The Backpack

This Sunday, Josiah Downey shared his powerful journey from exhaustion and doubt to surrender and renewal. After stepping into full-time ministry at Awake, Josiah found himself overwhelmed, questioning his purpose, and struggling to feel God’s presence, until one prayer changed everything.

Hear how surrendering his “armor” opened the door to peace, purpose, and a deeper walk with Christ, and how his story reminds us that God often meets us in the waiting.

This September, a team of women from Christ Community Church traveled to Santiago, Chile, to serve alongside local churches and missionaries from the International Mission Board. From hosting women’s teas and teaching English to serving in the shanty towns, our team saw God move in powerful ways, stretching comfort zones, building friendships, and opening hearts to the Gospel.

Their stories remind us that faith grows when we say “yes” to God’s call, even when it’s uncomfortable.

We all love a good comeback story, but who’s really writing it? This week, Pastor Blake reminded us that the power behind every comeback isn’t our own, it’s the Spirit of God working in and through us. Paul’s words to the Corinthians challenge us to lay down human wisdom and pride and to depend on God’s Spirit for unity, strength, and true understanding.

When we stop living to impress others and start living by His Spirit, we gain the mind of Christ, wisdom, courage, and power for every moment of life.

This week, we heard from Owen Smith, a husband, father, teacher, and follower of Jesus, who shared how God’s steady grace has shaped his life.

Owen’s story isn’t one of dramatic turns, but of faithful consistency. From growing up in rural Kentucky to teaching at Collins High School, he’s seen how God’s hand has guided him through seasons of waiting, purpose, and growth.

He reminds us that sometimes the greatest testimony is a “boring” one, a life that never wandered far because God never let go. Now, Owen and his wife Madeline are raising their four boys to live differently, to find belonging in Christ rather than in the comfort and conformity of the world.

His story challenges us all to ask: Where might God be calling me to stand out rather than fit in?

This Sunday, Pastor Blake continued our journey through 1 Corinthians with a message titled “We Are His Alone.” He reminded us that rivalry and division weaken the Church, but unity in Christ gives us the power to truly live.

We’re called not to follow personalities, politics, or personal preferences, but to center our lives on the cross, the only source of real strength and wisdom. When we belong fully to Him, we find peace, purpose, and power the world can’t provide.

We all long to belong, to find a place and people where we fit. But true belonging doesn’t come from fighting for our seat at the table or proving our worth, it comes from knowing we belong to God.

This week, Pastor Blake opened our new series We Are His with a powerful reminder that our identity, unity, and peace begin in Christ. When we belong to Him, we don’t have to strive to fit in, we are already His people, called, cleaned, and strengthened by His grace.

This week’s message comes following "The City That Is to Come" series, with a powerful challenge: don’t just dream about heaven, start preparing for it. Pastor Daniel reminds us that faith requires movement.

Like packing up for a move, following Jesus means letting go of comfort, clearing out what weighs us down, and stepping forward in obedience. We’re not meant to stay where we are, God is calling us to move closer to Him.

Whether it’s laying aside sin, shedding distractions, or trusting God with the unknown, this message will inspire you to take the next step in your journey of faith.

This Sunday, we celebrated 15 years of God’s faithfulness at Christ Community Church by looking forward to the city that is to come.

Pastor Blake reminded us that our hope isn’t in strategies or structures, but in the God who dwells with His people. As “tent dwellers,” we’re called to:

1. Thirst for God’s presence

2. Pursue holiness together

3. Shine the light of Christ among the nations

From Revelation 21, we’re reminded that God’s dwelling is with humanity, His holy city is beautiful beyond imagination, and His light will never fail.

Today we celebrated the incredible story of Christ Community Church, a journey that began with a simple “yes” to God’s call to go outside. Founding pastor Lee Webb sat down with missionary mentor Carl Babb to reflect on the adventure of faith that started in a living room and became a movement.

From pre-marital counseling sessions to planting a church, their story reminds us that discipleship isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about walking with Jesus, together, one step at a time.

This Sunday at Christ Community, we heard from our team that just returned from visiting Mike & Sarah Emery in Kenya. Their stories reminded us that mission trips aren’t about being the heroes; they’re about joining God in the work He’s already doing.

From grandparents raising children through small chicken businesses, to orphanages being transformed into centers that reunite kids with their families, we saw living examples of James 1:27, caring for orphans and widows in their distress. Their testimony challenged us to pray, give, and even go, because God is moving through His global church, and we get to be part of it.