“YOU MATTER: Heart of the Church” by JFH’s Michael Carder

“YOU MATTER”. These are the two words people see on a billboard going north or south traveling on I-75, in northwest Ohio. I attended and graduated from Bowling Green State University which is not too far from Toledo, Ohio. I would read these words on countless trips to the Toledo area and thought to myself, “Who would buy two billboards just to say those two words?” Just under the “YOU MATTER” reads the words “CedarCreek Church”. Oh. Just another megachurch reminding people how big they are. But my posture towards megachurches would change. Little did I know it would change all because I decided to work there.

After graduating from undergrad in 2021, I began a career in ministry by interning at the church with the big billboard. A couple of years later, I joined the staff team as a videographer/photographer and I’ve gotten to experience firsthand what “YOU MATTER” truly means. I’ve seen this place serve the poor, help and love their own all because it’s the Jesus thing to do. And not once have I seen this church be about itself. It’s never about CedarCreek, but about Jesus.

So how does a place like this take two words and create a culture that lives and breathes love? It’s quite simple: The DreamTeam. The DreamTeam is what we call our volunteers at CedarCreek. We believe these people are living out God’s dream of serving and loving on others to build His kingdom. The church can’t thrive without the people that serve. I’d argue this is true for any church, not just CedarCreek.

Now, in order to equip a team, you have to cast vision. So CedarCreek puts on an event specifically for the DreamTeam called “DreamTeam Launch.” The purpose of the event is to galvanize the DreamTeamers from each of the six campuses and prepare them for the fall ministry season. Our staff team gets the opportunity to serve our teams the same way our teams serve our church. This year, our team decided to have the launch event outside under a tent! Unfortunately, it was HOT. But that didn’t stop this event from being great! I got a chance to take in the event and capture it. One of the most incredible things about the event this year is that we worshipped “in the round,” similar to the likes of Housefires and Maverick City Music.

Our staff worship leaders led a powerful session of worship this year. The event opened with the song “I Thank God” by Maverick City Music and Upperoom. This one is led by Nate Manuel. As the drums take off (if you know the song, you get it), energy can be felt throughout the tent. You can hear cheers and claps as the songs get underway. My favorite moment is seeing some of the students from middle and high school move to the front to dance like it’s summer camp all over again. As I look around, I see joy as our community worships the Lord under a hot tent. That joy is so fitting with this opening song:

“He picked me up, He turned me around

He placed my feet on solid ground

I thank the Master, I thank the Savior

Because He healed my heart, He changed my name

Forever free, I’m not the same

I thank the Master, I thank the Savior

I thank God”

What an awesome way to kick this night off. Already there’s a different energy than DreamTeam Launch in the past. There’s no LED wall or elaborate lighting. It’s simple. Everything is simple. Even for a church of this size.

As the worship set continues, we sing the hit Cody Carnes’ song “Firm Foundation,” led by Ezra Miller (Editor’s note: Not The Flash’s Ezra Miller). The parallels hit me as I was photographing. As we thank God in the opening song, we’re reminded of where we put our hope and faith in. It’s in Jesus alone. Emily Carney leads us into “King of Kings,” with an “O Praise the Name” tag by Hillsong Worship. Here we continue to praise the Lord and magnify His name no less than we did in the previous songs. It’s when we hit verse 3 that things begin to grow.

“And the morning that You rose

All of Heaven held its breath

‘Til that stone was moved for good

For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs

And the angels stood in awe

For the souls of all who’d come

To the Father are restored”

If you’ve sung this song in a fiery room, you get this moment. Everyone breathes in those words and exhales praise upon praise. As joy rises, you begin to believe what’s being sung across the room. Side note: I’d argue that “King of Kings” is one of the greatest worship songs in the past decade. It might be more popular than “Oceans” by UNITED. Furthermore, these three songs are beautifully woven. The set makes sense.

After “King of Kings,” lead pastor Ben Snyder is brought up to speak. Now I feel like if this wasn’t CedarCreek, I’d expect a standing ovation or just weird energy towards Ben being brought up to the stage. I mean, he is the lead pastor. As I’ve stated before, CedarCreek doesn’t make things about itself. It’s always about Jesus. So this moment with no standing ovation is telling of what kind of place CedarCreek Church is to me. Ben speaks for about 30 minutes with the call for our church to be “uncomfortable.” Go to the places that the overall church isn’t going. I remember how I used to be surrounded by people who weren’t always believers in undergrad. It was so much easier to connect with nonbelievers. It’s not only different, but harder because I work at a church. You could tell that these words were resonating with the staff and DreamTeam. Eyes were locked into what Ben was saying. Words that inspired all.

As the night continues on, Ben’s talk ends and we move into another session of worship. “Make Room” by Community Music begins to play beautifully throughout the tent. The piano interlude is enchanting. Emily uses her great vocals to softly lead us into this moment. She sings:

“Here is where I lay it down

Every burden, every crown

This is my surrender

This is my surrender

Here is where I lay it down

Every lie and every doubt

This is my surrender”

The words match perfectly coming out of Ben’s talk. The Lord is asking us to be uncomfortable and our best response is… surrender. Surrender what we want and go where the church isn’t going to reach the lost. Voices are lifted in this moment. The tent is filled with cries to the Lord. When we arrive to the bridge, surrender feels so evident.

“Shake up the ground of all my tradition

Break down the walls of all my religion

Your way is better

Oh Your way is better”

The tent sings this three times as we build into a moment of freedom with two choruses to end the song. What a moment!

As the night looks to conclude, Ben returns to the stage to pray before one more song. After his prayer, each campus pastor of the six campuses stands in front of the round stage. They begin reading different passages written by the apostle Paul galvanizing the congregation. The intro to “Glorious Day”by PASSION rumbles underneath the passages being read. The music grows to a big musical moment leading into “Glorious Day,” led by Joe Krebbs. Everyone roars out the song in exuberant passion, joy, and excitement. What a finale tonight! This might remind me of how awesome this place is. It’s not about money or bright lights, but about the love of Jesus. These moments can only be experienced if we make room for them. I can imagine there are many churches that are just like CedarCreek. They serve, take care of their volunteers, and consistently direct the attention to Jesus. This is how a church culture is sustained. Through the people.

— Michael Carder