About X-ile

X-ile practices relational evangelism of the Christian faith. This means that the people that are associated with X-ile share hope, joy and good news about Jesus Christ through relationships that they form with people outside of the faith. We do this in several different ways. One way is through music. Music is a universal language and when we connect with people through music, it opens the door to talk about other foundational truths that guide and affect our lives. We bring hope to the world through getting to know people and listen to their stories while sharing our own. Music and musical events are a great way and place to do that because it provides a common experience and a common language to begin a relationship. Once a common bond and experience is established, people are more willing to be vulnerable enough to entertain new ideas of hope and love. Some of X-ile’s expenses are to offset some of the expenses of it’s evangelists so that they can spend less time working at a job and more time doing this type of evangelism.

Another important aspect of relational evangelism is what we call “playing away games.” There is a common Christian phrase that says that we are called to “meet people where they are.” Many Christians say this phrase but put it into action in very limited ways. X-ile practices this is radical ways, literally traveling to other towns to hang out in new places where others are completely comfortable at home. This turns the social power around from where it usually is and yields powerful results. People share their stories and lives with us in much deeper ways that change and affect us as well as allow our stories and ideas of Jesus’s radical love and grace to change and affect their lives. For this important reason, a good deal of our expenses are travel expenses. 

The other main purpose of X-ile is to plant organic churches. We get people together that we have met and create small communities of faith in houses, coffee shops, bars, parks, etc. These groups are community led and organic in the sense that they model the location and people that are a part of them so they all have their own specific identity. They also focus on specific ministry opportunities within the city and context in which they exist. For example, a group of environmentalists that meet at a park might have a drum circle as part of their worship community and work to make the water in their city, cleaner. A group of lawyers might have more of a debate about scripture in their gatherings and work together to provide affordable legal council to people that can’t afford it. This allows the people whom we develop relationships with to gather to talk more about God and the love and grace of Jesus Christ, as well as act on it together. Some of X-ile’s expenses come from the forming and maintaining of these groups in terms of leadership, materials and marketing. We do a podcast each week that highlights a specific piece of Scripture and starts a conversation that these communities can use in any way they see fit.