My Calling
For years God has been calling me (Jim Cedar) to three things:
1) To bring the hope and life of Jesus Christ to the broken, lost, and hurting people of this world.
2) To help people understand their purpose and to help them develop a passion for life abundantly.
3) To empower and guide people to live out their passion for Jesus.
My Call to Launching Faith
Launching Faith was founded at the crossroads of calling, grief, hope, and divine restlessness.
For years, I listened - really listened - to the stories of people who loved Jesus but felt disconnected from church, as well as to pastors and leaders who were quietly exhausted, discouraged, or unsure how to keep going. I heard stories of faith that didn’t fade away but went underground. Stories of people who didn’t reject God but stepped away from systems that no longer felt life-giving. And woven through those stories was my own.
I know what it’s like to walk away and question if the church can still be a place of healing. I also know what it’s like to find my way back - not to an institution, but to Jesus. That journey shaped everything that became Launching Faith.
I believe faith was never intended to be limited to buildings, stages, or programs. Faith is meant to be lived where life unfolds - around tables, in conversations, through doubts, in everyday places filled with real people. This ministry exists to make space for that kind of faith: honest, embodied, relational, and rooted in grace.
I’ve seen too many people leave quietly because they felt unseen, unheard, or unable to be honest about their questions or wounds. I’ve also seen churches lose their soul - not because they stopped believing, but because they stopped listening. Launching Faith was born from the belief that it doesn’t have to be this way.
God’s love is unbreakable, grace cannot be earned, and Jesus’ invitation remains open - especially for those who feel uncertain, wounded, or exhausted.
I am called to lead a ministry for those who don’t feel at home in traditional church settings, as well as for churches eager to reach them. This calling is about helping people rediscover a Jesus-centered community that is honest enough to heal, brave enough to change, and humble enough to grow.
At Launching Faith, we host simple, welcoming gatherings in everyday places - bars, coffee shops, homes, and shared tables - where faith can be explored comfortably and without pressure. These spaces allow you to come as you are, share your whole story, and grow at your own pace. We believe spiritual formation happens best through trust, relationship, and shared life, not through coercion or conformity.
We don’t shy away from hard questions, we don’t rush people to answers, and we don’t pretend wounds don’t exist. Instead, we believe God meets us in the middle of our questions, doubts, and longing - and shapes us there, slowly and faithfully.
Launching faith also supports churches and leaders who feel something stirring and desire to reach their community in new ways, while staying true to their values. We walk alongside congregations with humility and hope, helping them listen deeply, heal honestly, and align their culture with the gospel they proclaim.
At the center of everything we do is one simple commitment: No Judgment. Just Jesus.
My calling is to help build communities where people can experience the love of Christ, find genuine belonging, and see faith as life-giving rather than draining.
If you’ve been hurt by church, disillusioned by religion, quietly questioning your faith, or simply longing for a place to belong, you are welcome here. Launching Faith exists for you, and I believe God is still writing stories of grace, right where life happens..
My first expression of Launching Faith - Bar Church in Casper, Wyoming
Connecting with those who have felt disillusioned and disconnected from traditional church has long been a part of my calling and ministry focus. In 2016, I founded the first Bar Church in Casper, WY, a unique ministry designed to reach individuals who feel more at home in a nontraditional church environment.
By holding services in a casual, familiar environment like a bar, we sought to offer a space where people could engage in worship, fellowship, and conversations about faith in a relaxed, non-intimidating atmosphere. The bar church at The Black Gold Grille was part of a creative and unconventional approach to ministry, meeting people where they were, both physically and spiritually. It provided a non-traditional setting for those who felt uncomfortable or distant from organized religion, fostering a more welcoming, informal space for community-building.
A local church, Suncrest Christian Church, surveyed thousands of NW Indiana residents about why they don’t regularly attend church; the top response was that they had been hurt by the church. This confirms the need for ministries outside of traditional church spaces.