MEET OUR tEAM
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Stephen Blandino is the Lead Pastor at 7 City Church. He holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Regent University and a Bachelor of Science in Church Ministries from Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Prior to starting 7 City Church, Stephen served as an executive pastor and vice-president of a leadership development organization.
Stephen has over 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership, coaching, and organizational development. Stephen blogs at StephenBlandino.com and is the host of the Leader Fluent Podcast. He's also the author of several books including Stop Chasing Easy, Do Good Works, GO! Starting a Personal Growth Revolution, Creating Your Church’s Culture, and co-author with Karen Blandino of Unexpected: What to Do When Life Disrupts Your Plans.
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Karen holds a Master’s in Counseling from TCU and a Bachelor of Arts in History from UTA. Karen served twenty years in public education as a teacher and school counselor. Karen is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private counseling practice. She's an author and blogs at www.karenblandino.com.
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Stephen was born in Lakenheath, England, lived in Florida and Alaska, and grew up in Texas (His parents were in the Air Force). Karen was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. Stephen and Karen have been married since 1991 and have one daughter, Ashley, son-in-law, Dylan, and two grandsons, Elijah and Wyatt. Stephen & Karen enjoy reading, movies, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
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Blog: www.stephenblandino.com
Blog: www.karenblandino.com
Stephen & Karen Blandino
Lead Pastors
Brooke Richardson
Admin Assistant
Brooke is the administrative assistant at 7 City Church. She is originally from Mobile, AL and has lived in the great state of Texas since 2019. She currently attends Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX where she is studying Social Work. She holds an associate degree in both Criminal Justice and Biblical Studies. Her passion is to support and assist; her love is organization and cats.
Braden Abrams
Next-Gen Pastor
Braden grew up as a pastor’s kid until 2014 when his family moved to the continent of Africa as Assemblies of God missionaries. Braden felt called to minister to the next generation during his time on the mission field. His time learning how to embrace culture, and how to show Christ’s love to people from any background, has helped shaped his perspective on Next Gen ministry. Braden is currently working on his ministerial credentials with Global University. He loves seeing God impact kids and students in Fort Worth through 7 City Church.
Our dream
We dream of a church that transforms cities. We envision a church that shapes the future of societies locally and globally. We envision a church that equips people to know Christ personally and be transformed by the power of His Spirit and His Word. We dream of a church committed to authentic, biblical, Christ-centered community with other followers of Christ. We envision a church that awakens people to their God-given purpose and unleashes them to grow to their full capacity. We see a church that mentors and mobilizes emerging generations to create the future. We envision a church that positively influences culture. We dream of a church that is outrageously generous and is committed to seeing people redeemed to Christ and societies restored to their God-intended design. We envision a church that changes the future.
OUR STORY
In January of 2012, after years of prayer and reflection, Stephen and Karen Blandino made a decision to start a church in the West 7th area of Fort Worth, Texas. That same month, after serving on staff for many years with Pastor Darius Johnston from Christ Church in Fort Worth (now Movement City Church), Stephen shared his vision with Pastor Darius for the heart of the city.
Cities are cultural hubs in our world, and cities are shaped by seven channels of culture: business, government, education, arts/entertainment/media, medicine and the social sector, the church, and the family. As one man said, “Christians are called to redeem entire cultures, not just individuals,” and that’s the heart of 7 City’s vision.
In May of 2012, a building was secured at 2900 W. Lancaster (just three blocks from the heart of West 7th). Plans were developed and teams were formed, and on Sunday, September 16, 2012, 7 City Church launched near the cultural arts district just outside of downtown Fort Worth. One year later, 7 City added a second service.
Over the years, 7 City has reached people with the Gospel, served the city of Fort Worth, helped plant churches in other culturally influential cities, and supported missions work around the world. And in 2019, 7 City completed a major renovation to enlarge our auditorium, kids space, lobby, and offices to reach more people with the hope of the Gospel.
Today, 7 City Church is passionate about pursuing its vision to see cities transformed by equipping people to know Christ, experience community, and influence culture. We invite you to join us in this journey.
CORE VALUES
SCRIPTURAL TRUTH
We value Scripture as the ultimate authoritative, original truth.
