An occasional feature (go to previous "Whatever it takes churches" articles: 2000, 2001)
A model church, not a megachurch Inglewood, California
Why build when you can plant? That challenge captures the essence of what Pastor Luther Keith of Central Baptist Church in Inglewood, California, believes about ministry. Under his guidance, Central Church has planted 17 churches.
Photos by GREG SCHNEIDER
In recognition of the neighborhoods changing face a few decades ago from middle-class white to black, Central Church called Luther, an African American, in 1974. There were only 17 members, and three were African American. A white lady brought me to pastor a dead church, Luther reminisces, laughing.
The area went through another shift in the 1990s and is now predominantly Hispanic. Thats why were starting Hispanic churches, he says. But its not about color, he adds. My thing is church planting.
Encourage members to goWhenever the church starts to get a little crowded, they plant another church. If Central Church had kept all its members and added to its facility, they would be ministering to more than 2,000 people today. Instead, we are a model church, not a megachurch, says Luther. We believe in building people with the help and power of the Holy Spirit, and those people build churches. Four churches were started in one Sunday at Central Church when four men were commissioned and seven were ordained to plant churches in the surrounding area.
Luther encourages any members who want to go and be a part of the new work to do so. But if you go, go! he advises. Dont try to keep one foot in both churches. Make up your mind where you want to be. He firmly believes in commitment because he knows it is much easier to remain in the comfort and security of an established church like Central Church. He never directs anyone they should go but allows them to volunteer instead.
TOP: Rev. Thomas Blackwell (left) mentors pastor Jerry Christopher (right). ABOVE: Pastor Keith (left) spends time during the week visiting with local business owners about the needs of an ever-changing neighborhood and how the church can meet those needs.
Train men to leadLuther received almost all his formal training through seminary extension after he assumed the pastorate. A lifelong student, Luther has taken practically every training course Southern Baptists could make available to him. He believes education is vital, but it is not a prerequisite for beginning a ministry. Its not how much Greek you know, Luther says in his no-nonsense way. Its whether or not you can relate to people.
When eager young men come to him with a desire to teach but no formal background, Keith asks a few basic questions:
Is your salvation experience authentic as evidenced by a changed life?
Are you willing to seek seminary training as needed?
Are you willing to undergo a personality profile?
Are you able to gather a small group for Bible study and grow from there?
Are you willing to go through all the steps and take the necessary time to achieve church status?
The church looks for men who are natural leaders, who can follow instructions and who have the patience to go through the channels of ministry from Bible study to mission to church.
If someone has no interest in getting training, we have no time for him, Luther says unequivocally. Once a person begins on the path to becoming a church planter, all the
resources of the church are available to help him in any way it can. Acting as mentors, Luther and the other staff pastors counsel church planters in how to prayerfully find their location and lead people effectively.
Take the gospel firstIn everything they do, the churchs first goal is to share the gospel with the lost and hurting world right on its doorstep. Central Church has won awards for its social ministry efforts against drugs, gangs and domestic violence.
Through the ministry of the Central Urban Development Center located in the church, Central Church has seen many desperate people come to faith in Christ.
For information about how your congregation can plant churches, visit the North American Mission Boards church planting website www.namb.net/root/cp.
A Titanic Moment: Timing is everything Lufkin, Texas
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARPENTER'S WAY CHURCH
When Carpenters Way Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas, staged its production of Titanic Moment, they never dreamed how significant their timing would be. Opening night of the five-day run was September 9, 2001. Two days later, the world reacted in horror to the events at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.
Share a message with meaningThe message of the production that was 13 months in the making: You dont know whats going to happen. Be prepared for your Titanic Moment. Rick Williams, pastor of Carpenters Way Church, says that many people gave their lives to Christ and many more asked for counseling regarding assurance of salvation as a result of the combined tragediesone historically reenacted, one unfolding before their eyes on television.
The idea for Titanic Moment was born during a trip to Orlando where Rick and his wife, Melody, visited Titanic: The Exhibition. Characters dressed in period costume walked people through the exhibit, giving them insight into how the passengers felt and thought. Apparently, many of the passengers in 1912 believed theyd sit in the lifeboats for a few hours while the crew repaired the unsinkable ship and then continue on their journey. The comment that grabbed Williams attention was, You dont know whats going to happen.
Rick knew this was a powerful message for a gospel-hardened culture, so after returning to his church he convened a meeting with his staff and the idea began to take shape. Nancy Mize, the churchs director of drama ministry, wrote the script, and things snowballed from there.
Tackle the impossibleThe idea of using interactive drama is not new to Baptist churches; many have adopted that genre as a regular part of worship. Drama, like music, has a way of connecting with people on a deeper level, of engaging more than their intellect and appealing to their heart. However, few churches attempt anything as large as the Titanic production in Lufkin. Almost one quarter of the church became cast members. Most of the 130 people in the play had never been on stage in their lives.
If your church is interested in hosting a drama production, regardless of the grandness of the scale, Carpenters Way Church has some ABCs to pass along that might help.
Ask a challenging question and expect a responseChoose a message that packs a punch. The phrase Titanic Moment became a catchword all over Lufkin, Rick says. Especially after the terrorist attacks, not knowing when your Titanic Moment may come was a timely message.
Ricks desire to bring people face to face with their own mortality was key. At the end of the presentation, he asked the audience to check the back of their boarding passes/tickets. If their pass had the symbol of a cross, they didnt survive. Rick posed two questions to the group, Did you live or die? If you died, where are you spending eternity?
Be as professional as possiblePay attention to details. Carpenters Way Church had authentic costumes. The wardrobe was Broadway quality, says playwright Nancy Mize. Makeup clinics were held months in advance. Dialect coaches taught Texans to talk like Britsno mean feat, Nancy laughs. The set included a grand staircase built by church members. Theres much more to drama than actors. Proficiency is needed in many areas: from set design and construction to lighting and sound, from wardrobe to makeup, from filming of video sequences to web pages, from music to Irish dancers and much more. Theres a job for everyone.
A portion of the 130-member cast is seen here during a curtain call. Cast members hoped their portrayal of a sinking ship would cause non-Christians to think about their own lives.
Commit your resourcesInvest in success. Carpenters Way Church invested almost two percent of its annual budget as well as 13 months of dedicated work. Was it worth it? Ask the many people who came to faith in Christ. Ask the scores of lukewarm Christians who recommitted their lives to a deeper walk of faith. Finally, ask the cast who discovered the joy of service in a whole new arena as they tried drama for the first time and found they liked the fit.
For a closer look at the cast and more information about Titanic Moment, visit www.titanicmoment.com.
Connie Cavanaugh is a writer and speaker living in Cochrane, Alberta.