About Chasah
Chasah (חָסָה) - Refuge, Shelter, Trusting in God's protection.
A primitive root of the word Mechaseh, meaning refuge, found in Psalms 91:2
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” - Psalm 91:2
From Ross Reitzammer (A founding member of this church who has been in our lives for over 15 years):
In 1978, after finishing the lay institute courses at Dallas Theological Seminary, I felt called to ministry. (This was before we moved to Oak Cliff to begin a ministry to young Hispanic kids.). I had a vision of a ministry simply called Chasah. I wrote an entire paper on it! The vision was to be a refuge for anyone who was lost, to meet people at their level without judgment, and then share the good news of the Gospel and God’s love.
Now, 46 years later, the vision has returned! This morning, out on the patio, spending time in prayer, I was trying to think of a church name that would not be “religious” and that might appeal to unbelievers. Then I remembered the vision I had back in 1978! “Chasah” – Refuge.
When I looked up Chasah on Facebook, I saw there was already a ministry by that name in Brisbane, Australia. The ministry’s description was this: “Chasah is a Network of House Churches, local and international. His House, our Home. One Body - One Bride - One Church!”
This all began with a simple idea: what if the next chapter of our life was about loving our neighbors well?
On our 10th anniversary, Ashley asked how she could better support me over the next decade — just like I had supported her in starting a nonprofit in the prior 10 years. After some hesitation, I told her I felt like God was inviting us to focus on our neighborhood. It didn’t feel big or impressive—but it felt like the next step.
As we moved into a new home, Ashley felt led to pray it would become “a gathering place for the church.” At the time, we didn’t fully know what that meant. We’d hosted small groups before, but this was something deeper. That prayer stirred a journey of learning, praying, and slowly discovering the beauty of house churches—where people gather simply, share life deeply, and follow Jesus together in their homes.
Over the years, God kept confirming the direction—through conversations, connections, and moments that felt too perfectly timed to be coincidence. He brought people into our lives who were already living this out, allowed us to learn how this can be done wisely, and He gave us peace that this was the path He had for us.
Our sending church, Salt + Light Fort Worth, agreed! After undergoing a residency program for pastoral training Salt + Light confirmed Kurtis as an Elder and commissioned a small group from the church to plant Chasah Church in the Spring of 2025.
Now, our home is becoming a place of refuge—a place of chasah—for anyone feeling tossed around by life or distant from church. We’re simply trying to take the next faithful step and trust that God will keep lighting the way.
We believe church isn’t just a place you go—it’s a people learning to live out the way of Jesus together. There are three things we’re committed to as a church family:
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1. Growing in Love for One Another
Love isn’t optional in the church—it’s the foundation. Jesus said the world would know we’re His followers by the way we love one another. Paul reminded early Christians that even the most spiritual acts mean nothing without love. So we’re learning to be patient, kind, humble, and sacrificial with each other—because love is the heartbeat of everything we do.
Key Verses:
John 13:34–35 • 1 Corinthians 13 • Colossians 3:14
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2. Becoming One in Christ
Jesus prayed that His followers would be deeply united—just like He is with the Father. The early church lived this out in radical ways, breaking down old barriers and living as one family. We want to reflect that kind of unity: different backgrounds, one Body. Different gifts, one Spirit. Different stories, one shared life in Christ.
Key Verses:
Galatians 3:28 • Philippians 2:2 • Acts 4:32 • 1 Corinthians 1:10
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3. Building One Another Up
When we gather, everyone matters. Every person brings something valuable. Whether it’s encouragement, prayer, teaching, or simply listening—our time together is about helping each other grow in faith, hope, and love. Jesus told us to make disciples—and we believe that starts by building each other up in everyday moments.
Key Verses:
Ephesians 4:11–16 • Hebrews 10:24 • 1 Thessalonians 5:11 • 1 Corinthians 14:26
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These sound simple—and that’s the point. God loves to work through the humble and overlooked. From a manger in Bethlehem to meals with outsiders to a cross on a hill, Jesus showed us the power of simplicity. We believe He still shows up in quiet living rooms and ordinary moments—whenever His people come together in love, unity, and faith.
