OUR MISSION
Our mission is to love, develop, and lead people into a deeper relationship with Christ.
ABOUT US
Nexus is multiple leaders from various sectors of society coming together to plan, develop, and be part of a local expression of collaboration for the flourishing of the humanity and the gospel.
NEXUS COMMUNITY - BOARD MEMBERS
Joe Le-Mon -
is a pastor, a preacher and a poet. With degrees from SEU and Regent University, Joe has a history of producing pastors and leaders in his ministry. He has been a featured spoken word artist for a variety of ministries including the CMA conference. Joe is a Next-Gen and student ministries pastor at Grace CMA in Middleburg Heights. You can listen to his poetry and music on Spotify.
Stephen Breitling -
is a Missouri native and a graduate of CBC, with an earned undergraduate degree and M.Div. in Chaplaincy. I retired from the U.S. Army November 2024. I currently serve as a Program Manager for a consulting firm specializing in financial and audit software development across multiple Service Branches. I am an ordained minister with the AG. I serve on the board of TOP and have served as both a youth pastor and associate pastor.
Lilian Adesokan -
is a dedicated follower of Christ. She has over 25 years of experience as a wellness coach and fitness professional, helping people grow in discipline, health, and consistency. Lilian has served in outreach programs supporting youth and adults with developmental disabilities and is actively engaged in ministry at Nexus Church. She values integrity, intentional living, and fostering spiritual growth, and is committed to reflecting Christ’s love in all areas of her life.
Joe Deptowicz -
is a principal product designer/ UX designer. A graduate of the International Center for Creativity & Cedarville University, Joe served as a pastor at Christian Community Church. He’s led product and experience design for billion-dollar education platforms, startups, and everything in between. He has co-founded a design agency, brought wonder to pediatric hospitals with augmented reality, and crafted complex work flows. Today Joe works on a company’s AI and is the cofounder of the Creative Conference an annual conference for creatives.
DR. DAVE & ELIZABETH PAFFORD - CO-FOUNDERS
Dave and Elizabeth have experience in ministry, theology, social-cultural research, business, and education. They have worked with many leaders. They seek leaders of all types to join together in the goal of human flourishing.
BELIEFS
One God co-exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are the Lover, the Loved, and the Beloved and together they are one.
The divine Son, Jesus Christ is the not only the Jesus of history but also the Christ of faith. He is radical, transcendent, and the most empathic human in history. His embodied message one of deep abiding relationship with God. The God-head embodied, Jesus demonstrated how to live, die, and break free from death. His actions changed the course of human history. By putting all our hope in him, we have peace with God, and through grace, receive salvation through the work on the cross. Jesus is alive presently, praying for the renewal of all things.
The Holy Spirit/Spirit of God is an active member of the Trinity, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life that is gospel fluent, morally pure, evangelistically bold, and development oriented.
God-breathed: It's old. It's new. As much as you read it, its going to read you. Spirit inspired, written by men, it's the most scrutinized literature in human history. From unicals and codices, from the caves of Qumran, to Constantine von Tischendorf, they have been passed down to us. It has authority over our lives and over those who have never read them. The Scriptures are inspired. The goal is not simply to read them but to embody the words on the page.
MANIFESTO
Meldenius, a seventeenth-century Lutheran theologian, wrote, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” There will always be the peripheral upon which committed Christ followers should dialogue. Our church desires to explore the very depths. However, we also recognize the importance of having a grounded framework for unity. Jesus' prayer for the unity of believers because the church united can do what the world divided never will.
RELATIONSHIP
MY NEIGHBOR
GIFTEDNESS
OPPORTUNITY
FAITH
HOPE
We believe the greatest resource is THE relationship.
We believe charity (love) is the goal of human innovation.
We believe the great commission comes through giftedness.
We believe obedience knows no time like the present.
We believe mistakes are better than missed opportunities.
We believe our dreams should outpace our memories.
METHOD
We practice...
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Encouraging non-believers to trust Jesus. This prepares their spiritual awakening.
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Practical & theological hospitality. This creates room for God's spirit to work.
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The way of belonging. Belonging includes "doing no harm" and doing all good we can.
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Healthy communication. We welcome questions, doubts, and disagreements.
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Imagining the kingdom and valuing mystery.
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Trusting Jesus our resurrected savior.
META
SABBATH: We gather, rest, and celebrate the sovereign activity of God.
FRIENDSHIP: We take 4 daily walks a week with Jesus (non-asking prayer) (if possible outside).
CONSUME: We commit to 4 daily general readings of scripture a week.
COMMUNITY: We go together and seek the benefit of each other.
SOLITUDE: We practice silence and do one silent retreat a year.
SIMPLIFY: We distill our life with intentionality to maximize our moments.
SALT: We host, we share meals, we sacrifice time to be with neighbors and strangers every week.
LIGHT: We live no lies by asking "Am I for real?" instead of just asking "how did it make me feel?"