Experienced Pastor Moves to Hometown to Plant Church New Church Grows to 150 in Two Years Christians should build more and better relationships and do less talking, according to influential author Brennan Manning. He believes relationships provide Christians great opportunities for sharing the gospel. Darrel Harvey and his wife, Ann, put this principle to work in starting a new church. Along with their children, Tyler (14), Zack (12), and Ally (7), the Harveys started Flushing (MI) Community Church of the Nazarene by building relationships. In 1996, while pastoring in Ohio, Darrel felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to return to Michigan to start a church in Ann's hometown of Flushing. So without a job or a home, Darrel left a stable pastorate to follow the Father's guidance. Quickly, God started to put the pieces in place. Ann began to substitute teach in the Flushing school system, which eventually led to a full-time position. Darrel did pulpit supply requests and even served as a temporary youth pastor in a nearby Nazarene church. In 1998, the Harveys take the first steps toward starting a church in Flushing. Ann, as a schoolteacher, built relationships with parents of her students. Darrel made friends with kids and their families by coaching youth sports. He said, "Whatever sport needed to be coached, I signed up." One might think that the Harveys aggressively shared their vision for a church in Flushing; but as Darrel pointed out, "We never mentioned church till someone asked us what we were doing in Flushing." Soon lay persons followed the Harveys pattern of building relationships. People like Tom Harris, a golf professional, gave free golf lessons so others in the church could invite their unsaved friends. Paula Salem, a recent addition to the Flushing Church family, used the golf clinics to introduce friends to the church and the gospel. Others helped, too, especially in sports. "We have sponsored 15 local basketball teams, which helped us become acquainted with a multitude of families," explained Pastor Harvey. Since its launch on Palm Sunday 1999, Flushing Community Church has grown to an average of 150 in morning worship. Easter attendance reached 185. The church meets at a fine arts facility in the center of Flushing and has purchased 21 acres of prime land for future development. Their master building plan calls for them to expand their capability to cultivate relationships by building a multi-phase facility with athletic fields for community programs. Even while working to secure their own facilities, the Flushing congregation is very missional minded. They recently helped the Flint Eastside Mission purchase two strategically located buildings. Flushing gave $5,000 up front and pledged 10 percent of all they raise until the buildings at the mission are paid for. Flushing Church is living proof that if a church builds relationships, the people will come! And they are also living proof that those whom the Father calls to a specific assignment He empowers. LATE NEWS: Flushing Community Church organized with 100+ charter members at Eastern Michigan District Assembly. God Is Doing Something Unique in Moses Lake Apparently God has something wonderful in mind for the spiritual future of Moses Lake, Washington--an area that has grown to 40,000 people. Pastor Floyd Wilkes, leader of the existing church, has been asking God to shape their future. Meanwhile, Pastor Bob Luhn, longtime pastor of Othello Church located about 25 miles from Moses Lake, has been asking the Lord how his church could be a part of the Nazarene NewStart emphasis in a town with a population of only 4,700. He wondered how they could make it happen in their small town. Near the same time, District Superintendent Steven Fletcher, in a conversation with Joe and Tammy Johnson about becoming pastor of an existing church, mentioned his dream to start 10 new churches, including one in Moses Lake. All parties agreed to pray about the issues. Soon the Johnsons joined the church staff at Othello as church planter. In a few months, they were invited to a NewStart Assessment Center at Howell, Michigan. Following rigorous assessment processes, the Johnsons were endorsed as church planters. The plan now is for the Johnsons to plant Desert Springs Church in Moses Lake. As all of this was taking place, Pastor Wilkes was learning about the refocus ministries offered by New Church Specialties. With district support, Moses Lake plans to become involved in the refocus process. Think of the new spiritual opportunities available in Moses Lake--refocus on the existing church and a NewStart church. Shoulder to Shoulder and heart to heart, these two churches could become the spiritual fire many have been praying would sweep their community and perhaps the whole nation. (Pastors Johnson, Luhn, and Wilkes plan strategy for Desert Springs NewStart.) Waynesville Church Starts in a Cemetary
The Church of the Nazarene, across her history of nearly 100 years, has started churches in some pretty strange facilities. Warehouses, storefronts, dance halls, funeral establishments, restaurants, homes, and even a parish hall or two lent us by other churches. However, starting new churches in cemetery chapels is not a common starting place for us. But Beverly and Wilson Turner do not fit many common patterns. She is the pastor, having served as a registered evangelist for 20 years and ordained in 1987. He is retired from the postal service and is all out for building a strong church at Waynesville, Ohio. The church was started without sponsorship after two months of Bible study in the Turners' home. Their first service held no June 1, 1997, had an attendance of 97, and 40 came back that first Sunday night. The church was officially organized on June 11, 2000, with 36 charter members. Their monthly average has grown to 60. Twenty teens attend their midweek activity. The congregation has outgrown the cemetery chapel. So they paid $65,000 cash for a five-acre tract and are now worshiping in a temporary building constructed at the new site. Upper Valley Community Church Grows to Attendance of 267 Pastor Paul Jetter felt led to start a new church in Piqua, Ohio, after 15 years of missionary service and after serving a nearby established Church of the Nazarene. Although only 20,000 people live in Piqua, there are nearly 100,000 residents in the surrounding area. In the startup of this church, the original plan was to be a contemporary church with a timeless message of hope that helps people find a purpose for living. And interviews with worshipers show that is precisely the kind of church it has become. The Upper Valley Church started in a restaurant banquet room in 1994 with an attendance of 87. Through their beginning days, the new and sometimes struggling congregation had to move several times. However, in October 1997, they were able to move into a multiple-purpose facility built on a six-acre tract of land. Worship attendance now averages 267, and 407 attended on Easter. In interviews with church members, several recurring themes surfaced to explain the church's attraction to the unchurched: understandable preaching, a place where people really care, contemporary worship style, and permission to dress however one wishes. Four issues that have contributed to the church's growth appeared over and over in testimonials from members: MOPS (Mother of Preschool Children), Carpenter's Café (a teen coffee house/pizza gathering), pastor's weekly column in area newspapers, and preaching that applies to life. Most churches could do all four things without much additional effort, facilities, or funds. "Prior to coming to Upper Valley Community Church, I was very much an agnostic, not knowing if I believed in God and Christ. The church changed my whole life because now I see that there is a Creator and a Savior. Now I am very much a believer. God has turned my life around and saved my marriage. I am fulfilled with Christ's mercy." "Until I came to UVCC, I never understood the idea of a loving father. I had felt God drawing me to Him, but I really didn't know what He was like. At UVCC, I learned that God is a loving Father who accepts me as I am. I gave my life to Him and He has given it back to me in a glorious and life-changing way." "I attended the service for a 19-year-old suicide victim. Pastor Jetter's message left a lasting impact on me. I knew from that moment that I wanted to find out more about the fulfillment I was obviously missing in my life. Through Pastor's teachings, I have learned to view God in a new and different way. I have accepted Him into my life, and He brings me peace, comfort, and joy each and every day." |