Seeking the Kingdom Through Multiplication

Church planting is the most effective way to reach new people for Christ. We launched Cornerstone 7 years ago with 20 people, and that has created space for almost 1000 new people to worship weekly. But our vision is not to grow conventionally big in one spot. We want to create human-scale churches where deep community and meaningful mission can happen. Church planting also keeps the entire congregation alert to the new things God wants to do among us, not permitting us to get stale. 

The 41st & Harvard congregation will simply be called Cornerstone, while the 10th & Rockford congregation will be referred to as the Cornerstone | Rockford Mission. Most people will probably call it “the Rockford Mission.” When the Rockford Mission fully launches on its own, it will take on its own name.

The long-term vision is that the Rockford Mission will become a self-sustaining C4SO church, independent of Cornerstone. We’ll stair-step our way in that direction. In the beginning, the Rockford Mission will be like a newborn baby, a “dependent” of Cornerstone. Over time, the Rockford Mission will work its way toward “graduation.” Key benchmarks will be established to determine where it is in its development and readiness to launch on its own. 

We hope to launch the Rockford Mission with a ‘strategically small’ launch team. This will likely be 150-200 people. A launch team of this size will allow Rockford to crystallize a new culture, get to know one another, and gather around a shared communion table in a single worship service.

Some will live nearby, some will feel a particular sense of calling, and others will be inspired by the long-term vision to be part of a resourcing, multiplying church! We encourage people to dedicate prayer to this decision and seek the Lord’s guidance for how they participate.

Individual Apprentice Groups will make their own choice about the future of their group. They will be free to continue as-is or multiply and become congregation-specific. Some may be “fully Rockford” while others are “fully Harvard.” Likely, many groups will have a combination. Over time, we anticipate that groups will reflect the community in which they worship.

Cornerstone and the Rockford Mission will have a combined youth group that meets at Harvard. Students at the Rockford Mission will be invited to weekly youth gatherings, retreats, mission trips, etc. They’ll just worship at Rockford on Sunday mornings. In the long run, when the Rockford Mission launches on its own, it will likely create its own youth programming.

The existing Cornerstone staff will move back to 41st & Harvard, with the exception of Pastor Max. Some key areas, like Facilities, Finance, and Operations will serve both Rockford and Harvard. The rest of the Cornerstone staff will focus attention on re-launching Harvard.

Pastor Max will give full-time attention to the development of the Rockford Mission and rely on key volunteers in the early phase of the congregation. We anticipate that some roles (like Kids Director or Worship Leader) may become staff positions (though likely part-time).

• May 25 - The Max Diener Interview (see podcasts)

• July 27 & Aug 3 - Rockford Mission Interest Meetings

• August 17 - Congregational Survey where folks commit to Harvard/Rockford/Unsure

• Late Fall - Harvard construction is completed & congregation moves back

• Early ‘26 - Rockford Mission Launches

Not in the near-term. Until the Rockford Mission fully launches on its own, membership can be fully expressed through participation in the Rockford Mission or at Cornerstone.

In Cornerstone’s next season, we’ll recommit to our founding values of Gospel, Community, Formation, and Renewal. But to that list, we’re also adding “Multiplication.” The next season will include creating new environments for “deep formation,” explicit strategies for sharing the gospel, and new ways to embody our mission in the neighborhoods surrounding our building.

On Sunday, August 17, we will send out a congregational survey for people to indicate if they intend to help relaunch Harvard, launch Rockford, or are still unsure.

Both those who intend to help relaunch Harvard and those who will launch Rockford will have the opportunity to begin shared spiritual practices with their emerging congregation. This will be a fresh expression of our founding commitment to John 15:5 — abiding in Christ and entrusting ‘fruitfulness’ to him. There will also be practical preparation work to do, increasingly as we near the launches.