My Calling
For years God has been calling me (Jim Cedar) to three things:
1) To bring the hope and life of Jesus Christ to the broken, lost, and hurting people of this world.
2) To help people understand their purpose and to help them develop a passion for life abundantly.
3) To empower and guide people to live out their passion for Jesus.
After spending nearly a decade in vocational ministry (as a Senior Pastor), God released me and is calling me to a simpler way of being the church.
I feel called by God to lead a ministry for those who don’t feel at home in a traditional church or have been disillusioned by organized religion. This calling comes from a deep conviction that everyone should have the chance to experience God’s transformative love and grace - free from barriers, past wounds, or preconceived expectations.
My calling is to establish a welcoming, authentic, and transformative space where individuals can encounter the love of Jesus Christ, experience genuine community, and grow in their faith. With a heart full of compassion and a commitment to authenticity, inclusivity, relevance, and transformation, I am eager to embark on this journey to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those disillusioned with the institutional church. I trust that through this ministry, many will come to know the love of Christ and discover their place in the family of God.
Being called to plant Bar.Church
My vision is to create a model that can be adapted and implemented elsewhere, empowering individuals to reach out to those who don’t feel at home in a traditional church in their neighborhoods. By sharing resources, training, and support, I aim to inspire others to cultivate welcoming and transformative spaces where people can encounter the love of Christ and experience a genuine community. Together, we can extend this ministry's impact and help even more individuals find their place in the family of God.
The ministry of Bar.Church does not oppose traditional churches; in fact, my family and I actively attend a church where we enjoy serving alongside its members. The church is much more than just a physical building; it is the body of believers and the very family of God that constitutes the true essence of the church.
Bar Church - Casper, Wyoming
Connecting with those who have felt disillusioned and disconnected from traditional church has long been a part of my calling and ministry focus. In 2016, I founded the first Bar Church in Casper, WY, a unique ministry designed to reach individuals who feel more at home in a nontraditional church environment.
CLICK ON THE ABOVE PICTURE TO READ THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON JULY 31, 2017 IN THE CASPER STAR TRIBUNE
By holding services in a casual, familiar environment like a bar, we sought to offer a space where people could engage in worship, fellowship, and conversations about faith in a relaxed, non-intimidating atmosphere. The bar church at The Black Gold Grille was part of a creative and unconventional approach to ministry, meeting people where they were, both physically and spiritually. It provided a non-traditional setting for those who felt uncomfortable or distant from organized religion, fostering a more welcoming, informal space for community-building.
Why Bar.Church:
Estimates suggest that between 40% and 70% of Americans are considered unchurched or dechurched, depending on how regularly they engage with religious services.
Understanding the distinction between the unchurched and the dechurched is important, as their paths and reasons for disconnection from church life differ significantly. Both groups make up a large portion of the population, highlighting broader trends in religious participation and the evolving landscape of faith in America.
These statistics, along with my own experience of almost stepping away from the church, have inspired the launch of this ministry — one that reaches those who don’t feel at home in a traditional church. This vision is driven by a deep understanding of the need to meet people where they are and a firm belief that by creating a welcoming space, everyone can find a sense of community.
When a local church, Suncrest Christian Church, surveyed thousands of NW Indiana residents about why they don’t regularly attend church, the top response was that they had been hurt by the church. This confirms the need for ministries outside of traditional church spaces.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO READ THE SUNCREST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ARTICLE