Since I was a young boy, I have sensed a call to be used by God. My parents named me Kirk, meaning "church dweller." How prophetic! In college, my involvement with Campus Crusade for Christ gave me excellent Biblical training, discipleship experience, and leadership development. It also paved the way for my first "professional" ministry opportunity at a local church. The defining moment of that experience was a trip to Willow Creek Community Church. That visit gave me a fresh perspective on what a church could become - a Biblically functioning community with a focus on evangelism, an emphasis on being relevant and contemporary, and the priority of identifying and deploying the spiritual gifts of the laity.

Since then, I have been exposed to numerous teachers and mentors while involved in full-time ministry. My experience has taught me much about church structure, strategy, and church planting. While my primary responsibilities have been in music and worship, I have gained invaluable experience in areas of church finance, administration, teaching, pastoral care, and strategic leadership. I have focused most of my time on developing spiritual leaders while aggressively working on the development of my leadership, teaching, and shepherding gifts.

On March 11, 1994, another defining moment in my life occurred. During a radio broadcast of Focus On The Family, I received a vision that I am now certain was from God. George Barna and Dieter Zander (who has since become a personal mentor to me) were presenters on Focus discussing the next generation, the Baby Busters (a.k.a. Generation X). There was no audible voice or handwriting on the wall, but that day I had a leading from God to plant a church that would reach my generation (and other generations) for Christ. I had never had such a vision experience before, but the vision has gained clarity during the years since the initial leading from God.

There were several specific details that were contained in the original vision. The target (my generation and beyond), the location (Ann Arbor, Michigan), and the distinctives (church that plants other churches, multi-cultural, artistic, etc.) were all "given" to me on that memorable day in 1994. I desire to build God's Kingdom and not my own. I take very seriously the responsibility to always seek God's will and direction for Frontline and never my own. The vision is far beyond anything that I could ever imagine or accomplish on my own, but I know that where God guides, He provides. He is able!

-Kirk Schneemann