This post is intended to introduce you to our newest Strategic Partner – Core Community Church.  Core is an Acts 29 church in Omaha and as of a few weeks ago, joins the ranks of Coram Deo and The Summit as well as Acts 29 as strategic partners of Project 2 Pillars.

Core was planted roughly nine years ago by Ethan Burmeister. I first met Ethan at an Acts 29 bootcamp here in St. Louis and to be honest, my first impression of Ethan was that of an eclectic mix between a pretty boy and a biker. I really wasn’t sure what to do with him.  Over time, we began to converse more and Ethan eventually invited me up to introduce Project 2 Pillars to the folks at Core after one of their services.  Following service that Sunday, I shared lunch with and got to meet the other pastors at Core. At that time, they expressed their interest in supporting the work we were up to in Lincoln, but really needed some time to pray and seek God’s will regarding what exactly that would look like.

As things have developed, I’ve also gotten to know Doug Stevens, the executive pastor at Core quite well and even was invited up to preach at Core on the topic of church planting a few weeks ago.  Following my sermon, my family and I got to spend some time hanging out with several of the people of Core and have grown to deeply repect and appreciate the work that God is doing in and through His people there.

As a strategic partner, Core is helping Project 2 Pillars in some specific ways – namely through financial support, informal mentoring and coaching, as well as networking and connecting us with folks in Lincoln (because as I’ve said before, everyone in Omaha knows someone in Lincoln).  In addition, I’m grateful for the brotherhood that exists between our two efforts which are really the same effort to glorify Jesus and proclaim the gospel.

Core meets at the Omaha Playhouse on Sunday mornings. You can learn more about Core by visiting their website and by following their Pastor’s Blog.  In addition, I would also encourage you to check out the Core Vision Video linked below and listen to an especially helpful sermon on the history of Omaha and the history of Core preached by Pastor Doug Stevens which you can find on their Sermons Page (the sermon is entitled “Omaha” and was part of the ‘Movement’ series they just concluded).