GO City Connections extends an invitation to serve

By Bella Agnello

Room 104 in the Biblical and Theological Studies building overflowed with students sitting in chairs, sitting on top of desks and standing on the sides, all talking with lively chatter. The room hushed as Jeremy Kimble, director of the Synergy Initiative at Cedarville University, began the evening with a word of prayer.

On Monday, September 23rd, Cedarville University hosted their first Synergy Initiative event of the 2024-2025 year. GO City Connections encouraged students to live on mission for the gospel and to start thinking about potential missions trips to take over fall or spring break.

Kimble urged students to consider how they will serve God with the life he gave them, and to consider how they will magnify his name.

 “I want to beg you tonight to ask how you will make your one life count,” Kimble said.

In 2019, 4,500 churches closed as 3,000 churches opened their doors. Church attendance and church planting are declining.

The Synergy Initiative seeks to fight this issue and meet both national and global spiritual needs. Kimble shared the group’s mission: to mobilize trained disciples to multiply healthy churches together.

“Normal Christianity is disciple-making Christianity,” Kimble said.

Kimble acknowledged the uncomfortability and challenges of moving away from home to do church ministry. But he also expressed the great joy in being part of the ministry God calls Christians to in the Great Commission, in Matthew 28:19-20.

“What matters is that he’s supreme among the nations,” Kimble said. “Whatever you’re doing, eyes up on mission!”

Whether it is a heart-stir towards supporting missions or being part of a mission trip, Kimble encourages students to consider what God is placing on their hearts.

“There’s need everywhere, but don’t be overwhelmed by that,” Kimble said. “We have a task before us, but that’s not a burden you were meant to carry alone. What is a burden you’re being called to move toward? Pray over these things.”

The evening ended in breakout sessions with pastors of churches in Boston, Denver, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Syracuse, who partner with Cedarville University. These sessions informed students about how different geographical areas approach church planting to meet each community’s specific needs.

If students want to learn how they can be involved in church ministry and live on mission for God, Synergy Connect, a student-led organization on campus, invites students to reach out and learn about how they can pray for regions who need to hear the gospel.

Bella Agnello is a junior Broadcasting, Digital Media and Journalism major with a concentration in Journalism. She enjoys thrifting, listening to records and reading classic Russian literature in her spare time.

Photos by Logan Howard