SATURATE ROCHESTER WITH THE GOSPEL
The greater Rochester area has a longstanding history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty. For many of us, it’s the people who make us call Rochester our home. At the same time, when we look around our communities, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and beyond, we see so many people searching and longing for something more in life. We don’t have to look far to find people who have walked away from God, given up on Him, or rejected Him altogether, and continue to wrestle with the void of hope in their lives.
We are at a new juncture in the life of our church. We have the opportunity to walk toward the mess and bring the hope of Christ. We believe in saturating our city with the gospel of Jesus because He can change lives and the city.
We believe that through our campuses, we can create environments where people can read and understand the Bible, experience genuine community, and receive the hope and healing of the gospel all over Rochester. Right now, this feels like an insurmountable mountain in front of us.
Yet, God has placed a new opportunity in front of us through the Brighton Campus that will challenge our faith and call us to action. That is why we are calling this initiative Mountain Mover. We believe that God can change hearts and this city, but to move that mountain, He calls us to greater faith.
Matthew 17:20-21
For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Together, let’s declare the hope we have to those who feel hopeless. Let’s truly make a difference for the sake of Christ and saturate our area with the grace and truth of the gospel. As we start this journey together, what part will you play? As you consider how God is asking you to participate in Mountain Mover, we hope this resource will help you seek Him. It’s designed to guide you toward a decision that is another step on the journey to becoming more like Jesus. I pray you will join my family and me as we deepen our faith and see God move mountains!
DREW KARSCHNER
Lead Pastor
The three colored areas represent a 10-minute drive time to each physical Northridge campus.
Imagine
Imagine the greater Rochester area saturated with the Gospel.
How do you think the power of God could impact your community? Can you see it changing relationships? Do you believe it can impact poverty? Do you believe it can change our community? If you are a follower of Jesus, you know the healing, peace, hope, and joy you find when your life is saturated with the gospel. We’re calling you and our whole church family to catalyze a movement to permeate the greater Rochester area with the gospel and see mountains moved.
For 134 years, we have seen God move so many mountains in people’s lives at Northridge (Psalm 126:3). We’ve seen Him destroy strongholds, overcome addictions, restore marriages, bring families back together, and give life to those who once had no hope.
Our primary strategy to share the gospel is to launch campuses to be missional outposts and homes for the hopeless. Our heart and goal are to see a Northridge campus within a 10-minute drive for everyone in the greater Rochester area.
We want the hope of the gospel to permeate our city.
Following the unforeseen closures of our portable campuses in Greece and Henrietta during Covid, the Oversight Team has been looking at various properties for a possible permanent campus. While searching and praying for a suitable building on the south or west side of Rochester, we came across the listing for 2090 S. Clinton.
The owners of the 2090 S. Clinton church building believe in our vision for saturating Rochester with the gospel so much that they offered us a 24% discount on their list price. The Oversight and Stewardship Teams visited the property, prayed, and unanimously agreed that this could be the home for many on the city’s south side. Over 95% of our members prayerfully voted to purchase this building, so we proceeded with the purchase.
One of the opportunities we have at the Brighton Campus is to reach and care for a demographic that is increasingly less likely to go to church - those who are under 30.
The Brighton Campus is accessible within a 10-minute drive for over 42,000 students from three local colleges and universities, giving it the potential to see God move in the next generation.
The cross-section of this community is highly diverse, not only in age but also in income level, educational background, race, and socioeconomic status. We have a significant opportunity in Brighton to love and welcome a variety of people. 5
“My Community Group (seven of us including me) are ecstatic about the Brighton Campus. Most of us attended the Henrietta Campus and are currently online since the other two physical locations are quite a drive for us. Our hearts are more than ready to attend in person. We have family and friends who also plan to come or are more likely to accept an invite if the location is closer to home.”
