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About Us
CityTribes is but one drop in a sea of new expressions of the Church which the Holy Spirit is raising up in this season of reformation. Having labored as a pastor in traditional ministry models for many years, I was greatly moved upon by the Spirit to develop a new model of ministry to touch the multitudes who have given up on institutional Christianity and to reach out to those who are rejecting Christ due to their negative experiences with Christians.
This ministry is less a model to be followed than a grand adventure of faith - an open invitation to experience both the simplicity and profound reality of the Presence of the Living Christ, to discover divine purpose, and to depart from this life gracefully, leaving behind a legacy of blessing for all generations to come.
I invite you to join with us in this great adventure. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
For the Glory of His Kingdom,
Rich Carey, Founder
Why Are CityTribes Important?
It is a well established fact that many believers have given up on traditional church models. Though they love God, they are no longer meeting with other believers on a regular basis. As a result their spiritual lives can be in a state of stagnation, and they have no established support system to fall back in times of crisis.
Yet scripture clearly teaches that we are to be in continual and meaningful spiritual relationship with others as members of the Body of Christ. If we are not genuinely plugged into a spiritual community, our God-given gifts and talents can lie dormant or remain undiscovered. This robs us, and others of the incredible joy and blessing that can only exist when we are activated into our divine purpose.
To these ends, we have formed the ministry of CityTribes.
Who May Join A CityTribe?
While everyone is welcome, our target audience is those who are not meeting regularly as part of an organized community of believers.
Membership is completely fluid and voluntary, and is based upon the individual’s level of commitment to and participation in the Tribe. We are spiritual families, growing together, learning together, and discovering destiny together.
Does It Cost Anything To Be Part Of A CityTribe?
Freewill offerings will be received at each meeting, which will be directed towards meeting organizational expenses and taking care of special needs among tribal members.
When and Where Do CityTribes Meet?
Meetings are held in host homes or businesses on a particular time and place each week. Locations are subject to change often as tribes creatively seek ways to enhance their spiritual knowledge, growth and relationship with Jesus Christ.
What Can One Expect At A CityTribe Meeting?
Meeting format is informal, but with purpose. The stated goal of every meeting is:
1) To bring spiritual enlightenment about the Kingdom of
God from His Word (the Bible) and discover ways to make it
practical to life.
2) To share one another’s joys and burdens, taking them
to God in prayer and assisting one another as each is able.
3) To assist one another in the discovery of destiny and the
activation of spiritual gifts.
4) To seek to discover ways to make a meaningful difference
in the communities in which we live.
The foundation of this ministry is a perpetual and non-negotiable dedication to the Great Commandments of Christ – to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is our firm belief that such love has the power to bring life out of death and bring transformation to this sin-sickened world. Our mission is the Great Commision given to us by Christ - to help others become ambassadors of His love.
Who Leads The CityTribe Meetings
The servant-leaders of each Tribe (elders) are appointed by the apostolic leadership. The qualifications for eldership are based upon those set forth for overseers in the New Testament. Elders must demonstrate a selfless desire to care for those given to their charge, acting as spiritual fathers and mothers to spiritual sons and daughters of the faith. Their goal is to bring spiritual sons and daughters to maturity, fullness and fruitfulness in Christ.
How Are New Groups Formed?
In time, each Tribe will grow in spirit and in number. New servant-leaders should arise from the ranks. Once ordained by the apostolic leadership, a tribal elder should be sent out with a core group to develop a new Tribe. In this way, the number of Tribes will grow organically in each community and hence the expand the love of Christ and the influence of the Kingdom of God.
Do All The Tribes In The City Ever Meet Corporately?
On a regular basis, regional gatherings of all the Tribes will be held for the purpose of celebration, vision casting, and tribal cross-pollination. These meetings will be of utmost importance for all tribal elders and leaders in training to attend.
How Can I Join A CityTribe?
Call founder Rich Carey at 813-571-3919, or email him at contact@citytribes.org for details on where to find a Tribe, or for information on how to start your own Tribe where you are.
Quote:
"Our job is to serve our Creator and Sustainer God by presenting Jesus in containers out of which postmodern people will be clamoring to drink. The mystery of the gospel is this: It is always the same (content), and it is always changing (containers). The old, old story needs to be told in new, new ways. Yes, people's experience of God and of the gospel changes. But no, God and the gospel don't change. Our experience does, and it should change through time. But God remains the same. The gospel is timeless. Part of leadership is making sure that the containers don't alter the content."
- Len Sweet