culture of Chicago and the University of Iowa.

The QC is home to eight colleges including Palmer College of Chiropractic considered to be "The Fountainhead" as it was the first school of chiro- practic in the world and brings students from diverse cultures into the Quad Cities.

The Figge Art Museum is one of the oldest art institutions in the country and is considered the first municipal art gallery in the United States.

These unique attributes make the Quad Cities a strategic location for being a launch pad to start missional movements across the Midwest.

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a renewed city

Sacred City Church exists to bring the gospel into our cities, families, and everyday lives in order to see Jesus transform the separated into the sacred.

We focus on three things: Gospel, Community, and Mission.

Gospel The Gospel is a message to be told (Mark 1:14; Acts 14:21). It is God’s response to the bad news of sin. Sin is a person’s rejection of God’s creator-rights over him (Romans 1:16; Genesis 3). It is the good news that God has acted in history to conquer evil and reconcile sinners to himself through the perfect life, brutal death, and glorious resurrection of Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21; Romans 3:23-26; 1 Cor. 15:1-12). It is the redemptive story of creation-fall-redemption-restoration. We believe that the gospel is the answer to every question (Romans 1:16-17).

Community When people think of church they often think of a building or Sunday morning event that merely requires their presence. Sacred City sees church as a people not a place. In fact, we see ourselves as a gospel family. What makes a gospel community distinct from other forms of gath- ering is that we believe community is both the hermeneutic and apologetic of the gospel and that all community is missional and all mission is to be communal (Acts 2:42-47).

Mission Mission is not what we do. It's who we are. We are a community of missionaries to the Quad Cities. We are kingdom bringers. God is not just interested in the salvation of humans, but in the restoration of all of creation to its original “good” (Gen. 1:31; Rom. 8:19-22).

The gospel not only calls us into community and sends us out on mission, but the power of the gospel is the only thing that will keep us in community and on mission. Being in community and on mission reveals our continual need for grace found only in the gospel.

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the sacred life: our identity

We believe action follows being. Therefore, we do not define ourselves by what we do. We are a people of God, centered on the gospel to live in community and on mission together.

We see ourselves as a Gospel Centered Family on Mission to the cities; learning to live everyday life with Gospel Intentionality.

Family - We are children of God who live and care for each other as a family.

God has always desired a people-an earthly family-who would live in such a way that the world would know what he is like. Jesus said that those who live in his ways and obey his Father are truly his family. Through Jesus we believe we are children of God and brothers and sisters with each other. As family we see it as our obligation to personally care for the needs of one another - both physically and spiritually. We disciple, nurture and hold each other accountable to this covenant life together. We do this through missional communities and Sunday gatherings. (Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16)

Missionaries - We are sent by God to restore all things to himself. God sent his son, Jesus, to earth to take on human form and live within the culture. He worked, ate and interacted among the people. Living in such a way that those around him could see and experience what God was truly like. Jesus came so that all people, places and things could be restored to a right relationship with God. In the same way, we believe we are missionaries sent into our culture to restore all things to God through Jesus. We live this out as part of a missional community. (John 1:14; 20:21; Colossians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Servants - We are servants of God who serve others as a way of life. Being fully God and fully human, Jesus took on the posture of a servant. He gave his life, even unto death, so that others could experience salva- tion, peace and restoration. Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves..." All those who follow Jesus are called to serve in the same humil- ity. For us this means joyful submission to God, leadership and to each other, as we serve whomever God brings into our lives. (Matthew 20:25- 28; 25:31-46; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16)

Learners - We are disciples of Jesus who take responsibility for our own development and the development of others. As a young man Jesus grew in both height and wisdom. He learned from local religious teachers, by living in community, and through regular times of listening to God. Jesus called others to follow his ways, to be his disciples and live in obedience to all that God commands. He then sent these followers out to make new disciples. We believe we are also called to be followers of Jesus who take responsibility for our own development and the development of others. This includes both our personal time with God as well as involvement together in training provided by spiritual lead- ership. (Luke 2:52; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:2)

This Identity makes all of life sacred because it is placed in relationship to the living God, our heavenly Father. Out of this Identity flows natural rhythms of life.

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the sacred life: our rhythms

We chose the name Sacred City to reinforce the fact that all life is sacred. There can be no division between sacred and secular. "Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13). This means that our gospel identities produce gospel rhythms in the context of everyday life.

Listen - We set aside regular times to listen to God both backward and forward. Jesus listened to God in prayer to know his Father's will. We are also called to listen to God. We listen 'backward' by regularly interacting with God's word and the son. We also believe he speaks today through his spirit in us and through creation. We spend time actively listening 'forward' to hear what God is saying to us today. We also take time to listen to others stories and help them find their lives within God's story. (Mark 1:35-37; John 16:7-15; Hebrews 1:1-3; Romans 1:20)

Celebrate - We gather together to celebrate God's extravagant blessings. God calls people to regularly celebrate his goodness and grace. We gather weekly in missional communities and regularly as a larger family, to share stories and celebrate all that God is doing in and amongst us. We invite everyone to these celebrations as a way of displaying God's glory. (Leviticus 23; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25)

Eat - We regularly eat meals with others to invite them into the community of God. Meals are a daily reminder of our common need for God and his faithful- ness to provide both physically and spiritually. Jesus called us to remem- ber him and his sacrifice for us through a meal. When we eat together, we commune around this truth. We regularly eat meals with those not in our immediate family or circle of close friends, discipling them toward a life of dependence on God. (Leviticus 23; Matthew 6:11; 26:17-30; Acts 2:46-47; Romans 12:13)

Recreate - We take time to rest, play, create and restore beauty in ways that reflect God to others. After powerfully and joyfully creating the universe, God rested. We were created in his image and therefore were made to joyfully create and rest as well. We regularly take time to rest, play, create and restore beauty in ways that reflect what God is like to our community. (Genesis 1-2:3; Deuter- onomy 5:12; Mark 2:23-28; Hebrews 4)

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