When God Closes 1 Door - 5 More Open

From Rescinded Offer to Resilient Purpose: My Clarion Call to Rochester

By Jomo Johnson

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Sometimes, God uses the doors that slam shut to point us directly toward the streets where He wants us to walk.

When a youth pastoral job offer here in Pittsford was rescinded because of my support for Black Lives Matter 10 years ago, I won't pretend it was an easy moment. But I share that context today not out of bitterness, grievances, or victimhood—far from it. I share it because it clarified my calling. It reminded me that the gospel has always lived most vibrantly on the margins, among those who feel unseen, unheard, or overlooked by traditional institutional walls.

I didn't come to the Rochester area to hold a grudge. I came here to love people. I arrived with a deep, burning passion for the overlooked—for those who have felt sidelined, disconnected, or unchurched—and to help build a movement where everyone has a seat at the table.

Building Church Plants, Not My Own Kingdom

I want to be transparent and clear about one very important thing: I am not here to pastor a church.

I am not seeking a pulpit, a personal platform, or a title. My role is simply that of a pioneer, an organizer, and a servant. Through SMS Novel, my team and I are stepping in to provide the heavy lifting—handling state legal filings for church status, securing weekly meeting locations, managing online growth, and helping cover operational logistics—so local leaders can thrive.

Our vision is to help launch affinity-based church plants across Rochester and surrounding neighborhoods like Beechwood—vibrant, intimate faith communities built around shared passions, real neighborhood needs, and genuine relationships. Affinity churches are designed for certain demographics, niches, or identities. (i.e. Affinity)

1. Second Half Church - a Church for those over the age of 60 that want to serve and mentor

2. Northstar - a Church for activists, creators, and artists.

3. Lord's Supper - A Communion Church that meets at a different restaurant in Rochester every Sunday.

4. Off Hours - An evening church for health care workers and their families to support them in their stressful but essential work.

5. Signal - A 100% Run ASL church.

Here is how we are building this together over the next 60 days:

1. Forming a Board & Core Team: We are bringing together a 4-member executive board (President, Co-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) to govern, along with a passionate 6-member local core team to run weekly ministry and Sunday experiences.
2. First Worship Service in 30 Days: With SMS Novel covering legal filings and site logistics, we aim to host our very first worship service within 30 days.
3. Calling a Local Pastor in 60 Days: Within two months, our board and core team will seek to officially call and install a local pastor to shepherd and lead the congregation long-term.

A Clarion Call to Rochester: Join the Movement

This is where you come in. A movement isn't built by one person; it's built by a community that cares deeply about its neighbors. I am currently seeking local Rochesterians who share a heart for the overlooked and want to help build something fresh and life-giving from the ground up:

• Board & Core Leadership: If you have governance experience or an energetic heart for weekly ministry, we need your leadership on our board or core team.
• Community Outreach Scouts: We are actively seeking local scouts to walk our neighborhoods, pass out information, talk to neighbors, and listen to what our local communities actually need.
• Sunday Group Visits & Discussions: We are gathering every week to visit local churches together and sit down over lunch to dream about what a healthy, inclusive church plant should look like. You can join our next gathering through the Rochester NY Church Plant Team Meetup Group.

If you are tired of status-quo faith, if you care about social justice and neighborhood unity, or if you simply want to see the overlooked loved on with intention—come sit with us. Let's build something beautiful for Rochester together.

Contact Jomo at: Contact@SMSnovel.com

We host nightly zoom calls at 7pm EST.

Follow us on Facebook at SMS Novel Films.