2024

LAUNCH TEAM

Dream together

Pray together

Serve together

Follow Jesus together

Have fun together

Journey together

Take risks together

Share life together

Hope together

Discover together

Dream together Pray together Serve together Follow Jesus together Have fun together Journey together Take risks together Share life together Hope together Discover together

What Is A Launch Team?

A launch team helps start or “launch” a new church.

Each person takes ownership to do their part and works together to make the dream a reality. The Bright City launch team has a key role in starting who we want to be and living out the vision.

It takes faith to believe God is building his church, even when it is unseen or still in progress. It is also important to discern a personal sense of calling. We are dedicated to creating a culture of trust and unity as we move forward.

A great place to start is learning more about Bright City. Our goal is to help more people experience life in Jesus. We hope each person joining feels called to the vision and aligned with the values we share.

Bright City Church interest meeting at Village Coffee in Sunbury, Ohio

FAQs

Who can be on the launch team?

A launch team member should be fully invested in following Jesus and building His church. Anyone can be part of the launch team who feels called to build a fresh expression of Jesus’ church, is aligned with the vision of Bright City, and is willing to do their part and take ownership.

Launch team members are not better or more qualified than others. They simply have the faith to follow God’s calling at the start of something new. Jesus freely offers himself and his life to all people. His Church is a spiritual family that any person is invited to explore and find belonging.

However, Jesus did call a few “disciples” to follow him and be more invested than others. They participated with Jesus in the work of establishing new communities and carrying on his mission after his resurrection.

What is expected of launch team members?

Here is a brief description of what a launch team member is committed to:

  • Alignment with Bright City’s mission, vision, values, and beliefs

  • Attend launch team meetings and activities

  • Give financially to Bright City—aiming for 10% (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

  • Volunteer on a team and at church-sponsored events (1 Corinthians 12)

  • Walk with Jesus daily—engaging spiritual practices (Luke 9:23-25; Matt 6:9-13)

  • Pray for 3 people who need to experience life in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:16-20)

  • Be involved in a Missional Community (Acts 2:42-47)

We also want to strive to have relational unity in these ways:

  • To love and serve one another as a spiritual family

  • To pray for, invite, and warmly welcome guests

  • To support the staff and leadership of our church

  • To speak truth in love, ready to offer grace/forgiveness

  • To resolve conflict and seek reconciliation as needed

  • To refuse to gossip, complain, or participate in conversations where others gossip or complain

Can I still be part of Bright City if I'm not on the launch team?

Yes! You can still be part of Bright City even if you are not on the launch team. The launch team is just the first “phase” in the life of our church. The mission, vision, and heartbeat will remain the same.

Starting in January 2025, we will be able to publicly invite more people to be part of Bright City once we have established our teams and rhythms.

Bright City is a community of Jesus followers forming a new church in Sunbury, Ohio

Meet Our Launch Team

  • “I knew I wanted to be a part of a church in Sunbury and had been praying for the Lord to direct me to one. When I met Josh and heard his heart and vision for Bright City I quickly realized it fit the type of church I was excited to be a part of and felt clear this is where the Lord was leading me!”

    Casey VanCauwenbergh

  • "We prayed for a long time to be part of a Christian community and growing our faith. When we met the Taylor’s through the Pros we knew that we wanted to be part of this journey."

    Gareth & Elaine LaGrange

  • “We had a job change that confirmed that we would be calling Ohio home for a longer term, during the same month, we saw the Bright City launch video and it tugged at our hearts. We felt a pull towards the church’s Mission and Vision and soon after met the Taylors. Movement Church has matured us in our walk with God to the point where we feel ready to pour into the community of Sunbury.”

    Matt & Marissa Altimari

  • “We met Josh through Three Creeks, and shortly after meeting him and his family we knew we wanted to be part of it. We prayed for community for a long time and God finally gave that to us. He surrounded us by a wonderful Christian community. We could not refuse the opportunity of such an amazing experience.”

    Jordi & Samantha Pros

  • “We have been so thankful to call Three Creeks Church 'home' for the past several years, and for the friendships and growth that we experienced there. Sunbury is closer to where we live now, and we are excited to help start a new community of people following Jesus at Bright City Church.”

    Josiah & Anna Markley

  • “Coming from Movement Church we learned the value of community and close relationships. Living in Westerville we began to seek something more local. We decided to be a part of Bright City after meeting the Taylor's and seeing their heart for building a local community for believers and to reach the unreached in the area.”

    Holly & Dave Peterson

  • “As soon as a new church plant was announced at Movement, we felt called to be a part of its journey. We began praying for God to send us signs about if this should be our next step. Throughout the next few weeks, God showed us many times that Bright City was where we needed to be. We cannot wait to start this next chapter in Sunbury and be able to launch a new community of believers to this area.”

    Justin & Sarah Brogan

  • “We loved being a part of Three Creeks Church; we had been there since day one. After moving to Galena in 2020, we slowly started to realize that it was harder to serve a community that we weren’t living in. God put it on our hearts to serve the community that he had moved us to. Then we heard about Bright City, and we soon knew that this is where God wants us.”

    Andy & MaryBeth Stone

  • “Our decision was an easy one that God put in front of us like a neon sign. We felt directly called to pack up and move from Hilliard to Sunbury to be a part Bright City and share the gospel within the growing community. Our time at Movement Church and living life in a Jesus-centered community has fueled our desire to bring that to Sunbury. We are very excited for our family to begin this new chapter and be able to lead others to live life in Jesus.”

    Kim & Andrew Montgomery

  • “I had been feeling called to serve the Lord on a deeper level when I discovered Bright City through an instagram story. After praying about where God wanted me to be, I realized that Bright City is where I am supposed to be!”

    Madison King

How To Get Involved

Launch Team Meetings (Sundays)

Starting September 8th at 4:00pm, our weekly launch team meetings will begin! These will be Sunday gatherings as we teach and implement our DNA, build our volunteer teams, and prayerfully seek how God wants to use us in our community. Anyone can visit on a Sunday to explore what God is doing.

Missional Communities

We also have missional communities (MCs) that meet on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. These are a place to experience the church as family and serve their community together—and we always have dinner together. Anyone can try a MC whether or not they come on a Sunday or join the launch team. Simply contact the leader and ask where they meet!

Ready To Explore More?

If you want explore how join the launch team, connect with Josh & Sarah Taylor who started Bright City. One or both of them would be glad to schedule a time to meet with you, get to know each other, and answer any questions.