We love to create opportunities for our middle and high school students to build community and grow in their faith. Our volunteer leaders do a great job of coming alongside parents and families to help guide students in their walk with God. Here are a few of those opportunities.
Below is a list of what's going on:
OUR Story
The vision for Venture Church began in 2011 when God clearly spoke into the lives of a few people to pursue the beginnings of a new church in North Carolina.
The heart of the story is simple, Shine Light into dark places and help people know and be known by Jesus.
We're a family of imperfect people serving a perfect God. Here are a few snapshots of our story.
January 2012: The Vision And A House Church
Venture Church began meeting in homes in January of 2013 as a group of about 8-10 friends who wanted to learn how to chase God together. As the group grew, the vision for being a church for people who don’t like church took form. People have many opinions about and experience with Church but we believe that church doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, we believe it can be a lot of fun!
Sept. 22, 2013:
Public Launch at the YMCA
In the fall of 2013, we launched weekly services at the Wilmington YMCA on Market Street where we met until February of 2015. During this time, our church family really took shape. Small groups began meeting around town during the week and many people began finding their way to Jesus.
February 2015: The Fire and Move to Alderman
Early on a Sunday morning in February, there was a fire at the YMCA. The building was destroyed. Since it was in the middle of the night, no one was hurt. However, we were displaced. The community rallied around the YMCA and as the news spread we received an offer to us to move our weekly services to Alderman Elementary School in February of 2015 where we met until June of 2017.
2017: The Summer of roaming and the AMC
In Spring 2017 we learned that the school could no longer house our Sunday services. Beginning in June, we rented space at the First Baptist Activity Center on Independence Blvd while we prayed and search for another long term venue.
Beginning August 6th, 2017 Venture began meeting at the AMC Theater at 111 Cinema Drive in Wilmington.
2018: Elders
In march of 2018 We ordained our first group of Elders. 4 godly men who had spent 14 months in prayer and preparation for the role of shepherding the congregation.
2018: Hurricane Florence and DART-ILM
After Hurricane Florence hit Wilmington, Venture Church co-founded "Disaster Assistance Relief Teams of Wilmington" (DART-ILM) a ministry focused on mobilizing response teams in areas affected by natural disaster in the greater Wilmington NC area.
We exist due to the combined efforts of Venture Church and Cape Fear Christian Church in Partnership with I.D.E.S. (International Disaster Emergency Services). www.dartILM.org
January 2019 to March 2020: Back to the YMCA
After 4 years of construction, the YMCA reopened and invited Venture Church to return for Sunday services and other ministry opportunities. On January 6, 2019, We moved back to the YMCA.
March 2020: The Pandemic
Like everyone else in the world, Covid-19 helped us discover new avenues of community. Venture paused in person services and went fully online from March 2020 to February 2021! This was a challenging time but our family rallied and made it work. During this time we gathered monthly outdoors, invented new ways to hang out and serve, attempted zoom small groups, and by the grace of God we made it to the other side stronger than ever.
February 2021: Back to the YMCA, again.
In February 2021 we finally re-entered our in person services at the YMCA. We also continued our online services as we'd discovered a whole new group of people there who call Venture their church family.
No matter what, the mission of shining the light of Jesus into the darkness of this world is our driving force and we continue to seek faithfulness to the Lord in all that we do.
April 2022: Purchased 76 Darlington Ave.
In April 2022 we purchased property at 76 Darlington Ave in Wilmington to renovate and use as our first permanent location. That renovation is currently underway.
And The Story Continues
The details above are just a shadow of the real story of our church; a map of places we have met on Sundays. Through all this time, we have truly learned that church is FAMILY not FACILITY. It is our mission to do whatever it takes to love people and lead them into a lifelong journey with Jesus. We Value Loving People, Training in Truth, and Leaving a Legacy for years to come! It is our goal to be “God Chasing, Grace Shaped, Love Agents!” No one should Venture alone… Join the Venture!