In the years before I moved to Las Vegas, every time that I heard the phrase, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, I would laugh it off as a just another phrase people use to not take responsibility for their own choices. I never intended to visit Vegas, let alone live in Vegas, mostly because the idea of a place that prides itself in people doing whatever they want and excuse it as being ok because its Vegas after all was not who I am.
As I began to talk to Canyon Ridge Christian Church, I was curious to what was happening in the city and specifically what God was doing at Canyon Ridge. I began to discover a group of people who love Jesus and who want to help others pass it on. Almost every church I had talked to said that they were about discipleship, but Canyon Ridge actually had a plan for discipleship that wasn’t group based, but replication based. Canyon Ridge was becoming a part of a movement of discipleship makers whose focus is to make disciples who make disciples. The goal wasn’t to bring people to a church building but to train people in how to be disciple makers who then in turn would make disciple makers. I was curious. I was initially skeptical, but the more I investigated the more I was excited at what God was doing at Canyon Ridge. I have been in ministry almost 30 years and finding a church that was about authentic discipleship and more concerned about helping others be disciple makers vs how many people attend their church services was refreshing.
In the first year I have been at Canyon Ridge, I have spent majority of my time helping to stabilize some ministry areas, but in the midst of that I have experienced a leadership team that is committed to being focused on being disciple makers who make disciple makers. I have seen people make decision to follow Jesus and I have seen people learn how to help others learn to be disciple makers. I have seen normal people be trained in easy tools that they could teach others. I have seen groups start in homes, schools, coffee shops. I have seen a community continue to grow in helping people know Jesus and then help them grow in discipling others who could disciple others. I am grateful for God allowing to be at a place that fits who He has called me to be.
As I begin my second year in Vegas, the most important thing I have learned is what happens in Vegas should NOT stay in Vegas. Canyon Ridge is not the birth place of discipleship making movements nor is it a leading institution in the movement, but it is a church where we are all giving our best contribution in helping others in Vegas and beyond in becoming a part of a discipleship making movement where people disciple people who disciple people who disciple people in knowing, following, sharing with others about the amazing love and power of Jesus. What God is doing in Vegas should not stay in Vegas, like what He is doing in the local church should not stay in one local church, one geographical area, one denomination, one ethnic area, or one country. I am more committed to fighting for being a part of a discipleship making movement that will influence our world for Jesus. If you are ever in Vegas I invite you out to Canyon Ridge to experience what God is doing, We would love to have you, not as experts, but a group of people who are doing their best to help others become disciple makers.