“When I left home to attend Nazareth College, finding a new church was my priority. Although Northridge was twenty minutes from our campus, I drove there up to three times per week for Sunday morning service, Community Group, and NYA events. My church home has been the biggest source of joy and encouragement since I’ve been in college, and many of my friends have said the same.
My weekly trips turned into carpools and, eventually, a van transport system to get our students to church. Northridge has contributed to our continually growing Christian community at Nazareth. I’m so excited that we will have a closer location for our group to keep growing in faith and numbers. ”
“Having a closer church location makes Sundays feel more like home. We’re able to invite people in our area more easily, allowing them to experience the welcoming nature of Northridge and get plugged into a local church that is connected to our direct community. Attending a smaller, more intimate location forges a sense of family that’s like no other, where we are truly able to do life together.”
Stretch Your Faith
For the gospel to permeate the Rochester area, bold faith needs to be combined with committed action. The Mountain Mover initiative is a two-year commitment in four areas. As you embark on this journey, prayerfully consider where God is leading you to stretch your faith to see mountains move.
Sacrificial Giving
to fully fund a new missional outpost and home for the hopeless.
Going
to join the Brighton Campus and be a light in the community.
Serving
in a renewed capacity and dedication.
Loving
and caring for your neighbor in tangible ways to share the hope of the gospel.
SACRIFICIAL & GENEROUS Giving
Sacrificial and generous giving is one of the ways we can express our dependence (Matthew 6:25a, 33) and gratitude (2 Corinthians 9:11) to God for how He has been generous to us. In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul calls for the church to “sow bountifully” into the Kingdom of God.
As part of the Mountain Mover initiative, God is calling us to stretch our faith by funding a new missional outpost and home for the hopeless through the Brighton Campus. God put the opportunity to purchase 2090 S. Clinton in front of us, and we desire to steward this opportunity wisely.
The goal of this giving initiative is to fully fund all the costs associated with the building to create a fresh space people can call home.
While the building is an excellent overall space, critical renovations, and upgrades are necessary to make it ready. These include:
Our Purchase Price: $1.6 million
Renovation Estimates: $1.1 million
Fix the roof and HVAC system
Replace windows, flooring, lights, and ceilings
Many upgrades for energy purposes
Audiovisual package
10% to BEYOND partners: $300,000
Total Cost: $3 million
The ability to not carry a long-term mortgage on the property will mean we will avoid paying approximately $1 million in interest payments, allowing more resources to be used for ministry.
We Practice Generosity Because:
1. God has been generous to us.
2. It expresses our dependence on God.
3. We bless others.
4. We help meet ministry needs.
5. We discover true and lasting joy.
10% TO BEYOND
We want to live out sacrificial generosity throughout our church. As part of the Mountain Mover initiative, we want our impact to go beyond our walls like we never have before in any of our previous giving initiatives.
10% of all the money that comes in through the Mountain Mover Giving Initiative will be given as a tithe to our Beyond partners as we seek to strengthen families, end poverty, and seek justice in the name of the gospel.
Additionally, office space within the new Brighton Campus will be available to our Beyond partners to use rent-free as a part of this initiative.
This allows us to support our Beyond partners in ways we never have before. To learn more about Beyond and the partners we support, visit NorthridgeRochester.com/Beyond.
Giving Steps
The Giving Steps is a tool designed to help you examine the attitude of your heart and personal growth in generosity. Each step represents growth in a lifestyle of generosity and sacrifice. The Bible encourages us to grow in every aspect of our spiritual lives, including in the grace of giving.
Giving Scenarios
We have put together hypothetical giving scenarios to help give you a starting place as you pray about what to give to this campaign based on your current financial situation. You can find these scenarios by clicking on the button below.
HOW TO DECIDE WHAT TO Commit
The decision of “How much should I commit to the Mountain Mover Giving Initiative” is personal. No one can make that decision for you. As you approach the decision,
Reach Out to God
Prayerfully seek God’s guidance as you make your commitment decision.
