Ever wonder what would happen if people would stop playing Church and start keeping it real? During this series, we explore how we can put the brakes on the man-made phoniness that has come to be synonymous with the Church, and start being the Church as Jesus envisioned it 2000 years ago.
Our Vision at Forward has always been to simply engage the city and individuals right where they are at in life and show them the love of Jesus in whatever context that presents. Church is an afterthought. Rather than plant a Church with the intention of eventually making disciples, we have made disciples and simply watched a Church be birthed out of that. God will be bringing this vision to fruition in officially launching Forward Church in the city we love on April 8th, 2012 at 11AM . There is joy in the journey; Come join us and be a part of this journey from the ground floor on up.
As God's vision for our Church and our city comes into view, the time has come for celebration with Sunday Church gatherings that are as unique as the God we serve. Our Forward Come Unity Services are a chance for us to build momentum and gather as one Body of people committed to the restoration of individuals, families, our community, and our city. Come Be Part of the Transformation of Cleveland, Ohio, from the inside-out Come Unity Services will Be Held at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland6114 Broadway AvenueSeptember 18th: 11AM October 16th: 10aMNovember 13th: 10aM December 18th: 6PMJanuary 29th: 11AM February 19th: 10aMMarch 11th: 10AM
More than being a Church, Forward seeks to be a catalyst for radical cultural change in Cleveland and beyond. But our vision is only as great as the people fulfilling it; and so we must help one another to be all that we can be in Christ. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." There is no more fruitful way of growing in this journey than to have a close brother or sister who walks it out with us and vice versa. By raising up an army of individuals humble enough to share their life with another, we can plant our F.L.A.G.'s throughout the city; to the point where the world will begin to notice and wonder about how they, too, can press Forward past the storms that this life can throw at us.
To Join a Forward Life Advancement Group that is personalized just for you, contact us by Clicking Here
Real Life and True Growth with God begins in the Home; so people all around our community have opened their home to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Forward Life Parties are once-a-week gatherings where people can meet for good food, clean fun, and genuine fellowship. Leave the suit at home; these parties are where we strip off the layers of religion and start getting real in our walk with God.
To Host a Party or Join One in Your Neighborhood Click Here
In our continuous effort to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community- where the tangible needs are abundant and many times basic- we are going to be starting a hash tag group on twitter marked #tweetaneedforward. By searching this tag or simply clicking the orange twitter thumbnail at the bottom of any page on this site, anyone who wishes to be a blessing to a person in need can simply read the posts there and see what the particular needs are on the streets of Slavic Village at any given time. Action can be taken to meet these needs by simply commenting on a certain post there or by calling Jeff at 216-394-3771; and once a need is met, it will be removed.
Lovely wife of Jeff, Lauren is the humble (too shy for an actual pic) backbone of the Bodziony family. She has led children's ministry for years as the leader of Beverly, New Jersey's "New Flock" Outreach. Her loving and peaceful Spirit shines through as she works with children in the cultivation of their young hearts toward the things we value as a Church family
Confessed and accepted Christ in 1998. Started serving in church ministry at Genesis Missionary Baptist Church (Toledo, Ohio) in 2001. Moved to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church (Toledo, Ohio) in 2003 as an assistant minister serving until moving to Cleveland, with wife (Vontyna) of 7 years, in 2008. Received a B.A. in Interpersonal Communications from Bowling Green State University in 1991 and is currently working toward a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies at Liberty Theological Seminary (Lynchburg, VA). Has served as a Sunday school / Christian Education teacher and leader.
Our Propel Teens Program is designed to do just that- Propel Teens into becoming the kind of men and women who can stand strong in the storms of life. We have partnered with Youth for Christ to make available the most exciting outings and events for the teens of our neighborhood to enjoy. A powerful thing happens when you show teenagers that they can walk with God and still have far more fun than the world has to offer!
God's powerful movement in Jeff's life has been widely circulated as this former life-long drug dealer has been ignited with the Message of hope and transformation. Returning to the very same neighborhood where his drug empire first began, Jeff has come back to communicate the reality of a street-level Savior that is accessible to all people, from right where they are in life. Jeff is from the community, in the community, and has given his life to the forward advancement of the community. His down to earth personality reflects the fact that he has been where many people are in the struggles of life, yet God has proven through the power of his testimony that there is a better Way, a deeper Truth, and a better Life available to us all. Jeff's mission is to bring that vision into reality for every man, woman, and child in Cleveland, Ohio.
