Dear Church Family,

I hope you’re having a great week. I’m grateful for the way God is already using this early season of Pathways to strengthen our faith and our unity as a church family!

I have another story that I believe will encourage you. Jarrod and Stephanie Whitfield share how they first visited CityRise Bellaire in 2019. At that time, they were praying for a community where they could plant deep roots and truly do life with other believers. God answered that prayer quickly! A simple invitation turned into a church family who has walked with them through every season.

They’ve learned how authentic community fuels generosity, how obedience can be contagious, and how God supplies “in real time” through the people around us.

By the way, have you seen the special Pathways website yet? At cityrise.org/pathways, you can see architect renderings, watch testimony videos, and learn more about making a commitment to this three-year initiative. Please continue to pray about your part in this commitment.

An important aspect to remember is that this commitment is different than the Deep & Wide Initiative: Deep & Wide was a one-fund for budget and capital expenditures; Pathways is a two-fund, in which we are asking for continued gifts to the church operating budget and for a new commitment to the capital expenditures fund. If you are not yet giving, we invite you to join the Pathways Fund Initiative to begin your giving journey at CityRise! If you are already giving, we are asking you to continue giving to the operating budget and also give beyond toward the Pathways fund for a three-year period.

In light of this, we are planning a special service at our West U Baptist campus entitled Advance Commitment Night on Sunday evening, February 22, at 6P for those who are ready to lead out with a commitment to Pathways. It will be a sweet time of fellowship, worship, prayer, and commitment. If you are ready to lead in your commitment, please join us for this special service—you won’t want to miss it!

As we look at the rest of this month, we have a handful of moments I’d like to highlight:

First, we will hold a Church-Wide Business Meeting next week on Wednesday, February 18 at 6P at our West U Baptist campus (in Room 208/209). This will be a time to walk through the annual church motions and committees together, ask questions, and make sure you and our members are informed.

That same Wednesday evening, we’ll also gather for our Ash Wednesday Communion Service at 6:30P, also at the West U Baptist campus. This service has always been a meaningful night of worship, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper to begin the Lenten season together. Whether you’re able to join us for the business meeting, the Ash Wednesday service, or both, I hope you’ll make plans to be there.

Then, on Sunday morning, February 22, we will hold our annual church vote during all on-campus worship services at every location. Official church members who are 18+ and attending in person will be able to vote. (There will be no online voting).

Lastly, I wanted to share with you correspondence from the Bellaire Campus Pastor Selection Committee. They write:




Thank you for leaning in and leading out during these early weeks of Pathways. God is shaping our hearts, strengthening our trust, and calling us to live generously. Let’s keep praying, listening, and taking the next step of obedience together as He leads.

We’ll see you on Sunday, Church Family!


Expecting Greater,
Pastor Roger