Evaluate Your Resources
Consider everything God has put under your stewardship.
Nail Down the Specifics
Determine specifically how your resources can be used to compile a generous contribution.
Educate Yourself
Consider “out of the box” ways to increase your contribution.
Walk by Faith
Determine your best commitment and trust God to help you successfully fulfill it.
PRACTICAL STRATEGIES
Practice Priority Budgeting
Your family may choose to rearrange your financial priorities. By identifying “unnecessary or less important” expenses currently in the budget, your family may free up funds that can become part of their Mountain Mover commitment.
Redirect Present Expenses
You may have short-term expenses or loans that will soon be settled. Once these commitments are met, the funds, which are already a part of the budget, can be redirected to Mountain Mover.
Increase Giving With Increased Income
Sometimes, you might be aware of an expected bonus or an upcoming increase in income. You can choose to plan on including these increases in income in your total commitment.
Donate Assets
You may have stocks, bonds, or other securities that have appreciated in value. These assets can be included in your commitment. There are potential tax advantages to this type of transaction, but there are also potential penalties. Therefore, before making a contribution of this type, we encourage you to consult your CPA, tax attorney, or financial advisor.
Personal Reflection
Making a contribution to a campaign is not primarily about giving money to a building. It is about taking an active part in the effort to bring about the mission God has given us in saturating Rochester with the gospel by making more and better disciples. Before making your final decision, evaluate the commitment you are planning by considering these questions:
Does the amount I am giving require me to trust God?
Does the amount I am giving represent a genuine sacrifice to God?
Does the amount I am giving accurately express my level of gratefulness for the way Christ and His Church have blessed my family?
CREATIVE IDEAS FOR THOSE WANTING TO GIVE BUT AREN’T SURE HOW
You might be seeking more creative ways of identifying funds to include in your commitment. For instance:
Sell some collectibles or items you no longer need and donate what you receive for the items.
Postpone a large family vacation or a remodeling project and contribute what you would have spent.
Get a part-time job and contribute your income from that position.
Turn a hobby into a sales venue and contribute the profits.
Give up certain indulgences like a regular coffee run or sweets and contribute the savings.
Look for opportunities to earn extra money that can be included in your donation to the campaign.
Prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you give.
We believe the bible when it says those who sow generously will reap generously (2 corinthians 9:6). We are asking for joyful, sacrificial gifts, yet we recognize that the rewards will be greater than the sacrifice. Our mountain mover initiative will allow us to work together to expand our mission and create a strong legacy for the future.
Going
Jesus, in Matthew 28:19, commissions His disciples to go, to share the hope of the gospel with those who haven’t received it by making more and better disciples. Perhaps you live locally to the Brighton Campus, and God is moving you to go and be part of this team. Commit to serving there and put down roots. Attend regularly with your family. Invite your friends, neighbors, and classmates. Create space for guests at our current campuses and help to make the new location feel like family as we welcome others home.
HOW DO I JOIN THE BRIGHTON CAMPUS?
Go to iwant.info and express interest.
A member of the team will reach out.
Help to prepare the building.
Think about your time, talents, and how you can help.
Pull your Community Group together and do a service project there.
Go for one year or fully commit to attending and serving at the campus.
I have had the privilege and honor to
serve in Kids Min, NYM, set up and
tear down, Starting Point, Community
Groups, and most recently, NYA. I’ve
worked alongside many of you and
seen what you’re best at, and have
been inspired by your families,
marriages, faith, and heart for
others. God has used so many
of you to influence the man and
husband I am today, and I can’t
thank you enough. Northridge truly
is my family, and as we step out
in faith to see Brighton saturated
with the gospel, I’m asking you
to do this with me. Family is one
of the sweetest parts of life —
celebrating, crying, praying, and
dreaming together. I can't do this
without you and I would never
want to.
