Thank you for taking a moment to see what we offer.

BASIC comes from a desire, after 15 years of pastoring within one of the largest institutional denominations, for a simple, biblically authentic Christian community of people who help one another grow in Christ and good deeds (Hebrews 10:19-25).  

• No celebrity pastors

• No theatre

• No using Jesus for business

• No egoistic people pursuing influential roles to create social cliques, propagate hate, or support self-centered habits.

• No community for just the rich.

These things oppose what Jesus did, taught, and wants for His Church.

Around the world, God is calling people to leave institutional business churches, not to leave their faith but to keep it. They become exasperated by corporate machinery, financial indiscretions, immorality, abuse cover-ups, unbiblical social cliques, and endless programs to maintain.

Among these are ministers who, rather than desiring personal kingdoms, want to help people find and follow Jesus in His Kingdom.

We are among those.

I (Robin) am an ordained minister who, for 15 years, served the largest institutional denomination in the United States as a pastor, youth pastor, marriage pastor, and in other pastoral roles. To help equip myself, I earned a doctorate and master’s degree in ministry.

I (Claire) have served churches as children’s ministry leader, youth ministry leader, middle and high school education administrator, finance administrator, and missions support coordinator. I currently coordinate community enrichment missions for the nonprofit, Mission 127.

Claire and I have both always served bi-vocationally, keeping day work to provide for our family.

Over the years, God began impressing upon me that this institutional religion I served was off-track and that my ambitions for high influence within it were misplaced.

I saw abuses of power, misuse of money, and other selfish things that for-hire pastors and even volunteer committee members did to gain (or keep) power and influence.

Still, I was taught (by institutional leaders, not the Bible) that the institutional religious system was “Christ’s bride” (a biblical descriptor for His global church), so I kept trying to influence positively and respectfully within this system. I managed to do good things but remained unsettled.

In 2023, while pastoring at a large (but declining) church, I was asked to propose a satellite church to lead. Here was a great chance to make some adjustments.

For this new church, I felt led to propose a simple, non-ornate environment, for the leaders (including me) to serve as volunteers instead of for money, and to not have a stage (it separates and elevates “clergy” over everyone else).

I proposed a layout where everyone would sit in face-to-face circles and leaders would sit within the circles. Having a background in pedagogy(teaching methods), I also wanted to replace monologue with dialogue for relational engagement and better learning.

Finally, I proposed to not be entitled “Senior Pastor”. Instead, I wanted plural leadership, where leaders would be accountable to each other and members.

To help us start, I requested that two to three helper families join me for six months. The committee could choose the families.

My proposal was rejected utterly on two grounds. 

1. “We don’t want to send anyone out, even temporarily. We need more people here so we can be big again.”

2. “It’s not a church without a stage or a Senior Pastor who uses executive authority to keep everyone in line.”

This committee, when I requested them to do so, could not articulate any New Testament passages about church leadership qualifications (Titus 1, 1 Timothy 3) or church administration (found throughout the book of Acts).

So, fully recognizing that the system I had been serving was more focused on serving itself than serving Jesus or His people, I gave up my position (and salary) and stepped away. 

However, I didn’t say “no more church”. Instead, God drew me forward in a faith journey of building a New Testament-aligned, back-to-the-basics Jesus followers community. I am not alone. God is doing this all around the world.

By following God this way, Claire and I don’t intend any declarations against organizing (organizing is required to keep purpose, and anything organized is, to at least a degree, institutional). Further, we maintain a good relationship with our local association.

Claire and I simply became weary of serving within overly institutionalized churches that focused more on maintaining themselves than serving Christ.

We wanted to be part of the Church described in God’s Word. Fellowships of humble people who remember what Christ did for them and want to help others receive what they did.

“God brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now are His very own possession, a group of holy priests. This is so you may tell others about all the wonderful things He has done.” – 1 Peter 2:9

If you join this community of Christ’s global Chuch, you will be welcomed as a community member, not a spectator or customer.

You don’t need to “have your life all together” either. Who does? We’re all “Work-In-Progress” who need Jesus. Let’s follow Him together.

Hope to see you and serve you soon!

Robin and Claire Redick

“Encourage one another and build each other up.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11