10 years ago today, we launched Restore.

A small group of us gathered together, animated by a simple question: what if a church community truly lived like Jesus?

From the beginning, we’ve been a church where anyone has a seat at the table and everyone can experience the extravagant love of Jesus—especially those who have been wounded or excluded by the church.

That commitment has come with a cost. We’ve lost more friends, mentors, and financial support than I can count because of our commitment to justice and inclusion. And yet, what God has built through this community is more beautiful than I could have imagined.

A church rooted in love, a people committed following the way of Jesus, and a table that keeps getting longer.

This week I was going through old files and photos and stumbled upon my very first sermon at Restore. I said…

“What an incredible day this is! This is the start of something amazing. Like we’ve been talking about, we are starting this community so that everyone knows how much Jesus loves them.”

This was our hope on Day 1 and as I type this on Day 3,673, it’s still our hope.

The world feels different than it did 10 years ago—more difficult and dire in many ways. But I am convinced that we need healthy churches committed to sharing the tangible love of Jesus right now more than ever.

I am so grateful for every person who has helped carry that vision forward. What a gift to be a part of this work with y’all.