My name is Aaron Snow. I am married to a beautiful woman named Morgan, whom the Lord destined to play a part in my sanctification. We have a beautiful daughter named Eliza who was born on July 12th, 2009. Truly humbling. We live in Las Vegas, NV. where we moved in December of 2007 to extend a non-profit organization that we started with some friends in Ft. Worth, Texas called “Intentional Gatherings”. Our lives have been beautifully wrecked by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has led us to an appreciation of deep relationships, a simple lifestyle, and the spread of the Gospel through living in community with others. Intentional Gatherings is a network of what we call “Missional Communities”, and as helps equip others to start these communities all over the country. To learn more about Intentional Gatherings in Las Vegas Click here.
Bio…
Aaron Snow is the co-founder and director of Intentional Gatherings, Inc., a non-profit Simple Church Planting organization & network of “missional communities” that started in Ft. Worth, Texas in 2006. He and his wife, Morgan, now live in Las Vegas, NV where they have moved to extend the network. Intentional Gatherings in Vegas pursues community development initiatives within individual “missional communities” as they are birthed. Aaron was trained by Bob Roberts and Lance Ford through GlocalNet, the church multiplication internship at NorthWood Church in Keller, TX. He also spent two years on NorthWood’s staff, where he served as the youth mission/outreach coordinator.
Aaron is a 2007 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.
Aaron would like to…Be the best husband, father, live out my faith practically, make disciples, provide an outlet for people to experience community, redefine effective ministry by spending more time with less people.
Aaron’s career goals are…to see everyday Christ followers be empowered to live the Gospel, to step up to the plate and BE the Church. I have found that this is more realistic in a “simple church” setting. Is it the only way? No. Is it the best way? No. For me, and many I encounter? Yes. Is it better than “mega-church”? This is not an issue of what’s better, or worse. We can change no ones mind. We’re each called to serve a different purpose. I desire to see the values of M.C. multiplied and spread through cities all over the country…I would say world, but that’s already happening heavily in many other countries around the world. The Lord has given us a way in which to pursue this through Intentional Gatherings. We long to see the kingdom of God expanded. We want to see the Gospel transform entire cities, and thousands of people radically trade their American Dream for the glorification of God…
Dude,
A belated welcome from the east coast to WordPress. I’ll certainly be reading…
Aaron, I met you at Club Christ in Vegas and then a couple other times through RCF. I am Natalie, I did the Martin Luther King was a Peaceful Man thing with you and the kids. I had no idea you were doing this program and that you were the founder/director, etc. I read this and am very impressed and excited. I was once involved in a similar organization here in Boise, but it went sour. I am leaving Vegas and transferring to Boise State as of January but I hope we can keep in touch. I am hoping to get involved in campus Crusades at BSU and to see what else God has planned for me in this change. I feel there were more opportunities in Vegas so I am praying that God will show me his awesomeness here in Boise as well. Thanks for all you and Morgan are doing.
Hey Natalie! It was good to meet you at CC, and the other times as well. I hope things go well for you in Boise. What organization were you involved with there? There’s a couple of guys who were in Vegas over the summer who are from Boise. They were interested in what our organization does, so we had a brief meeting about them starting their own “Missional Community” there in Boise at their school. We’re all about helping to empower young people all over the country to start their own student led churches on campus, or in their neighborhoods. Let me know if you’re ever interested in anything like that! Take care.
Aaron, I’ve read your stuff on Shapevine and have really been encouraged and challenged. Thanks for your posts. I’ve also taken a peak at your Intentional Gatherings stuff and really liked that as well. I wanted to ask some questions because some friends and I are in the process of trying to plant organic churches in our city. A little background: We live in an old steel town on the Ohio River, just north of Pittsburgh. It’s a depressed community because all the jobs left in the 80s. Five years ago, my friend started a non-profit working with kids starting in the summer and now going throughout the year. A bunch of people who began as summer staff, myself included, felt called to come live in the city and help with the ministry. We have gained trust and made many relationships through the programs, and now we want to take the next step, making disciples and planting churches. We have seen fruit with kids choosing to follow Jesus, but it’s not quite there with adults yet. We are now looking for ways to further the relationships that have been made. Most church planting people are all about 3rd places these days, but we don’t really have adequate third places because our town’s depressed state. So our thinking was to kind of create those third places by having normal social gatherings (meals, cards, games, etc), combining those who are living here together to be the body of Christ and those who we have relationships with that don’t yet know Jesus. We hope that as people see the family of God living together and we grow these relationships that the Lord will draw people to Himself – I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from Tim Chester and Total Church. Of course, there’s more to it, but that’s a quick rundown of our context. I’ve seen your stuff in Ft. Worth and was wondering if you might have some insights on how you guys got things rolling, how you built relationships, and what you know to be important and effective in building missional church in a poor urban community. Thanks for your help.
Hey man! It’s good to hear from the East Coast! Man, I loved reading your story, and hearing what you and your friends are doing in your town. Sounds legit. I’d love to chat with you sometime on Skype on the phone or whatever so we can dive into some of this stuff at a bit deeper level. I’d also love to explore some different possibilities we may have to learn/teach/sharpen one another as we’re on mission for the kingdom in this world: you guys takin a trip to Ft. Worth to spend some time at the I.G. House in that inner city neighborhood. Or, coming to Vegas to visit us here. Or, us coming there to see what you guys have goin on, etc. Anyhow, please feel free to email me at aaron@intentionalgatherings.com and we can swap numbers or skype names and work out a time to chat. I look forward to connecting further with you man. Take care.
Oh, the Total Church guys are incredible. We went to the “Total Church” conference in San Diego back in August and learned a lot from them. Haven’t read the book yet, but i’m certain it’s great. Take care!
Hi Aaron,
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Cheers,