ASHLAND — Doug Cooper believes it is up to the community’s residents to restore themselves.
His organization, City Gate Initiative, is centered around the advancement of the common good and a better connection every day with God’s mission.
“God’s mission is to restore the broken systems, structures,” Cooper said. “I believe we have been planted in the community to make things better.
“The Christian faith isn’t about putting faces in a church. It’s about making communities reflect his original plan for the world.”
Cooper, in his third year since developing the initiative, is creating a seven-month weekly path to help people learn and grow. Cooper said Christianity is often lost because of corruption, poverty and abuse changing the way his religion is perceived.
“Followers of Jesus were placed here to benefit the common good. To see higher graduation rates, better economies and less joblessness,” he said. “Scripturally, it’s obvious followers of Jesus are meant to find ways to make the community better. That is God’s original intent, design.”
City Gate Cohorts, Cooper said, is a non-denominational religious journey which will meet each Saturday starting Oct. 21 on the campus of Ashland University in Ashland, but the program is not an AU sponsored event.
The meetings are open to anyone, in Northern Ohio. Cooper said in the past they participants have attended from Ashland, Wayne, Richland and surrounding counties.
“All genders, race, economic background,” he said. “Any kind of work from stay-at-home parent to factory worker to CEO of a company. We believe all are required to make a change in the community. We welcome all stages of life.
“Even if you are not a leader at work, you can be a leader in faith.”
There is room for about 30 people in the program, Cooper said. The program will include conversations with the whole group as well as more intimate discussions in five- to six-people groups led by trained leaders. There will also be times where prayer and reflection will allow participants to listen to God and communicate with him.
Cooper said his program differs from some other religious-based missions.
“People think evangelizing means you go to work and preach Jesus. That’s what may work for some people,” he said. “But we work with others. With compassion, character, I believe if enough work that way God will get glory. People will see them as trustworthy, approachable and humble. They can represent Him clearly enough.”
The seven-month journey is $525. Registration is taking place now, at Cohorts@citygatesinitiative.org.
