August marked the one-year anniversary of the first time our church gathered in Zakk's backyard to begin this journey of planting in Pittsburgh. It's incredible to look back on the past year and see the way God's grace and guidance have brought our church to this first major milestone. We truly believe our best days lie ahead as we continue to move forward in our mission to help people learn and live the ways of Jesus in Pittsburgh.
A 90 Day Sprint
August also marked the start of what we're calling a 90-day sprint. This season, running from August 15-November 14th, is allowing our team and our systems to get a healthy workout before slowing back down as we head into the holidays. We'll use the slowdown around the holidays as a chance to evaluate and celebrate what God has done over those 90 days.
As we continue to create and grow a healthy culture of work/rest, discipleship, and engaging people disconnected from Jesus and the church, we are prayerfully anticipating that this fall season will continue to put us on a firm foundation as we head into a season of "launching" in January 2022.
Thank You
We would not be here without the generosity and outpouring of care and support this past year. Thank you for partnering with us in this journey as we plant a church that seeks to learn and live the ways of Jesus here in Pittsburgh!
MINISTRY UPDATES What We've Been Up To
Bi-weekly Worship Gatherings
Sunday, August 29th marked the beginning of moving from a monthly rhythm of worship gatherings to a bi-weekly rhythm. We had 74 adults join us for worship!
Multiplying A Connect Group
We started a new season of Connect Groups (small groups) at Steel City. One of the most exciting things is that we were able to multiply one of the groups and have grown from 3 groups to 4 heading into the fall.
Growing The Team
We have added several new people to our church planting team. These are men and women who've committed to giving of their time, talents, and treasures to support this church plant. We now have 40+ adults who are in a discipleship group where they are being poured into spiritually as they pour themselves out by advancing the mission of Steel City.
Our First-Ever VBS
During the last week of July, we had 13 children attend VBS representing 10 families. Only 5 of the 13 children and 2 of the 10 families were previously connected to Steel City. We pray that there will be more opportunities to engage these families!
Page Dairy Mart Outreach
Who doesn't want free ice cream!? Our team gathered at a famous ice cream spot in Pittsburgh with the desire to engage the disconnected. Patrons completed a spiritual interest card in return for a voucher for free ice cream. We had 98 cards completed representing approximately 200 people. Our team is following up with these people over the next few weeks. Pray for fruit from sown seeds!
Team Vision Meeting
To set the tone for our 90-day-sprint, Zakk Roberts walked our Church Plant Team through some elements from Nehemiah that our church can learn from as we seek to plant and grow a church here in Pittsburgh. Zakk encouraged us with a charge of personal broken-heartedness for the brokenness in our city, a charge of prayer throughout the whole process, a charge to operate in confidence as sons and daughters of the King, and a charge to step into the mission right where God already has us.
Lake Day
Our team gathered for food, fellowship and fun at Moraine State Park on Lake Arthur
LABORERS Answers to the 10:02 prayer
We have asked all of our partners to join us at 10:02 AM to earnestly pray for laborers to be sent to and raised up in Pittsburgh. (Luke 10:2). This includes people who labor for a few hours, days, weeks, months, and years! God has been answering that prayer in some awesome ways this summer via some of our amazing partners!
Shandon Baptist | A family-oriented team joined us from Shandon Baptist in Columbia, SC to prayer walk, engage families at local parks, host a Parents Night Out for our team members, paint, and host a Squirrel Hill Christian Church & Steel City Church joint congregation cookout!
FBC Rock Hill | A group from one of FBC Rock Hill's women's groups joined us to explore the city, prayer walk, and care for our children during our vision night.
GenSend | We had 5 college students from around the country who came to leverage their summer to advance the Gospel in Pittsburgh as a part of NAMB's GenSend program! They spent time building relational inroads in our neighborhood and lead our first-ever VBS program this summer! We are excited to report that one of our GenSenders, Emily Carter, is coming back to Pittsburgh this fall to serve in the GenSend Semester program.
Pray With Us
@10:02 am: God, we beg you for laborers to come to Steel City Church, and for laborers to be raised up in the city of Pittsburgh
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Lord, we praise you for the people who've labored Steel City over the summer for a few hours, a few days, and a few weeks
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God, provide specifically a laborer with a heart and gifting to lead and serve musically
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Lord, continue to help Steel City engage with and connect with people from Pittsburgh and college students on campus who are disconnected from you or your church
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God, we praise you for your favor in providing a space for Steel City to gather in the area they want to engage with the Gospel
Lord, give Steel City opportunities to minister to the Squirrel Hill Christian Church members
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Lord, work in the hearts of Chris, Zakk, and the Steel City congregation towards the SHCC members, and work in SHCC members hearts towards Steel City
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God, instill humility and sober-mindedness in Zakk and Chris's leadership
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Lord, deepen Steel City's relationship with other planters in the city and the region
We Can't Do This Alone
God’s work through Steel City Church is made possible through your prayers, encouragement, and financial generosity. Your generosity allows us to remove barriers and create opportunities for people to learn and live the ways of Jesus in Pittsburgh.
GIVING BY CHECK
Steel City Church
c/o Chris Richards
4279 Winterburn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15207