- Noah Bixby, Brighton Campus Pastor
Serving
Serving is about creating a place for people to feel at home and to grow in their faith. Are you serving regularly at your campus? As volunteers start going to Brighton, there will be space for you to step in and serve at Rochester and Webster. God has purposefully given you gifts to use for the good of His Kingdom and glory. Is now the time for you to step up and serve?
HOW DO I START OR INCREASE MY SERVING?
Evaluate what gifts and passions you have.
Connect with your current team leader or someone at NEXT.
Fill out the form on iwant.info.
A member of the team will reach out.
You’ll get plugged in!
“My husband Dan and I attended Northridge for years and loved it, but we were comfortably on the sidelines. We didn’t realize what it felt like to really be part of an authentic community until we joined the Henrietta Campus. Being part of a smaller, more tight-knit group really changed us. We became involved in ways we didn’t know we had in us and found joy in serving alongside people who were truly a part of our lives. We made deep connections with people who are now more like family than friends. We grew in our faith in unexpected and lasting ways. It was a season that will forever be special to us. The Brighton Campus is so exciting to us because we long to be part of a small community like that again, and we can’t wait to see how God works through this next phase of His Church”
Loving
It doesn’t matter what part of Rochester you live in or if you attend online, you can help spread the good news of Jesus and saturate our city and world with the gospel. Who do you know that you can be praying for, investing in, and inviting? How can you get to know and serve your neighbors in tangible ways? Who can you offer to pray for at work or school? Who can you invite to your home to share a meal? Regardless of where you live, God has put you in your neighborhood, school, and workplace to share His love with the people around you.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” -Matthew 22:37-39
HOW DO I START LOVING MY NEIGHBORS WELL?
1. Pray
Draw a map of those in your neighborhood. Write down their names and pray over them.
Create a list of people you rub shoulders with regularly through work, school, kids’ activities, etc
Find a local news source and pray over the needs of our community.
2. Invest
Have intentional conversations.
Be the one to reach out.
Ask good questions.
Follow up.
Share your story.
See the need, meet the need.
Listen to your Community Group, family, friends, or neighbors and learn about their needs.
Respond as often as you can!
3. Invite
Invite others into a conversation.
Meet them for coffee.
Invite them into your home.
Share a meal.
Invite people to your Community Group.
Create a welcoming environment in your group to love and care for others.
Invite them to church.
Introduce them to our family of believers and allow them to belong in community.
“A Northridge campus close to our home has provided us a great opportunity to invite family and friends from our neighborhood. Five years ago, while I was in labor with our third child, my husband and I drove around the neighborhood after a snowstorm helping neighbors with fallen trees (trying to pass time before heading to the hospital). After helping a friend who was a single mom from Northridge, we headed to another neighbor who we instantly connected with. While cutting down their tree they mentioned they were searching for a new church. We invited them to Northridge, and they quickly connected and plugged into serving. For the last few years, we have enjoyed co-leading Community Group together. During our time at Northridge together, we have teamed up to invite other neighbors and friends to the Webster Campus. Having a Northridge campus nearby has allowed us to include others in our community.””
PRAYER Challenge
You can use the small moments of your day to pray for big movements of God. Here are two ways you can commit to prayer:
Prayer Cards
Download a pack of the 28-day prayer cards.
Use the cards as a guide for your prayers.
Start your day with prayer or set an alarm each day for the same time as a reminder.
Pray with your Community Group.
Pray as You Drive
Take a prayer reminder keychain (handed out during services).
Commit to praying while you drive through the greater Rochester area.
Turn an ordinary routine into meaningful prayer moments for the gospel to impact your community.
Prayer Night at Brighton Campus
Prayer is at the foundation of the Mountain Mover initiative. Through prayer, God will bring about change in and through us. On Sunday night, March 12th, we prayed as one church with multiple locations for a movement of God in Brighton and the greater Rochester area. Click on the button below to see some specific prayer requests across our ministry areas.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."
- 1 John 5:14
THE NEW BRIGHTON LOCATION
