Partner Highlight: Trinity Church

Jeffrey Romack serves as an elder at Trinity Church here in Indianapolis, which is one of Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic’s most significant and generous partners. The church was founded ten years ago by a group of people who shared a common vision to express the Gospel in an urban context. In the past decade, the church has not strayed from this initial, missions-focused purpose. As Jeff says, “We believe the church exists for God’s mission in the world rather than that mission is just what a few turned-on Christians do with their extra time.” Trinity views this responsibility, therefore, as belonging not only to church leadership, but to everyone who professes Christ as their savior. As a result, Trinity’s core values revolve heavily around serving the community. This means that a large percentage of the church’s staff and congregation are engaged with overseas and local missions, either through their vocation or volunteer efforts, including many of whom are directly involved with the work of Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic. Jeff sees this relationship between the Legal Clinic and Trinity as a natural one, saying, “[Jesus is] Lord of more than just Sunday mornings, ten to twelve, and the Legal Clinic is involved in the world in meaningful ways.” He further describes Trinity’s commitment to the people of Indianapolis by saying, “We exist to make disciples and disciples participate in what Jesus is doing in the world.”

Necessarily, this viewpoint guides the projects and causes Trinity chooses to champion and financially support. But rather than a small group of elders selecting and promoting specific missions work to the congregation, the reverse is oftentimes true: the congregation approaches church leadership with the causes that are on their hearts. This Trinity connection is key—the staff wants to flow the church’s resources into the places where their congregation has already been called.

Pomp and circumstance in appearances have little place at Trinity, which is devoted to the idea of “simple church.” This assists the staff in meeting another of their foundational goals: to give away half of what they bring in. But such generosity is much more than a numerical target. “Is [generosity] something that needs to be quantified?” Jeff asks, cocking his head. “Trinity doesn’t hold onto money past what is necessary to pay staff and bills.” This practice is intrinsic to Trinity and how they function.

While church is often a place of warmth and familiarity, Jeff says that one of the things he most loves about Trinity is actually the constant change. Every time he returns from a missions trip abroad, there are always new people to meet and disciple. Jeff is especially concerned with trying to connect with an age demographic that is leaving the church—and is therefore committed to presenting Christianity in a way that makes sense to young people, which he admits might involve different approaches than the church has used in the past. But the challenge of guiding these new Christians is one that excites Jeff. Because although the faces of Trinity may have changed over the years, the heart is still the same. Jeff articulates this by saying, "It's important to us that people who otherwise wouldn't be being served are served ... For us, that's what it's all about."

To learn more about Trinity Church, please visit their website at: http://indytrinity.org/