Our Future

We don’t go with flows, and we demolish ruts on sight. We have big plans. Because we serve a big God, who has big love for a big world full of people. Here’s where we’re headed:

Student Mission Base
We currently meet in part of the Church in the Word building. We’re grateful for leadership that values students enough to dedicate space to us, but we’re still sharing worship space and we’re still limited by a facility that’s mostly not designed for us.

In the Fall of 2011 we shared what we feel like God is telling us regarding a special facility for Redefined. You can read the whole announcement here. Below is a snippet:

“We don’t want a separate address with more floor space just so we can fill it up with table games and video games and sports equipment. We don’t want unique space just so we can do what we’re already doing with a different color paint on the walls, and less stress if someone kicks over a pop can.

“We need a place that teenagers in Elgin, Dundee, Carpentersville, etc. can find refuge and belonging. We need a place where students who would never set foot in a church because they’re not like “those people,” can experience the love of God.

“Redefined is not interested in a ‘youth center,’ because we’re not interested in corralling teenagers and keeping them PG13 until they’re ready to go to college. We do not feel it is our calling to keep young people safe and harmless and going with the church-flow.

“Redefined is after a Student Missions Base, because we want to develop young leaders until they’re ready to be sent out as missionaries into the world. We are interested in a Student Missions Base, because we need a place were we can recruit, train and equip young people to mess up the kingdom of darkness.

“There will be table games and dodge balls and skate ramps. There will be couches and cafe tables.

“But there will also be worship space that doubles as learning space, so musicians can develop their gifts and producers can hone their skills. There will be study space so students can use the internet to do homework, get help in subjects they struggle with, and finish school. There will be tools for visual arts so that the creatives will still be valued as school systems continue to cut funding, and so a new generation can reclaim art in the Church. There will be kitchen space so the hungry can be fed, and young people can experience the connection between food and fellowship. …”

We’re calling it a “Mission Base,” not because it’s all about international missions trips, but because it’s all about mission.

Student Missions Organization
This one is all about international missions trips.

We’ve done international missions trips on our own, and with student missions organizations. The trips we’ve done ourselves have been as effective and life-changing as trips we’ve partnered with others to accomplish. And they’ve been cheaper.

In the Fall of 2011 we started working with business people who know stuff, to set up our own student missions organization. We want to be able to open up our resources and experience to students in our area for – hopefully – a lower cost/person than we’ve gotten from other groups. We want to remove every unnecessary barrier to getting young people overseas, doing God’s work.

Keep an eye out for updates. Right now we’re doing behind-the-scenes structural work, and it’s not pretty. Our first international trip will be Summer 2013. Stay tuned!