Influence: How does the unique location of your church allow for and encourage community engagement?

Rick Ross: We have been divinely placed in the heart of Concord, North Carolina. It is almost impossible to enter the city without noticing the building with the large cross on the top, as our church sits right in the center of two major roads in Cabarrus County. But we do not depend on the community finding the building, we take the church to the streets. Five years ago on a Sunday, we put heart-shaped magnets on every car in the parking lot that said I Love My City. The “I Love My City” project was a great catalyst for becoming a visible display of our care for the community.

Tell us about The Village. 

About 14 years ago, all of the businesses in The Village mall relocated, leaving The Village a huge “white elephant” at the entrance to our great city. We were in need of more space and were challenged as to how that should best be accomplished. At the same time, The Village was placed under auction. It seemed like the natural solution to our space problem. As with remodel, the challenges have been many. It has been a process, not a quick build. Today, two-thirds of The Village is used for ministry, and one-third is revenue generating. These businesses have helped tremendously in the contribution of lowering our expenses. The Village houses a dental clinic, insurance agency, bank, restaurants and shops along with the community outreaches we now have space for.

Aside from location, what would you say is one of the greatest factors to creating community?

Community is built out of a true sense of caring. It begins with leadership. The vision of the leaders for community is evident in almost every conversation. We have pastors on staff serving on community boards, as community chaplains and in the public school system. Others on staff serve in many other capacities in our community. We try hard not to be invisible outside the four walls of the church, and we provide opportunities for our church family to do the same. When we offer ourselves sacrificially to our neighbors, people notice and recognize we not only say we care, we actually do care. This creates community.

What’s your vision for Concord First in the years to come?
My vision for Concord First is that God’s will continues to be fulfilled in this great church. The church has such a great legacy of serving God and our community. I believe it will continue to be “a light set upon a hill,” a beacon that is ever shining to spread God’s love wherever that light shines. We value excellence in everything we do. We believe it honors God and inspires people. We are committed to worshipping God, serving Him and one another and connecting with people inside and outside of the church.

Rick Ross is lead pastor of Concord First Assembly in Concord, North Carolina. This article originally appeared in the June/July issue of Influence. For more print content, subscribe here.