OUR STORY

In 2005, God began stirring in the heart of Steev Inge, burdening him with the need to reach Joplin with the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ in a new and engaging way. There was a need to reach a growing number of unchurched and de-churched individuals, as well as an increasing community of transplants moving into Joplin from around the country. Additionally, there was an increasing weight upon his heart to reach people in the city steeped in tradition and thick with religion but “inoculated” to the gospel. There was a generation of persons familiar with church, but unfamiliar with and indifferent to Jesus Christ.

In the spring of 2006, Steev and his family embarked on the mission of planting a new, biblically faithful, gospel centered, missional church to reach the heart of Joplin. With much uncertainty, a whole lot of faith and the assurance of a calling, the journey began. Soon after he met Nate Karnes, who would later become Mystery’s second elder and current worship and culture pastor.  Mystery started with a handful of people enjoying dinner and discussing what a new church in the Joplin area might look like. They met to think, pray and seek God’s will. In June of 2006, a small home Bible study began, which quickly outgrew the house they were meeting in. In October of that same year, a second night and location was launched.  A core group of people committed to the planting of a new church focused on Jesus soon emerged with a Sunday morning gathering, forming in a home in addition to the two weekly Bible studies. This would become the nucleus of Mystery’s Sunday worship service. We continued to pray, study the Bible, eat together and think strategically about being missionaries to our city. This too grew and, in April 2007, Mystery launched its weekly public service, meeting Sunday evenings in a rented church.

In January of 2009, Mystery was blessed with an opportunity to move into the center of Joplin and into its own space, allowing for a Sunday morning worship gatherings and greater opportunities to love and serve our city. These days we have two Sunday services, host numerous events and are actively engaged in numerous missional efforts to reach and renew our city with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We are a diverse and growing community of Christ Followers, living to make much of Jesus and seek the good of Joplin. We seek to live as missionaries, striving to create and change culture with the unchanging message of God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We’d love to have you join us, share in and even become part of God’s great story here at Mystery.