Welcome to Veritas

History

Our Story

Veritas was born out of a desire to see a gospel-centered church community exist in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus. In the winter of 2007-2008, the Nyes arrived in Columbus and began to meet with a handful of friends to pray and plan about starting Veritas. Time was also spent building relationships in the community and getting to know the city better. We dreamed big, faced disappointments and enjoyed times of great encouragement. In the midst of it all, God continued to affirm that our dreams of beginning Veritas were aligned with his.

Veritas officially began October 5th 2008, though unofficially it began December 2007. That cold winter was spent praying and thinking about what it would be like to start a new church where we could be ourselves without selling out Jesus. We prayed a lot, toiled a lot and thankfully some people showed up and jumped in.

Our hope from the beginning was to be sold out for Jesus and start churches all around the world.

Our Name

The word “Veritas” simply means “truth” in Latin. Our desire is to be a church rooted in the truth and transformation of the gospel. In a world that sees truth as relative or meaningless we celebrate that the good news of the gospel is truthful and the Bible is a true text. Jesus himself claimed that he was the way, the truth and the life! As we join in mission with him we call ourselves Veritas because Jesus is true.

Veritas is a community that longs for everyone in the city to come experience God. On life’s journey, we desperately need to be in community with each other, to immerse ourselves in the learning and application of the Bible, and to tell those around us of the eternal life we can have through Jesus. We believe that the good news of Jesus can transform everything: ourselves, our city, our church and our world

Identity

We live in a culture that loves a good story. Movies, books, television—these are the stories that we dream of being a part of. These are the stories that we long to live vicariously through. At Veritas, we believe we have been blessed to be a part of the only story that matters: the gospel message of Jesus Christ crucified.

God has been unfolding this story since before time began. We believe we are participants in the story and need to understand it and see how our lives intersect with it. Therefore, we regularly reacquaint ourselves with the gospel by interacting with God’s Word. We look for ways and times to tell the Gospel often. We also take time to listen to others stories and help them find their lives within God’s gospel. (Genesis 1:1-2; John 1:1; Psalm 1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Oh how shallow all the other stories that used to enamor us become when we have tasted of Christ’s gospel. In it we find our identity. In it we find our joy.

Our Mission

Reflect

The reflected image of a starry sky on the surface of a lake offers but a glimpse of the night sky’s real beauty. So it is with God: a reflection of Him is but a glimpse of His glory. Yet we at Veritas have made it our mission to reflect the one is everything: Jesus the Christ. It is an imperfect image, but He is a perfect God—so we will continue to reflect His glory in all we do.

Renew

There is so much brokenness in the world: on our streets, in our schools at our churches. Yet Scripture clearly calls us to be cultivating these things that have been given to us. We do not want to simply hear the words of the Bible, but to DO the words of the Bible. As a church, our mission is to go forth from our church community to renew God’s creation: our neighborhoods, our cities and our world.

Rhythms

Community

The Bible says followers of Jesus are God’s children, and therefore we are brothers and sisters in Christ. This fact means we can enjoy deep and meaningful relationships with each other because we all share the same Father. As a community, it is our joy and calling to care for the needs of one another, both physically and spiritually. We disciple, nurture and hold one another accountable to this covenant life we live together. We experience community through our gatherings and community groups and simply trying to love each other as Jesus loves us in our daily lives. God desires that we live in such a way that the world would know what He is like, and He has equipped us to do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. (John 1:12-13,13:34; Romans 12:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:22)

Servants

Jesus did not come to this earth to be served but to serve, and it was His plan from the beginning of time that we would be a people that served each other regardless of class, race or social status. We do not serve for the sake of serving or to set a moral example, but to emulate Jesus and thus point others toward faith in Him. As both the Old and New Testaments give us repeated commands that we are to serve and love the poor, we do not want to neglect loving those who have nothing material to offer in return. It is our joy to bless others and to show mercy as we have been shown mercy. (Lev. 23:22; Mark 10:45; John 13:8; 1 Peter 4:11)

Leaners

We read in the Bible that Jesus grew in both height and wisdom. He learned from religious teachers, by living in community, and through regular times of being with God. Jesus called others to be His disciples so that He could pass His learning on to them and they could also live in obedience to God and have renewed lives. He then sent His disciples out to make new disciples. Disciples of Jesus spend personal time with God and are involved in learning from the Bible. The Christian scriptures are frequently referred to as honey–sweet and flavorful. We come to God’s word looking forward to it as a fine treat. (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 2:52; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:2)

Missionaries

Jesus came to the earth to live among humans and help us realize our need for saving grace through Him. While here He connected with those around Him and lived life within their culture so they could encounter what God is truly like. Jesus came so that all people, places and things then and now could be restored to a right relationship with God. In the same way, we believe we are missionaries sent into our daily lives to see all things renewed by God through Jesus. (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 1:14; 20:21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Colossians 1:19)

Become a member

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5

In a time and a culture of individualism, irresponsibility and fickleness; we are a community of believers who are committed to knowing, loving, serving and caring for one another. We believe that this isn’t our own doing, but by God’s grace we are adopted into his family as his children.

When a person comes to Jesus they aren’t only reconciled to God through the cross, but they are reconciled to all others who are in Christ as well (the universal Church). Veritas Community Church is a local, visible expression of the universal Church and we encourage all Christians who consider us their home to commit to loving, serving and growing in this community by becoming members.

The membership process involves two steps: attending the Gospel Classes; a six part class covering the basic doctrine, vision, mission and values of Veritas; and meeting with an elder. By pursuing membership at Veritas you are committing to love and follow Jesus, to love the church and follow its leadership, and to live a life on mission to glorify God in Columbus, and the world.

Download the Membership Covenant