Chasah Church is rooted in the good news of Jesus Christ, as passed down by the apostles and affirmed by the historic Church. We gladly affirm ancient confessions such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Old Roman Creed as faithful summaries of the gospel story. These foundational truths unify our congregation and guide our mission to glorify God.
1. The Triune God: We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal in glory and majesty.
2. Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, possessing two distinct natures in one person without confusion, change, division, or separation. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life. He was crucified, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day.
3. The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit empowers believers for holy living, guides the church in truth, and equips the saints for ministry.
4. The Scriptures: We affirm the divine inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of the Holy Scriptures.
5. Salvation by Grace: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
6. The Church: The church is the body of Christ, consisting of all who trust in Him, and exists to glorify God, proclaim the gospel, and make disciples.
7. The Resurrection and Eternal Life: We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, the righteous to eternal life, and the unrighteous to eternal separation from God.
We also align with the vision and theology of the Lausanne Covenant (1974)—a global expression of evangelical faith and mission. It helps shape our commitment to the authority of Scripture, the urgency of the gospel, and the call to serve the world in love and humility.
We believe that unity in Christ is grounded in core truths, but that many matters of faith and practice can be worked out through honest conversation, mutual respect, and life together in community.
Every church looks a little different. These are a few things that matter deeply to us and will shape how we gather and grow together. Some of these might feel unique, especially if you’ve only experienced larger or more traditional church models. While the heart behind these priorities won’t change, how we live them out may continue to grow and evolve.
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🏡 We Meet in a Home
The early church met in homes—and for good reason. It kept gatherings simple, relational, and rooted in everyday life. We believe God’s presence isn’t tied to a building, but to His people. Meeting in a home helps us stay small enough to know and care for one another like family. While we stay rooted in this model, we also value the diversity of God’s people gathering in many ways in the broader Church and look for ways to connect with other local churches through shared events, worship, and service.
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🤝 Everyone is Invited to Participate
We believe church gatherings should reflect love, unity, and spiritual growth—not just be a performance or presentation. Each member is encouraged to come ready to contribute in ways that build others up. This might look like sharing a word of encouragement, a prayer, a teaching, a song, or simply listening well. The goal is for the whole body to be active and valued, just as Scripture describes.
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🧔 Elders Lead by Serving
In our church, elders aren’t “in charge” in the worldly sense. Their role is to protect, shepherd, and guide—always with humility and love. Rather than controlling things from the top down, they lead through example, persuasion, and servant-hearted care. We look to the model of Jesus, who washed feet and taught us to lead by becoming least.
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👨👩👧👦 A Place for Kids
Kids are a vital part of our church. As they grow, we invite them to join the main gathering when they’re ready to participate or listen without disruption. Outside the gathering, we’ll provide age-appropriate Bible studies and foster mentoring relationships—especially as kids enter their teen years. For younger children, we offer professional childcare during the gathering through a trusted church service provider so parents can fully participate.
A note on child safety:
Chasah Church is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all children. The well-being and safety of children participating in church activities is a priority. Any allegations of misconduct or concerns about the safety of children must be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities.
The church will take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of children, including:
- Providing sufficient adult supervision during children’s activities, based on the number of children present.
- Maintaining awareness of the children’s area by keeping doors open or ensuring that supervising adults can be easily reached from the main meeting area.
- Recording the childcare area as another measure of accountability and to ensure visibility and transparency.
When engaging third-party childcare providers or agencies, the church will prioritize working with organizations that:
• Conduct background checks on their staff.
• Provide training in child protection and safety practices.
• Demonstrate a commitment to best practices in safeguarding children.
Trusted parents and adults from within the church community may also assist in supervising children during church gatherings and events. Youth helpers are also able to serve alongside a trusted adult. These individuals will be selected with care, ensuring they are known to the church leadership and congregation. Supervision will prioritize the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the children.
The Bible lists many spiritual gifts, and gatherings are an opportunity to put them into practice. Here are just a few examples:
• Teaching: Sharing insights or lessons from scripture.