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BOLD PRAYERS
We value dreaming big and praying bigger.
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AWAKENING PURPOSE
We value unleashing people to fulfill their God-given purpose.
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BIBLICAL COMMUNITY
We value Christ-centered relational community.
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PERSONAL GROWTH
We value personalized and unrelenting lifelong learning.
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CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION
We value the redemption of people & the restoration of societies.
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NEXT GENERATION
We value the mentorship and mobilization of emerging generations.
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EXPONENTIAL LEADERSHIP
We value the replication of culture-shaping leaders & churches.
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INTEGRITY + INNOVATION
We value firm integrity coupled with flexible innovation.
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OUTRAGEOUS GENEROSITY
We value unconventional generosity that advances good.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
GOD
God is the Creator of all that exists, both seen and unseen. God is eternal and completely good, knowing all things and having all power. God exists as the Trinity, in three persons, yet one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God passionately desires relationship with us and invites us into a personal relationship with Him.
(Genesis 1:1; John 14:6-9, 15-17 and John 16:7-15; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 4:9-10)
JESUS
God expressed himself in human form through His son Jesus Christ. He was born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18-23), lived a sinless life (Hebrew 7:26 & I Peter 2:22 & I John 3:4,5), was crucified for the sins of all (2 Corinthians 5:21 & 1 Peter 2:24 & 1 Corinthians 15:4), was buried, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9,11 & Philippians 2:9-11). Forgiveness of our sins and right relationship with God, are found through Him alone (Rom. 10:9-10, Acts 4:12).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
God the Holy Spirit, convicts the world of sin and draws us to the Father (John 16:8); He baptizes us into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13); He leads us to truth (John 16:13); He counsels us (John 14:16); He teaches us (John 14:26); He empowers us (Acts 1:8); He continually fills us (Acts 4:31, Gal. 5:16-25, Eph. 5:18); He distributes gifts to every follower of Christ (1 Cor. 12:4-11). The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are the by-product of a Spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity.
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God's Word to us. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs about living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without error. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 & 2 Peter 1:20-21).
HUMAN BEINGS
People are created in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character (Genesis 2:26). Although every person has the potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” By a voluntary act of the will, Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:6). That first sin had several repercussions. Adam and Eve were excommunicated from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23), a curse was pronounced (Genesis 3:14-19), the process of physical death began (Genesis 2:17), and man died spiritually (Romans 5:12-19). Sin separated humankind from God (Ephesians 2:11-18) and left man in a fallen or sinful condition (Romans 3:23), thus separating man from God.
SALVATION
Salvation is God's free gift available to anyone willing to accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin's penalty (Acts 4:12 & John 14:6). Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins (1 Peter 2:24). He offers each of us a pardon for our sins (Hebrews 9:26) and wants us to become children of God (John 1:12). When we put our faith in Christ, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction. We become the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). We become citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). We are given eternal life (John 3:16). We are adopted and become children of God (Galatians 4:4-7). Our sins are forgiven and forgotten (Hebrews 8:12). We are credited with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4:4-5). We are born-again (John 3:3). God takes ownership of us (1 Corinthians 6:20). We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14 & 1 Peter 1:3-5). We become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
THE CHURCH
The Church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) committed to worship God (1 Cor. 12:13), share the redeeming hope of Christ with the world (Acts 1:8 & Mark 16:15-16), and to equip the community of faith to serve others and bring about transformation in society (Ephesians 4:11-16 & 1 Cor. 12:28, 14:12).
WATER BAPTISM
The Scripture teaches that all who repent and believe in Christ are to be baptized (Matthew 28:19). Baptism is a public profession of faith in Christ. It is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is a declaration to all that we have died to sin and have been raised to walk in new life in Christ (Romans 6:4).
COMMUNION
Communion consists of two elements: the bread and the cup. Those elements are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. Communion is a memorial of Christ's sufferings on the cross and a celebration of our salvation (1 Cor. 11:17-34).
MARRIAGE
We believe marriage is defined in the Bible as a covenant, a sacred bond between one man and one woman instituted by and publicly entered into before God
(Matthew 19:4-6).