Ridge Stone Church

Let’s put any misconceptions to rest up front. It’s true that Gary Lamb has been pestering me for some time regarding my "Cool Church of the Week" posts. And, he had a lot to say after Terry and I put our necks on the line to list our Top 10 Innovative Churches. In the interest of full disclosure, I will acknowledge that there have also been emails exchanged that I haven’t revealed to the general public because I didn’t want to discredit any past or future cool churches. Finally, no money or other bribes have been passed under the table to sway me in this decision process. I have reached this conclusion on my own accord. I just want to assure you that the "Cool Church of the Week" selection process has not been tainted.

With that behind us, I’d like to introduce you to Ridge Stone Church in Canton, Georgia. Gary is the lead pastor of this new church plant that held it’s first services a year ago this weekend. Ridge Stone had been meeting in a middle school until last weekend when they moved into a movie theater within their community to accommodate future growth. Some might see doing church in a theater as a challenge, but Gary and the Ridge Stone team have found at least ten benefits to this ministry transition.

I really admire guys like Gary who are willing to launch new ministries. It’s exciting to see how God is already blessing his faithfulness. The doors of Ridge Stone have only been open twelve months and they already have a few hundred people attending their service each weekend. Gary has a lot to offer fellow church planters. In addition to reading his blog, you may want to check out these insights he shared on Terry’s site last month.

If I wasn’t attending Granger Community Church this weekend, I’d head to the movie theater to check out the service at Ridge Stone Church. Because they were willing to take the risk of changing locations in order to reach more people for Jesus, they are my "Cool Church of the Week."

Gary, now will you can stop pestering me? :-)