• Encouragement: Uplifting someone with kind words or affirmations.
• Generosity: Offering support to those in need or contributing to the community.
• Wisdom: Providing godly advice to someone facing a challenge.
• Hospitality: Welcoming and hosting others with love and kindness.
• Healing: Praying for physical, emotional, or spiritual restoration.
• Creative Expression: Sharing a meaningful song, psalm, or work of art inspired by your faith.
• Prophecy: Speaking words of truth or clarity to encourage and guide the church.
Questions to Reflect On
Before coming to a gathering, take a moment to ask yourself:
• How can I contribute to building up others today?
• Is there someone here who could use my encouragement or support?
• Do I have a testimony or lesson to share that could inspire others?
• Am I prepared to listen to the Spirit’s prompting and act on it?
Living as the Body of Christ
At Chasah, our gatherings are about more than attending—they’re about actively participating as members of the body of Christ. Each person matters, and every gift is valuable.
When we gather, we’re reminded that:
• Love binds us together.
• Unity strengthens us.
• Serving one another reflects Christ’s heart.
Come ready to engage, encourage, and grow—because church is a place where faith becomes action, and everyone has a role to play.
We believe church growth can take many beautiful forms:
• When lives are changed by the Gospel
• When believers grow to become more like Jesus
• When God’s love begins to transform entire neighborhoods and communities
We’re starting small—on purpose. Meeting in a home naturally limits how many people can gather, and we have a strong conviction that smaller spaces help foster deeper relationships, real discipleship, and active participation. We’re especially focused on reaching people who’ve never experienced the love of God or who’ve drifted away from church entirely. That’s where our hearts are drawn: toward the “lost sheep” Jesus came to restore.
But what if God brings more people? What if the living room fills up faster than expected?
That’s a good “problem.” And if it happens, we’ll respond by staying rooted in three key principles:
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1. Raise Up Local Leaders
As the community grows, so must the leadership. We want to identify and support people who can help shepherd others, disciple new believers, and make sure no one falls through the cracks. Leadership here won’t be about titles—it will be about responsibility, humility, and care.
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2. Send People, Not Just Add Chairs
Growth won’t always mean getting bigger—it might mean sending out. Just like Jesus sent His disciples, we’ll equip and support people in our church who feel called to plant new house churches or serve on mission elsewhere. Some of us may go with them. Others may stay and keep building here. Either way, this kind of growth creates more space for others to meet Jesus.
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3. Make Room—Practically and Spiritually
We’ve already made changes in our home to host a larger gathering (up to 65), and we’ve explored further expansions. Still, there may come a time when we’re out of room. We may temporarily find a larger gathering space that can accommodate our size, but unless God calls us in a different direction, our goal will be to return to our home as “the gathering place of the church” - trusting that God will raise up leaders and those who desire to be sent which will allow us to more practically meet regularly in a house.
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We’re trusting that God will grow this church in His time, His way, and for His glory. And if that means outgrowing our living room? We’ll celebrate what He’s doing—and faithfully take the next step.
Chasah Church is guided by a Board of Directors made up of both Elders and trusted members from within the community. This team provides spiritual and administrative oversight to ensure decisions are made with integrity and care. While Chasah was commissioned to operate independently by our sending church, Salt + Light, we maintain a meaningful connection through Ben Connolly—an Elder at Salt + Light—who serves as an oversight Elder to help support continuity, wisdom, and shared values.
Kurtis Freeman (Pastor / Local Elder)
Ben Connelly (Oversight Elder)
Jim Gredy (Oversight Elder)
Ross Reitzammer (Founding Church Member / “The Older”)
We are incredibly excited to see what God will do as we step into this new season. It’s not without challenges, but we trust that God will continue to guide us, just as He has every step of the way.
We ask for your prayers as we prepare to launch this church and for the neighbors and friends God will bring into this community. If you feel called to learn more, participate, or simply encourage us with your story, we would love to connect.
Let’s walk this journey together as we create a place of refuge for those seeking God’s love and grace.