What is Messy Church USA?
Messy Church USA equips local Messy Churches to start, sustain and connect . We are a nonprofit 501c3 corporation that is the home for the global Messy Church movement in the USA. Messy Church USA provides an organizational structure to support the health, growth, and sustainability of local Messy Churches. In addition, Messy Church USA will assist individual Messy Churches to become an integrated part of the larger national and global network of Messy Churches.
Messy Church USA is affiliated with the international Messy Church movement, whose home is with the Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF), a Christian charity based in Oxfordshire, UK. For more information on the work of BRF. You can read more about BRF here.
As an affiliate of the international Messy Church movement, a guiding principle for Messy Church USA is that a local Messy Church is not a stepping stone into an existing congregation, nor is it a church plant, but it is a congregation in its own right. Messy Church is ecumenical and seeks to work with all Christian churches.
Why start a Messy Church?
Some good reasons:
- We want to make disciples of Jesus through faith formation.
- The people in our communities who don’t belong to church would enjoy the experience of coming to a Messy Church.
- We want to share the love of God in Jesus in a way that’s as accessible as possible to families of all shapes and sizes.
- We believe that the best way for people of all ages to come closer to God is by journeying together.
- We want to model who Jesus is to those around us.
- We believe God is in Messy Church and we want to follow where God leads.
- We think Jesus is the person to give people in our community life in all its fullness.
- And many, more…
Some not as good reasons:
- It’s the latest thing so it must be good.
- The church up the road is running a Messy Church so we need to or we’ll get left out.
- The minister says we need one.
- We need younger people in our church to do the jobs we used to do when we were young.
- We want to revamp our Sunday congregation.
- We want to get together for a nice sociable time with crafting and games.
- It sounds fun.
- We’re bored with sermons and want to change.
Can I use THE logo?
The Messy Church® name and logo are registered trademarks of BRF in the UK.
The five Messy Church values include the following: Messy Church is Christ-centered, for all ages together, creative, hospitable, and celebratory.
If your Messy Church subscribes to these values, you are welcome to use the Messy Church name and logo, within the contextualizing of elements of Messy Church for your local church setting. However, the five core values of Messy Church must be integrated into your setting to use the Messy Church name and/or logo. Make sure before you call something “Messy Church”, you ensure that you’re clear what Messy Church is and that using the name is appropriate in your context.
There are a few guidelines for using the name and logo: DO NOT at any point change the color or arrangement of the logo. For example, no other words are permitted within the logo. The logo should always appear in its entirety. Do not remove ‘church’ from the log. BRF does not give permission for the logo to be redesigned or modified in any way.
Repetition and consistency are essential to brand recognition. The Messy Church logo should be placed in a prominent position. Full color and grayscale logos are available. Unless for b/w printing, the color logo must always be used.
Download the logo
What are the 5 Messy Church Values?
Christ-centered
Messy Church is a church, not a craft club that helps people to encounter and enter into a transforming relationship with Jesus. Messy Church believes with the historic churches, in one God who is Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer (or in traditional language, Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
All-age
Messy Church is for adults and children to enjoy together. Every element should be relevant and accessible to all ages.
Creativity
Messy Church uses hands-on activities to explore Bible stories, to reflect a God of creativity and to give people a chance to play together.
Hospitality
Messy Church reflects a God of unconditional love and is a church for people outside of a traditional church, providing an oasis of welcome and a safe place in which to thrive. Messy Church is about hospitality, expressed most evidently by eating together- whether it’s a plate of sandwiches to share, a full course meal or pizza.
Celebration
Messy Church reflects a God of joy who wants all of God’s people to have life in all its fullness.
What are the Messy Church Principles?
Messy Church is a church in its own right. It is not a stepping stone into an existing congregation. It is a welcoming space for those outside of a traditional church for people to build relationships with God, with each other and with their community.
What is the role of the MC USA Ambassadors?
Throughout the US, we have Messy Church Ambassadors who love to tell the Messy Church story! These volunteers are committed to the Messy Church USA mission of equipping local Messy Churches to start, sustain, and connect with other Messy Churches around the country and the world. Our Ambassadors promote, encourage and support the development of Messy Churches of all Christian traditions.
Why is there a Messy Church USA?
Messy Church USA is the home organization for the global Messy Church movement in the United States. Lucy Moore, founder of Messy Church, began a conversation with USA delegates at the 2016 International Messy Church Conference regarding ways to support Messy Churches within the United States.
After continued dialogue, a nonprofit organization was formed in the fall of 2017 with the mission to equip local Messy Churches to start, sustain and connect from coast to coast. Founding board members were Marty Drake Lynn Egli, Roberta Egli, Julie Hintz-Block, Nicole Reilley, and Leyla Wagner. Lucy Moore has been a liaison member since our beginning. After continued dialogue, a nonprofit organization was formed in the fall of 2017 with the mission to equip local Messy Churches to start, sustain, and connect from coast to coast. Founding board members were Marty Drake Lynn Egli, Roberta Egli, Julie Hintz-Block, Nicole Reilley, and Leyla Wagner. Lucy Moore has been a liaison member since our beginning.
What are THE Foundational Goals of Messy Church USA?
- Provide training for communities wanting to start a local church
- To share best practices of leadership development and faith formation
- Provide coaching and consultation services for both new and existing Messy Churches
- Provide networking opportunities through electronic newsletters, blogs and website
- To work closely with Messy Church UK
- Plan future regional and national conferences.
I’m having issues logging into Messy Church USA
If you are having trouble logging into the Messy Church USA website, click the “Lost your password?” link on the login page, and use the email address associated with your account to reset your password.