Uptown Ubiquity

Rohs Street Cafe Grand Re-Opening

2005-04-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Our c0ffee house, the Rohs Street Cafe, will be re-opening this Saturday night, April 9, at 8:00 PM. We have been closed six weeks following the fire, and are ready to re-open in time for our second anniversary. Here is a link to an article in the University of Cincinnati newspaper: http://www.newsrecord.org/news/2005/04/07/News/Local.Caf.Bounces.Back.From.Fire-915363.shtml?mkey=1595296&page=1

Christian Church Magazine Article

2005-03-31T12:07:00.000-08:00

The Christian Standard, a periodical of the Independent Christian Churches, chose a photo of UCC for a cover of its March 27 issue, titled "What Kind of Church is This?" The decision to use the photo happened prior to our fire, but after hearing about it, we were able to write an article for the web-based version of the newsletter. Here is the link: http://www.christianstandard.com/pdfs/1101.pdf

Easter Service at Hughes

2005-03-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

UCC met at Hughes Center on Easter Sunday, and again local 9 news showed up. We must have somebody on the inside over there that I didn't know about. Here's the link to the video: http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/03/27/hughes.html

Our message was that we need to engage a world filled with crucifixions. Jesus' death was not unique in his day, and tragic suffering continues in our world two thousand years later. While Jesus is unique, his suffering is not. The cross is not. Referencing Hotel Rwanda, we reflected on the need for followers of Jesus to not be isolated from the rest of the world.

We also ought to avoid the tendency, when engaging the world around us, to not become so overcome with crucifixions, that we are unable to see and celebrate a world filled with resurrections. With faith, we can engage our world, not with a spirit of despair, but with hearts of hope.

Living Water for the Thirsty

2005-03-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

Recently my small group saw "Hotel Rwanda." My reflections on the movie are many, and I would highly recommend it. It certainly reminded me that a small church fire is next to nothing on the global stage, especially when compared with genocide and hunger. In this spirit, let me share an opportunity. Sarah Bowman, a UCC attendee, let me know about a fundraiser this Thursday, March 24, sponsored by the group Jars of Clay. The focus of the funds is to provide clean drinking water in Africa. As you engage God this Holy Week, please think globally, and act!

Here is the clip from a local radio station:

"On Thursday, Jars of Clay will be live on-air in the K-LOVE studio asking for your financial support of their Blood Water Mission in Africa. The HIV/AIDS crisis is the greatest humanitarian threat in the world today and the need for clean blood and clean water in Africa is urgent. The Blood:Water Mission’s 1000 Wells Project seeks to build and repair 1000 clean water wells in sub-Saharan Africa. They hope to funnel 100% of the donations from their fundraiser directly to Africa."
"To donate click here"

God Stories at UCC

2005-03-16T07:10:00.000-08:00

I would love for anybody who sees this, and has been shaped by God through UCC in some way, to share the story here. In the hectic pace of life, we often fail to remind one another of the good things, and fail to celebrate the blessings of God in our midst. If you have something you'd like to share, please post it here.

UC Student Newspaper Story

2005-03-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

Another positive story in the News Record, the student newspaper at the University of Cincinnati:
http://www.newsrecord.org/news/886994.html?mkey=1595296

WCPO Article

2005-03-06T17:47:00.000-08:00

We had a great service today at Hughes High School. Here is a link to footage and a story that led the evening news on the local ABC affiliate in Cincinnati: http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/03/06/church_fire.html

Cincinnati Enquirer Article

2005-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a story in the local Cincinnati paper today:
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050304/NEWS01/503040398/-1/all

And the Building Shook

2005-03-03T11:37:00.000-08:00

In Acts 4, Peter and John were dragged before the religious leaders in Jerusalem The leaders threatened them, instructing them not to "speak to anyone in Jesus' name again." After this potentially discouraging encounter, and with a clear sense that Christ-Followers would be facing massive persecution in the days ahead, the early church gathered together.