Giving OptionsOur Revolutionary Budget at Forward is Targeted Squarely on Showering our Resources Directly Where They Belong; Back into the Community we are Serving. You Can Be a Key Part of the Restoration That God is Bringing Into Reality Through Our Work Both in the City and Beyond. Our needs are without limit, and donations are not restricted to financial support. We serve tangible needs such as food, furniture, and appliances as well. In whatever way you can help serve our city, it is much needed. Thank You For The Love You Share By Your Sacrifice.
Click Here To Donate To Our Movement Securely OnlineorVisit Our CONTACT Page to Meet With Us Directly And See Exactly What Your Financial Partnership Can Accomplish Through Our Ministry
Contact UsForward ChurchP.O. Box 605038 By Phone at: 216-394-3771Cleveland, OH 44105 By Fax at: 216-365-3089 Or Reach Us at the Social Links BelowDirectionsWe are located at 6114 Broadway Ave., Inside the Boys & Girls Club FacilityFrom I 90 East or West: Take 77 South and exit at Fleet Avenue. Head straight to 2nd Light and Turn Left onto Fleet. Take Fleet to Broadway and Turn Left. Boys & Girls Club Will Be on the Left About a Mile Up Broadway.From 480 East or West: Take 77 North and exit at Fleet Avenue. Take a Right onto Fleet. Take Fleet to Broadway and Turn Left. Boys & Girls Club Will Be on the Left About a Mile Up Broadway.
Church is supposed to be Fun...yeah, we said it, FUN!!!- a celebration of how good life can be when we live it out in God's hands. With Propel Kids, we've built a Fun and Exciting place where kids can leave their worries at the door, celebrate the day, and catch a vision for all that life could be.
Slavic Village/ Southeast ClevelandOur Home, Slavic Village, has been the target of national scrutiny, as CNN called us "the center of the 2007 foreclosure crisis." Since then, the neighborhood has seen an increase in property crime, violent crime, and prostitution; attributed to youth gangs and drug dealers taking advantage of the high number of empty homes.Enter in: Jesus ChristWith the neighborhood utterly broken by the effects of sin- both privately and corporately- we stand poised upon the precipice of a radical movement of God toward revival. He is mobilizing a generation of indigenous leaders from within our own community, who are boldly and fearlessly pursuing restoration for the city we all love. At Forward, our goal is not to just do church, but to literally turn this entire city on its head by radically impacting each and every part of life within it, while proactively pursuing those who stand opposed to this restoration.
Lead CatalystJeff BodzionyGod's powerful movement in Jeff's life has been widely circulated as this former life-long dealer has been ignited with the Message of hope and transformation. Returning to the very same neighborhood where his drug empire first began, Jeff has come back to communicate the reality of a street-level Savior that is accessible to all people, from right where they are in life. Jeff is from the community, in the community, and has given his life to the forward advancement of the community. His down to earth personality reflects the fact that he has been where many people are in the struggles of life, yet God has proven through the power of his testimony that there is a better Way, a deeper Truth, and a better Life available to us all. Jeff's mission is to bring that vision into reality for every man, woman, and child in Cleveland, Ohio.
Growth: Perpetual Motion Forward toward the will of God for our livesAcceptance: Welcoming People, Circumstances, and God's Will for our Lives With a Sense of HumilityRelationships: Doing All We Can To Connect With Others in a Deep and Meaningful WayIntegrity: A Commitment to Doing What is Right in God's Eyes in Every Facet of Our Lives; Both Publicly and PrivatelyLove: Showing Unconditional Compassion to Those Whom God Puts in Our Path, and Sacrificing All That We Are For Their BenefitAccountability: Taking Responsibility For Our Actions In Light of God's WordServant Evangelism: Meeting People at the Crossroads of Brokenness and Faith, and Walking With Them Down Whatever Path Leads Them to Finding Hope and Salvation in Christ
The Purpose of Forward Church is to expose every man, woman, and child in our community to the Gospel of Jesus Christ at its most organic of levels; to introduce them to a street-level Savior who is accessible to them from right where they are in life.
Every Neighborhood, Every Street, Every Family, Every Life...ForwardA Positive Community of People Committed to Taking an Active Role in the Rebuilding of People, Families, Our Community, and our World. At Forward, People are not Defined by Their Income, their Wardrobe, or Their Ability to Play the Part. Our Family is Made up of Real, Genuine, and Down to Earth Individuals Who Have Made the Simple Commitment to Move Forward From Whatever Place They Find Themselves in This Life. No Matter Where You are Spiritually, or What You Might Feel About the "Church" in General; Come See the Face of a God Whose Love is Far Bigger Than All That- A God Whose Power is Best Shown When He is Stripped of All the Phoniness and Freed Up to Just Be Who He is. Envision Your Life...Your Family...Your Circumstances...Your Heart...ForwarD
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