“Our Journey from Sojourn to Antioch,” by Trent DeLoach

Sojourn is a radical place.  The elders have the courage to call people to pursue gospel transformation in their personal lives and in their neighborhood.  The call to pursue gospel transformation where we do life has led us to Antioch.

Elizabeth and I moved to Louisville almost seven years ago.  We immediately fell in love with the international diversity, and specifically the Bosnian community.  We embraced the many opportunities to help incoming refugees. We took advantage of the international festivals and we enjoyed more than our fair share of food at the many ethnic restaurants. It is an amazing fact that at least 102 nations are represented in Louisville and that 96 languages are spoken in our school system.

Roughly three years ago we moved to the Iroquois/Americana neighborhood to be closer to our international friends.  We love our neighborhood because of the opportunities it provides to live out the Gospel among the nations in our own backyard. Those opportunities include helping friends and neighbors overcome the culture shock of having just moved to the States. Many who live in our community need help learning English and simply adjusting to life in America. Challenges like finding work, managing money, paying bills, getting the kids in school can be overwhelming to those who have never experienced the grind of American life.

The challenges of cross-cultural ministries are certainly unique. Yet, these challenges also dramatically expose the need for Gospel Transformation in everyone’s life, regardless of language, race, ethnicity, or cultural background. We see one of the clearest pictures of this need through our Muslim friends. Many of them have never developed a close friendship with a Christian. Unfortunately, it is also true that many Christians have never developed a close friendship with a Muslim. We also realize that apart from the transforming work of the gospel in the lives of God’s people, no truly meaningful relationships will ever be developed.

To that end Elizabeth and I have spent three years praying that God would ignite a passion for the gospel to be taken to the nations represented in south end of Louisville. We have prayed that in our neighborhood He would cultivate a church that is not only gospel-centered, but that out of their love for the gospel would celebrate diversity, creatively embrace the challenges of overcoming language barriers, and tirelessly engage in cross-cultural ministry in Louisville and beyond. And once again we are seeing that God is faithful as Antioch Church is emerging.

We are incredibly thankful that Sojourn is partnering with Antioch.  We are thankful for their willingness to send and release people to become part of Antioch.  Elizabeth and I have valued every second of our time at Sojourn.  Yet, Sojourn has put the mission of pursuing radical gospel transformation before us.  And for us, pursuing radical gospel transformation in our neighborhood involves planting a church.  God has provided an incredible church planter in Todd Robertson.  So please pray for Antioch and our mission among the nations in Louisville.   Please pray that Antioch would be a radical place where people are challenged to pursue intentional gospel relationships to display Christ’s glory among the nations.

To learn more about Antioch Church check out their website at www.antiochpeople.org or follow them on Facebook.