In November, the people who planted Kingdom Collective came together to celebrate what God has been doing this year. Volunteers and staff dressed up and shared a catered meal to highlight the occasion. Launched on November 7, 2020, Kingdom Collective, Fort Wayne, desires to reach people who aren’t currently being reached by a church. Their vision statement expresses their desire: “Everyone. Everywhere. Unto Him.”
In early 2020, Nathan DeVaux and a TAP (Target Analysis Process) team believed that God was leading them to plant a church in Fort Wayne’s southwest corner. Nathan had begun putting together a launch team when the global pandemic quarantine halted in-person gatherings. Even as they planned their launch Sunday on November 8, 2020, a controversial presidential election dominated the political landscape. But, the team believed that God’s timing was still right on schedule.
One year later, Kingdom Collective is still meeting at a local YMCA on Sunday mornings with an emphasis on simplicity. Nathan said, “We want to do things that people can replicate in their homes or lives through the week to make a difference in their walk with Jesus. The Sunday encounter is available every day of the week.” They summarize their heart for simplicity this way:
- Encounter over Entertainment
- Intimacy over Industry
- Presence over Presentation
- Passion over Polish
- People over Position
- Jesus over Everything
When the church hosted the celebration night on Monday, November 8 at Union 12 in Columbia City for volunteers, staff, and their supporting churches, they heard testimonies from the people who have been most impacted by the Kingdom Collective community. That night, Nathan also announced that an executive pastor, Kent Nighswander, is joining their staff team of two others: Mitch Maibach, who leads worship and Danae Trumbull, who leads the children’s ministry.
