FAQs about Venture Christian Church & Living on the Edge
1. What is the relationship between Living on the Edge and Venture Christian Church?
2. What exactly is Chip's role at Venture Christian Church?
3. How does Chip lead two organizations?
4. What fruit have you seen in this new Living on the Edge / Venture Christian Church partnership?
What is the relationship between Living on the Edge and Venture Christian Church?
We share a very specific common mission to help Christians live like Christians (r12 Christians) here (Bay Area), there (USA) and everywhere (World); but are two distinct and separate organizations. Chip Ingram's messages, whether for radio, TV, small groups, internet all flow out of his experience as the pastor of Venture Christian Church. However, we maintain clear boundaries legally and financially as two separate organizations with two separate board of directors/elders to govern them respectfully.
What exactly is Chip's role at Venture Christian Church?
Chip's title is Senior Pastor of Venture Christian Church. His role in this church of approximately 3,000 people is three-fold:
- Visionary Leadership in concert with the board and executive staff to determine God's direction for Venture Christian Church.
- Primary Communicator – Chip teaches about 50-60% of the time at Venture and is head of the Venture Teaching Team.
- Spiritual Coach to help develop key leaders, staff and fellow communicators on the Teaching Team.
All staff members report to members of an executive leadership team headed up by Executive Pastor, Rick Linamen. Rick's executive pastor experience at churches of 10,000 – 16,000 in the last 20 years uniquely qualifies him to effectively run the operational aspects of the church and allow Chip to focus on his primary gifts of teaching, coach and visionary leadership.
How does Chip lead two organizations?
The short answer is two great teams and one singular focus. Living on the Edge has experienced exponential growth in the last two years under the leadership of COO, Andrew Accardy and Executive Director of Broadcasting, Greg Kucala. These men's operational and strategic strengths have allowed Chip to focus exclusively on his primary strengths of teaching/coaching and visionary leadership. Great relationships, longevity and advanced technology allow Chip to record new material, develop new small group DVD series and meet regularly with the Living on the Edge Board and Executive Team. As crazy as it sounds, the energy and renewal God has given Chip as He exercises His teaching and leadership gifts in a local context seem to far outweigh any effects of the additional workload.
What fruit have you seen in this new Living on the Edge / Venture Christian Church partnership?
All signs point to God's hand of favor upon the church and Living on the Edge in these early months of transition.
- The church has grown in attendance by over 1,000 people.
- The church has launched nearly 1,500 people into small groups studying, "The Miracle of Life Change" DVD series. That's about 25% more people actually connected in authentic community then even attended the worship service when we began in June.
- Living on the Edge experienced its best summer ever in resource sales, donations and spiritual impact.
- Living on the Edge has launched over 5,000 small groups in August and September of this year and developed online coaching and help for small group leaders and pastors.
We see these things as God's affirmation and confirmation of our direction and partnership with Venture Christian Church. When we consider the state of the economy, continued growth and impact rank as some of God's greatest blessing in Living on the Edge's history.