COLUMBIA
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Affectionately known by locals as CoMo, Columbia is a growing educational and medical hub in central Missouri. Located between the state's four major cities and just twenty-five minutes north of the capital, Columbia is home to the state’s flagship research university and plays an outsized role in Missouri's life – a distinct midwest city with the potential for statewide impact.
Columbia is the second largest city within the boundaries of the Missouri Presbytery. A highly educated and progressive college town shaped by conservative Midwest values, Columbia is home to a diverse population of students, affluent townies, and a significant low-income community. This unique blend of cultures highlights the need for a stronger PCA presence in the heart of Missouri and an opportunity for our particular theological vision to take root.
For the Renewal of Columbia
Through the Healing power of the Gospel
To the glory of Christ the King
“A distinct midwest city
with the potential for
Statewide impact.”
why columbia?
Columbia, Missouri is a rapidly growing Midwest college town known for its sports, arts, and midwest sensibilities. The suburban ring around the historic city center is rapidly expanding as young families settle and plant roots.
What if someone reached into this area to engage them for God's glory and His kingdom?
0.0s
72K
average household
income
34yrs
average resident age
2/3 white collar
to blue collar
Post-Christian
Columbia operates from a memory of Jesus, stuck in an
endless cycle of striving, trying to prove themselves
through their performance and achievement. A place
where even the notion of God is foreign.
Rejected Access
Many in Columbia do not see a need for Jesus. The
strong desire for safety and freedom from reliance on
others has left people isolated and lonely in their
suburban homes. While having much materially, there is
little desire to pursue a Christian spirituality.
Spiritual Reality
Need for Gospel Churches
People in Columbia need to hear about Jesus.
Thankfully, there are other gospel preaching churches in
Columbia. Sadly, there are not enough to engage the
current population, let alone the expanding population.
Samuel and his wife Leslie spent 14 years together in campus ministry and after graduating from Covenant Theological Seminary began to feel God’s call into church planting. Samuel is passionate about seeing healthy churches planted in the Midwest that honor God and love people. His skill set in campus ministry fostered a burden and drive for ministries to be established and built upon prayer and leadership development. From lost to leader. He desires to see a network of churches working together in a gospel-ecosystem to reach Columbia, Missouri. Leslie is now serving Columbia through her work as a professional counselor. Together they feel led to begin this work.
Samuel & Leslie Kassing
THE TEAM
For 10 years Lance and his wife Kelsey saw college students won to the Lord, built up in their faith, and sent out on mission as disciples of Christ. It is with that same holistic vision and passion for making Jesus known that the Lord has led them to plant a church in Columbia, Missouri. Lance brings a vibrancy and warmth to the call of being a pastor, while Kelsey now faithfully serves the city of Columbia through her skills as a professional counselor. They believe that not only is Columbia an ideal city for their family to love and serve, but that it is also a strategic city for reaching Mid-Missouri with the gospel.
Lance & Kelsey Crandall
We exist for the renewal of all Columbia through the
healing power of the gospel to the glory of Christ the King
OUR VISION
To become a worshipping, witnessing,
and praying church that seeks to honor
God by making disciples, serving our
neighbors, and planting churches
Our mission
Worship
Means of Grace
Witness
Evangelism &
Discipleship
Care
Mercy &
Community
Catechesis
Formation &
Culture
OUR Values
Strategy:
The proposed planting strategy for Columbia
Presbyterian Church will pursue this progression.
Engage
Develop a core group of 10-
15 lost or new believers
Establish
Launch Sunday worship
with a core group of 50
people and pursue growth
and maturity through the
common means of grace.
Expand
Once the church has
particularized and reaches the
150-member threshold,
encourage and commission a
group of 25 members to pioneer a
new church plant in Mid-
Missouri.
Equip
Invite and seek 20-35
Christians. The team will
meet monthly until it grows
to more than 50 people
through evangelism.
$335,000
Total Funding
Goal:
Budget over
5 years:
$1,061,500
- $65,000/yr has already
been raised - $80,000/yr in projected
internal giving - $67,000/yr left to raise
Category | 2024 | 2025-2028 | Total |
Staff | $94,000 | $148,600 | $688,400 |
Missions and Outreach | $2,000 | $13,000 | $54,000 |
Ministry | $12,000 | $14,000 | $68,000 |
Rent/Building | $4000 | $24,000 | $100,000 |
Discipleship | $3000 | $7,500 | $33,000 |
Operations | $8,100 | $27,500 | $118,100 |
Budget Breakdown
Pray
The Kingdom is not advanced by human effort alone; the Lord must go before us, so we ask that you would pray for our team and those in Columbia.
Give
In order to begin our work in Columbia, we will
need to raise the funding needed to support our
planters and their families, provide resources to love
our neighbors in Columbia well, and for the costs of
gathering for worship. Donate online.
Ways to Partner
Connect
The Lord is bringing many people to CoMo. If you
know of someone moving to Columbia please
connect us to them!
Contact Information
Samuel Kassing
1412 Marylee Dr.
Columbia, MO 65203
(636) 697-6264
Samuel.Kassing@cru.org
Lance Crandall
1212 Jean Rae Dr.
Columbia, MO 65203
(575) 636- 8601
Lance.Crandall@cru.org