In August 2025, a reporter asked President Trump about ending Russia’s war on Ukraine. He responded: “I want to end it,” he said. “I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.” His campaign’s political action committee then followed up with an appeal to his supporters to help him get into heaven by giving money. [https://issuesinperspective.com/2025/10/donald-trump-and-heaven/]
The comment reflects a very common—and very human—way of thinking about God: the idea that heaven is something we earn by doing enough good things, fixing enough problems, or piling up the right accomplishments. It assumes that there is a moral scale, a “totem pole,” where we slowly climb our way upward, hoping our best efforts will eventually outweigh our failures. In that way of thinking, even good desires—like wanting peace, or wanting to help others—can quietly become bargaining chips with God. If I do this, maybe then I’ll be worthy.
The gospel speaks gently but clearly into that instinct. Scripture tells us that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8–9). Heaven is not a reward for spiritual productivity, charitable giving, or last-minute moral improvements. It is a gift given to those who trust in Christ, not because they have climbed high enough, but because Jesus came all the way down to where we are. Grace means we stop negotiating and start receiving. Faith means we stop presenting our résumé and start trusting a Savior.
Good works matter deeply, but they flow from salvation, not toward it. They are the fruit of gratitude, not the price of admission. The hope of the gospel is not that we might someday do enough to be acceptable, but that in Christ, God has already done everything necessary to welcome us home.
Our mission is to cultivate a level of community that shares the delights and dilemmas of life we all experience. Together we can relearn the joy of conversation, bring back a respectful public square and make lasting connections in a lonely world. Along the way, we'd like to create a non-threatening place to consider the claims of Jesus Christ apart from the clutter of religious culture.
The Bible teaches that God loves all of creation, and through Jesus Christ we are brought into fellowship with him. We are a family, proclaiming the love and grace of God, as found in God's word. All are welcome at Converge--those who believe as well as those who are seeking.
As we play, work and worship together we find that our faith grows and we enjoy friends old and new. Come and see!
You may never mine a novel from the keyboard of your computer, but you most definitely are writing a story. It’s the story of you. It’s being written, not into the pages of a book, but into the eternal record of heaven by your activities, your words, your choices, and even your thoughts and silent prayers. It may not be a best-seller in New York, but God never misses the release of a new chapter.
The “Now, What’s Your Story?” Project will guide you through core competencies of the Christian life by way of thought-provoking, fictional conversations. You may find yourself thinking: “I’ve always wanted to ask that,” or “hmm, I never thought of that.” Either way, the goal is to make you more aware of that miraculous intersection of your story and God’s.
Events
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up.
