I believe we’re at the forefront of another reformation of how the church operates in the world. People are leaving traditional institutions, but at the same time, people who are massively passionate about Christ and want to follow Him are looking for Christ centered communities where people are loving one another and equipping each other for love and good deeds. Excel is really living this out. It’s a place where people have real jobs, do real life, and get real schooling - but all within the context of discipleship and community.

Living in the Excel community has taught me what it looks like to live in the Kingdom of God on a practical level. Not everybody can go on a missions trip to another country, and not everybody needs to. Living here, I have seen the body of Christ come together to serve one another, love one another, and encourage one another to live like Christ in a small town neighborhood. Heaven meets earth in the thin space that is the Excel community.

To me, Excel is experiential. This is one of the most holistic initiatives I've ever been a part of. It’s not just about isolated programs. It’s about community, about sharing meals together, serving together, and learning to get in line with what God is saying together. Here you can’t get stuck in past dead ways because God is always encountering us new and afresh - and Excel is a place that makes space for that.