church: K2 preparing for launch
So many of you have heard of this church plant that I have come to call home, but I don't know if I have succeeded in capturing the (I don't even know the right word, maybe) excitment/blessing/significance of the whole deal. So below I have copied an article that was published recently in a MI paper about K2.
Published September 10, 2004
DAVID CRUMM:
Christian pioneers who left home for Utah ready to launch church BY DAVID CRUMMFREE PRESS COLUMNISTSALT LAKE CITY, Utah --
A caravan of religious pioneers who left Oakland Countya year ago for Salt Lake City with dreams of establishing a church are on theverge of launching their house of worship on Sept. 26 in a warehouse on themountainous city's south side. And, like most pioneers who wind up far fromhome, they miss a few things."I never get to see the Lions anymore," said Mike Routledge, 39, the church'sdirector of arts and music.The Rev. David Nelson, 39, the lead pastor, said, "Last fall, we really missedapple orchards.""I miss my whole family back in Oakland County," said Susie Routledge, 37,Mike's wife and the director of children's ministries."There've been some stresses," said Eric Winter, 39, the church's director ofadministration. "When we came out here, we lost that whole close circle offriends and family back home."I dropped in on this leadership team that now includes the Rev. Andy Marshall, acopastor they hired in Salt Lake City, as they were looking over theconstruction site inside the warehouse that they expect will be a fullyfunctioning, independent Protestant church in a couple of weeks. While theydescribed some strains, their optimism was obvious.So far, they've been either lucky or, as they interpret it, blessed. When theyset out last year, I reported their story in the Free Press and that story wasreprinted in other newspapers, catching the imagination of people across thecountry.A year later, they admit it was rather audacious of their group of about 30members from Kensington Community Church in Troy to announce that they felt Godcalling them to pack up and move to Utah to form the leadership team and theinitial membership of a new congregation. In doing so, they became the firstsuch group since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to leave theMidwest for Salt Lake City.They've already had 150 people from the Salt Lake City area join theircongregation. They were attracted by their casual attire, contemporary music andfolksy sermons about real-life issues.There hasn't been any friction with their Mormon neighbors. A year ago, aLatter-day Saints spokesman told me that their church welcomes the Michigangroup's arrival. After all, Mormons are in the forefront of defending freedom ofreligion.Nevertheless, on Monday, church leaders were still standing in the midst ofladders, toolboxes, sheets of drywall and a whole lot of dust. They have onelast, hard push ahead of them to reach their goal.Will they be ready by opening day? Sure, they said. The name of their new churchreflects their undimmed confidence. They call it simply K2: The Church."It works on many levels," Marshall said. "My snowboard is a K2, so it fitsperfectly with the interest in winter sports out here.""It's also a challenge -- the name of the mountain that people say is thehardest to climb," Nelson said.The name refers to home, as well. The "K" is a reminder of the Kensingtoncongregation that will continue to send them partial financial support for onemore year, before they're totally on their own."Overall, this has been unbelievable," Mike Routledge said."We're part of something that we really, truly feel God is calling us to do.That's what's made this the most exciting year of our lives."As of this week, though, they haven't quite made it to the end of their trail.They're still a group of Michigan travelers huddled on the edge of the GreatSalt Lake, hoping their dreams will be fulfilled. What's compelling about theirlittle camp is not their potential success, but the restless spiritual energythat connects them with religious pioneers of an earlier era.It's easy to see why people are already dropping by their circle of wagons towarm themselves by the fire these pioneers have built.
Copyright © 2004 Detroit Free Press Inc.
So many of you have heard of this church plant that I have come to call home, but I don't know if I have succeeded in capturing the (I don't even know the right word, maybe) excitment/blessing/significance of the whole deal. So below I have copied an article that was published recently in a MI paper about K2.
Published September 10, 2004
DAVID CRUMM:
Christian pioneers who left home for Utah ready to launch church BY DAVID CRUMMFREE PRESS COLUMNISTSALT LAKE CITY, Utah --
A caravan of religious pioneers who left Oakland Countya year ago for Salt Lake City with dreams of establishing a church are on theverge of launching their house of worship on Sept. 26 in a warehouse on themountainous city's south side. And, like most pioneers who wind up far fromhome, they miss a few things."I never get to see the Lions anymore," said Mike Routledge, 39, the church'sdirector of arts and music.The Rev. David Nelson, 39, the lead pastor, said, "Last fall, we really missedapple orchards.""I miss my whole family back in Oakland County," said Susie Routledge, 37,Mike's wife and the director of children's ministries."There've been some stresses," said Eric Winter, 39, the church's director ofadministration. "When we came out here, we lost that whole close circle offriends and family back home."I dropped in on this leadership team that now includes the Rev. Andy Marshall, acopastor they hired in Salt Lake City, as they were looking over theconstruction site inside the warehouse that they expect will be a fullyfunctioning, independent Protestant church in a couple of weeks. While theydescribed some strains, their optimism was obvious.So far, they've been either lucky or, as they interpret it, blessed. When theyset out last year, I reported their story in the Free Press and that story wasreprinted in other newspapers, catching the imagination of people across thecountry.A year later, they admit it was rather audacious of their group of about 30members from Kensington Community Church in Troy to announce that they felt Godcalling them to pack up and move to Utah to form the leadership team and theinitial membership of a new congregation. In doing so, they became the firstsuch group since the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to leave theMidwest for Salt Lake City.They've already had 150 people from the Salt Lake City area join theircongregation. They were attracted by their casual attire, contemporary music andfolksy sermons about real-life issues.There hasn't been any friction with their Mormon neighbors. A year ago, aLatter-day Saints spokesman told me that their church welcomes the Michigangroup's arrival. After all, Mormons are in the forefront of defending freedom ofreligion.Nevertheless, on Monday, church leaders were still standing in the midst ofladders, toolboxes, sheets of drywall and a whole lot of dust. They have onelast, hard push ahead of them to reach their goal.Will they be ready by opening day? Sure, they said. The name of their new churchreflects their undimmed confidence. They call it simply K2: The Church."It works on many levels," Marshall said. "My snowboard is a K2, so it fitsperfectly with the interest in winter sports out here.""It's also a challenge -- the name of the mountain that people say is thehardest to climb," Nelson said.The name refers to home, as well. The "K" is a reminder of the Kensingtoncongregation that will continue to send them partial financial support for onemore year, before they're totally on their own."Overall, this has been unbelievable," Mike Routledge said."We're part of something that we really, truly feel God is calling us to do.That's what's made this the most exciting year of our lives."As of this week, though, they haven't quite made it to the end of their trail.They're still a group of Michigan travelers huddled on the edge of the GreatSalt Lake, hoping their dreams will be fulfilled. What's compelling about theirlittle camp is not their potential success, but the restless spiritual energythat connects them with religious pioneers of an earlier era.It's easy to see why people are already dropping by their circle of wagons towarm themselves by the fire these pioneers have built.
Copyright © 2004 Detroit Free Press Inc.
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