Articles for tag: Common Ground Christian Church

January 19, 2013

Christian Standard

Interview with Danny Schaffner

By Paul Boatman Danny Schaffner Jr. is the preaching and teaching minister at Common Ground Christian Church in the urban corridor of Tampa, Florida. He has lived with his wife and three boys in this community since 2007. His church”s website is www.commongroundtampa.com.   What makes your ministry distinctive? Common Ground is a restart of a church that was closed for a year and a half. Our zip code, 33603, is where much of America will be in another generation: predominantly Hispanic-American, then African-American, and then Caucasian American. It feels like the mission field, where most of the people look,

December 21, 2012

Christian Standard

Examples of Collaboration, Sacrifice

By Jennifer Johnson Earlier this year, as part of a project with Kairos Legacy Partners, I researched stories of dying churches that merged with another congregation or recycled their resources and energy into a new church. Many, like Central Christian Church in Tampa, FL, were once-thriving churches that had declined due to aging members and changing neighborhoods. Others, like Capital City Christian Church in Raleigh, NC, knew major change was needed to reach a young, growing community. In each case, the story was worth telling because the church wanted to be part of something bigger than slowly dwindling while hanging

November 5, 2011

Christian Standard

Church Starts Arts Academy

By Jennifer Taylor Trombonist and jazz musician Stan Wilkerson has played with Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin. This fall he”ll be leading the Academy of the Arts at Common Ground Christian Church (Tampa, FL). Common Ground launched the academy this fall to provide lessons in piano, guitar, drums, woodwinds, and brass. Students may choose private or group lessons at reasonable prices, and older students also receive opportunities to play in jazz combos, ensembles, and recitals. The academy also emphasizes music as worship; students may share their music as part of weekend services at Common

July 12, 2011

Christian Standard

When Churches Close

By Justin Horey Everything that begins also ends. We may recognize that fact when we”re talking about businesses or vacations or even relationships. But what can we do when it”s time for a local congregation to shut its doors? PJ”s Abbey has been one of many distinctive restaurants in Orange, California, a town that bills itself as the antiques capital of Southern California. With “an eclectic mix of old family favorites and creative cuisine,” PJ”s Abbey was notable for its menu, but most widely recognized for its facility””an old church building. It”s an unusual concept, to be sure, but certainly not a unique

May 27, 2011

Christian Standard

Common Ground Site for Uncommon Garden

By Jennifer Taylor A few weeks ago, Common Ground Christian Church (Tampa, FL) broke ground on its new community garden. Urban Farming and Kraft Foods” Triscuit brand are sponsoring the garden, providing all the soil, plants, tools, and other supplies; the organizations are collaborating to plant 65 of these gardens around the country this year. The groups kicked off the groundbreaking with a press release and live simulcast of the event, including connections to Triscuit”s headquarters in New York and a new garden in Los Angeles. Common Ground”s “Green Team” of volunteers will care for the garden, and the church

December 23, 2010

Christian Standard

Churches Provide Mission Opportunities at Christmas

Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (Bloomington, IN) created a Global Christmas Market catalog to provide opportunities for missional giving this season. The catalog included information about the local and global missions supported by SOCC, as well as specific “wish list” items for each ministry: food for the hungry, a week at camp for a needy child, mosquito nets, and many more. Participants could designate their financial donation toward any item and the church also provided gift acknowledgement cards for them to explain their donation to recipients. Common Ground Christian Church (Indianapolis, IN) also created a way for members to give to

August 5, 2007

Christian Standard

How One Church Is Leaving a Legacy

By Thomas F. Jones Jr. Death is the end of the natural order of things. A body wears out and dies. This is true of local churches as well as human beings. Perhaps the greatest church in the New Testament was at Antioch, but there is no evidence of that church today. It died. Its legacy is found in the churches that were started after Antioch. Today some 4,000 churches a year in America close their doors. This number is likely to increase as our parents and grandparents die. There is hope. As Christians we are assured death does not

February 12, 2006

Jeff Krajewski

pastoral friendship

Garden Friends

Following Jesus is tough—especially for church leaders who feel they have nowhere to be honest. Jeff Krajewski points to Jesus’ own trusted friends and urges the church to become a place of safety and grace.

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