They turned to God in prayer, acknowledging God as creator of heaven and earth, quoting Psalm 2:1-2, affirming that ultimately God is in control, not Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate, or any Gentile or Jewish leader. As they ended the prayer, they proclaimed: "Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." "After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God's message with boldness."

What a powerful experience. The persecution didn't stop. A few chapters later, Stephen was martyred for his allegiance to Jesus. Yet in the midst of this persecution, the people gathered, remembered that ultimately power belongs to God, and experienced one of the defining moments of the early church. The entire story of Acts is predicated on the bold preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rooted in a powerful faith and trust in God. And countless people's lives and eternities were transformed!

Decades later, Luke chose to include this building-shaking experience as one of the DEFINING MOMENTS of the early church. I can imagine his hands shaking in excitement and wonder as he wrote the words, capturing the power and significance of the moment.

On Monday night, the building of University Christian Church shook. A significant fire broke out in our auditorium, torching chairs, burning a hole in the floor, and causing smoke damage throughout our entire facility. We will not be able to use any part of our facility, including our coffee shop, the ROHS STREET CAFE, for at least a month or two. Our auditorium will be unusable until mid to late summer. The challenges are innumerable, and the days ahead will be filled with obstacles. Yet through it all, I believe University Christian Church is in the midst of incredible days, a time when God's presence and power are displayed daily, a defining moment for our congregation, and for a small part of God's Kingdom.

God's story in this building-shaking experience begins with a policy our church established over ten years ago, when God blessed us with our facility. We agreed to offer our building rent free to any organization that was furthering the work of God's Kingdom. Admittedly, we debated the policy on more than one occassion, but we never decided to change it. The evening of the fire, a small group from another church in the Greater Cincinnati area was meeting in our coffeehouse. Just as they were finishing a time of prayer, at around 9:35 PM, they smelled smoke. Once they determined the severity of the situation, they immediately called the fire department. Put simply, had they not been in the facility, had nobody been there, we very well could have lost the entire structure, or the damage could have been so great that the facility would have been beyond repair. But they were there! Coincidence? We don't believe so.

The fire company arrived quickly. The fire burned for thirty to forty five minutes at the most, and was contained. Nobody was injured. As we walked around the facility, surveying the damage that evening, Cincinnati's fire cheif pointed to a place on the wall where the fire started and burned. Charred and severely damaged plaster contrasted with plaster that was off-white as the walls of the auditorium had all been before the fire. He pointed out where a stack of Bibles had sat when the fire broke out. He said the Bibles had actually served as a fire wall, preventing the fire from spreading to our large wooden doors that enter into our coffeehouse, and preventing the fire from spreading further. Coincidence? We don't believe so.

Structurally, the building has been preserved, except for a few very small issues. The smoke damage is extremely extensive, however. Our insurance should prove sufficient for the repair of the walls and structure of the building. Our insurance will not cover all of our loss, however, as we had very limited coverage of the items in the building. When I first discovered this news yesterday afternoon, I was discouraged. But then I remembered the truth the early church had prayed about in Acts 4: We worship the Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them! Through God, and God's people, we are confident that we will be surprised over and over and over again in the days and weeks ahead as we experience God's mercy and grace and provision. As the old saying goes, "GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME! ALL THE TIME! GOD IS GOOD!"

Why did God chose to preserve our facility? Why is God proving faithful already during this challenging season? Because, I believe, our congregation is making a significant difference in the lives of numerous people in Uptown Cincinnati. We are a strategic, if small, part of the Kingdom of God, and we are reminded that if God is for us, nothing can prevail against us, not even the Gates of Hell. As we proclaim the Coming of the Kingdom of God in Uptown Cincinnati, may not only our building shake! May our entire community shake as we boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ! This is our prayer, that our congregation is here for such a time as this.

I am humbled and inspired to recognize that these are days which future generations at University Christian Church will remember and celebrate. What a priviledge! What a responsibility! Lord, find us faithful, as we lean upon your power and are inspired by your Spirit! May these days, the days when the building shook, be ACTS 4 days for Your Kingdom in Uptown Cincinnati, and around the world!

Troy Jackson, Pastor
University Christian Church
Cincinnati, Ohio