By David Kleinschuster

Vertical Church of the Triad prepares to reveal its new look after months of reconstruction and expansion within the church, all for the goal of greater missional growth.

The church is six years young and has undergone several modifications already, and with each expansion, has attracted new families to its ministry.

“We believe that if people have a vertical focus, it will result in horizontal urgency,” said Matt McCarthy, head pastor for Vertical Church. “The urgency to minister to people that are in our direct communities and globally through missional outreach.”

The leadership and congregation of Vertical recognize that people are searching for something greater and more significant that themselves. The church continues to communicate its vision and desire to create more and better disciples who love Jesus.

This expansion is called the ‘Seek First the Kingdom’ project.

“People have given generously, faithfully and sacrificially to help build out this ministry space so that we can meet people’s needs,” said McCarthy. “Vertical’s members believe in their mission and give unapologetically. We took the first $25,000 dollars of this project and sent it to Togo, Africa to build a church. Then we took an additional $13,000 and sent it to a partnering missionary in Iran who is planting three house churches in a gospel desert where people are experiencing persecution for the name of Jesus Christ. We want to be a sending church. We want to reach the hard to reach people.”

The tithes to the church are now expanding its domestic resources and construction.

Levi Bretz, worship leader and student ministries leader, elaborates on the outreach.

“We are expanding to really reach younger families and the next generation,” said Bretz. “By creating more ministry space and classrooms, it enables the church to equip its people to make them stronger disciples of Jesus Christ. Our mission here at the church is that we exist to help people love, live and lead like Jesus.”

These additional ministry spaces and classrooms will hold practical classes provided by the church such as growing in your marriage, parenting, money management, evangelizing and theology classes. Vertical embraces the belief of fully developing your members in every aspect of their lives through Christ, therefore enabling them to minister to others in every aspect of their lives through their actions.

Logan Hingst, a Vertical member, expresses his gratitude for the opportunities that Vertical has provided him as a college student.

“As a college student, Vertical Church has given me the opportunity to connect with other college, Christ loving people,” said Hingst. “The church is just a great place to connect, and I always feel welcome here.”

Hingst continues to introduce his college friends not only to the church, but also to the college small groups held in these ministry spaces as well.

The leaders of the church recognize that having a dedicated space creates identity for a ministry.

“Knowing that this is where we do our ministry and that this is where life change happens, being able to come back to that space every week brings a concrete unity to everyone who joins,” said Bretz.

Even with this expansion, Vertical is already planning future projects. The church currently sits in 16 acres of property, and plans to purchase two extra lots, which will expand their property around 30 acres. The church shares creative plans such as sports fields, where they can run sports camps and trainings with the end goal of proclaiming the Gospel.

“Ultimately, this is for the kingdom of God,” said McCarthy. “This is not my kingdom as the church planting pastor; this is not our church’s kingdom. This is a piece of God’s Kingdom and it’s all his. We want to be an attractional, missional, communal, doxological church, which creates an environment that brings people from all stages of life.”

On schedule with construction, Vertical expects to complete ‘Seek First the Kingdom’ by February 25, 2022.

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If you’re interested in joining the ministry at Vertical Church, please visit the Vertical Church of the Triad website for more information.

David Kleinschuster is a senior at High Point University majoring in Journalism and double minoring in Political Science and Military Science. For contact inquiries, please email dkleinsc@highpoint.edu.