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Pastor moves church out of the box, into the world
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| Darrell Henry | |
Dr. Darrell Henry said what worked for his father as a Baptist preacher in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s won't work for him today.
The senior pastor of Oakwood Baptist Church in Chickamauga, Ga., shepherds a congregation with more than 2,000 attending weekly. He also oversees two satellite campuses and annually speaks at an Easter outdoor service in Chickamauga Park.
"God has placed me in this generation," Dr. Henry said. "I have to figure out how to relate to this generation, so I can get an open door for the gospel."
His 18-year ministry at Oakwood has been a transition, he said.
"I had a clear understanding of Scripture, and I saw the need to do church differently," Dr. Henry said. "(However, the message) is as relevant as it was 2,000 years ago. And it will be that relevant 2,000 years from now if Jesus hasn't come back."
trendsetting ministers
Kevin Adams, 42
* Occupation: Senior pastor, Olivet Baptist Church.
* Accomplishments: Led church to expand into 1,800-seat facility and grow to 5,000 members; congregation recently began a satellite campus at Lakeside Academy; began Matthew 25 ministry that serves 100 to 200 people daily with food, clothes and job assistance; began local and national television ministry; and purchased Urban League-occupied building for community outreach.
* He said: "Equipping and discipling and perfecting the saints to do their ministry" and "There will be no need unmet at Olivet."
The Rev. Barry Kidwell, 51
* Occupation: Pastor, Forrest Avenue United Methodist Church; director, Chattanooga District UMC homeless initiative.
* Accomplishments: Turned dwindling church into place "where all people can feel welcome"; homeless and inner-city poor became primary recipients of ministry that offers free dinner and Bible study to 70 to 100 people every Wednesday; opened door to groups such as Transformation Ministry.
* Quote to live by: "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all those who mourn." -- Isaiah 61 1-2
Adam Clagg, 29
* Occupation: Executive pastor, Covenant Church.
* Accomplishments: Installed electronic giving kiosk in lobby and set up Web site to facilitate donations with bank card; utilizing Facebook, e-mail and text messaging to facilitate communication among members; began new children's ministry; directed congregation's partnering with parachurch organizations.
* He said: "Helping people to reach their ultimate potential in Christ through whatever means necessary."
Worship at Oakwood, on the surface, is contemporary and casual. Its senior pastor speaks without coat and tie. Sometimes, he uses video clips.
But what has set the church apart in the last five years is its outreach into satellite sites on Germantown Road and Gateway Mall.
The Germantown Road location draws 100 people on Sunday nights for its Celebrate Recovery program, which reaches beyond addiction-only groups to all people with "hurts, hang-ups and habits." Overall, the Christ-centered Celebrate Recovery program, which began at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., reaches 300 people weekly through Oakwood.
The Gateway Mall site draws 400 on Sunday mornings, where a live contemporary service features Dr. Henry's message on video. A second Sunday service is in the planning stages, he said.
The Easter service at Chickamauga Park, Dr. Henry said, grew out of a vision he had while walking at the park. Seeking a solution to shuttling 4,000 people in and out of the church's Chickamauga campus in several services, he recalled the former Pops in the Park series at the battlefield and visualized an open-air service there. The most recent service in April drew about 10,000 people.
"It's part of our mission and philosophy -- to take the church to the community and the message of the gospel of Christ to the world," Dr. Henry said.
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