Every boy and girl dreams for a chance at greatness. But life has its issues, and we end up going through disappointments, pain and struggles. Too often we forget those dreams of our childhoods. We forget that we were born for more.
At Risen Nation Church in Deer Park, Texas, Pastor Matt Hammersky believes this principle also applies to the church.
“The church was born for so much more than what we’re seeing now,” Hammersky says. “When Jesus was here walking on earth, He preached the kingdom. He talked about the kingdom more than anything. I think too many times we get so focused on getting people into heaven, we forget that Jesus died to get heaven into us. And so that is what we push as a church: We want to see heaven invade earth.”
Hammersky was a youth pastor for several years and has always had a heart to impact the world and see change in the community. The early church, he points out, “really changed things.” Just over two years ago, God called him to return to his hometown and start a church, and it’s amazing what God has done. Risen Nation is a multiethnic and multigenerational body with a hunger for God’s presence along with a passion for righteousness and biblical social justice, with initiatives that include caring for the orphaned.
“Our team loves Jesus,” Hammersky says. “They don’t come to get any kind of gifts or praise. They come to give Him praise, but they really want to be in His presence. That’s the reward. That’s what we’re after.
“I think if you keep that No. 1, you will see things line up, like justice—you begin to see God’s way of justice. And it’s His mercy that leads to His justice.”
“We have this team of very talented people with a heart that believes something great can come out of this little town and not only impact our community around us but our state or region,” he adds. “Our goal is to get back to what church really should look like, the ecclesia. Our true intention is get back to doing church the way it was meant to be.”
Hammersky also incorporates honor into the church culture at Risen Nation.
“Honor is a big deal to me,” he says. “A lot of Millennials want to pioneer their own thing and don’t really want to connect with previous generations. The problem is they’re just aimlessly wandering so you see an increase of progressive Christianity that really isn’t Christianity at all. It’s so far from doctrinal truth. And I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that we’ve disconnected from the previous generation.
“My heart’s cry is to have as many spiritual fathers as I can gain, because I see the value in what your generation has done.”
For the rest of Doug’s interview with Matt Hammersky, listen to this week’s episode of A Word in Season with Doug Stringer and Friends. And for more information about Doug, visit DougStringer.com or SomebodyCares.org. {eoa}
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