"We are a people, on mission, moving out in ever-widening circles to change our world."

This is the mission of Radius Church. It's a mission we speak whenever we gather. But, there was a time when this was just words written on paper.

Back then, still less than two years ago, it was just an idea. It wasn't a new idea. It goes back at least two thousand years to the beginning of what we now call the Christian church. It was five thousand men, their wives and children living their lives in a a new way, unconcerned with the rules that dictated what they did, what they ate, who they spent their time with, and every other aspect of their lives. They removed the regulations and replaced them with love. Their mission, like our mission, was to reach out to the people around them, and love them without reservation, stipulation, or expectation of something in return.

Acts 6:7

God’s message was preached in ever-widening circles, and the number of the disciples increased vastly in Jerusalem…

Those numbers continued to increase. Because that small band of radicals chose to follow truth, and because they spoke out in bold love, we are here today.

Those words scribbled on a piece of paper were given life in the summer of 2014. A small group met in a house, and prayed. A small group found a place to gather, and prayed. More people showed up, and prayed.

We started moving out into the community. We fed people. We clothed people. We did what we felt we were called to do. We partnered with others to move out faster. Small groups began gathering in houses around St. Pete to love God and their neighbors. Before we knew it, we were a real church. No longer an idea, but a living breathing entity.

But we're just getting started. Changing our world is a big task. It takes a lot of people giving and loving. It takes boldness, patience, and cooperation. It takes total trust in, and dependence on the Lord.

Radius, let's take a cue from our forefathers and pray this prayer together.

Acts 4: 24-31

When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,

“In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.