EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD – 5

Working with Brenda Young at Cornerstone Church in Akron, Ohio, was exhilarating and foundational.  I learned a lot through her teaching and modeling.  By 2003, it became clear that she was leading the church in new directions and was beginning to target a younger age group than we had previously focused on. 

Coordinated with that, Superintendent Charlie Young offered me the opportunity to lead a church in the conference.  I believe his words were something like: “You’ve been operating under the radar long enough; the conference needs you to step up and lead a church.”  I didn’t accept his first offer.  However, when he mentioned the New Middletown Free Methodist Church – Debbie accepted the offer!  [Her family farm and five of her seven siblings lived in proximity to this church.] 😆

Actually, I had made an attempt to move to New Middletown when we were leaving East Liverpool in 1995, but the superintendent – at that time – appointed his son instead.  Subsequently, we moved to Maryland. 

So, after much learning and amazing experiences, we quit our job with Shelter Care, packed up and moved to New Middletown, Ohio. 

Turns out, it was the hardest start at a new church that I had ever faced!  The church was deeply divided!  It’s a story of its own, but not a story for now.

Within six months, unity had been restored.  There had been some losses, but there had also been an equal number of gains. 

For the first several years, I tried not to change much, but to be dedicated to serving the people and discerning leadership potential.  Ultimately, the people began to respond and the congregation began to grow.  With the approval of the Ministry Council [think Leadership Board], we made a number of significant changes that would change the dynamics of the church considerably. 

Before long, we were averaging over 150.  We had developed two capable worship teams:  One Generation and Here’s Life!  Actually, we had a third team that played occasionally; we referred to them as the Gospel Team. 

Lay leaders were utilized heavily in the leadership of worship!  I had several that I used for preaching from time-to-time.  Our staff – of about ten leaders – met every Tuesday morning for evaluation and planning.  They were a very dedicated group and hard working! 

We tried hard to avoid predictability in worship.  Without being extreme, we made subtle changes in the worship format from week-to-week.  The music we learned and used was primarily upbeat and joyful.  My only participation in the service was to bring the message.  Other leaders did everything else.  I began writing dramas/skits to illustrate the messages.  I would turn them over to my sister-in-law, Laurie Mahosky.  She would recruit participants and add her own embellishments.  These were often humorous and sometimes quite powerful!  They were always well-received! 

Before long, our pews were being filled every week and we were breaking the two-hundred-barrier!  It was exciting.  For over a year we experimented with two services.  We saw explosive growth among our target group of individuals and couples in their twenties and thirties.  We had to expand our nursery shortly after to accommodate all of the new babies that were part of the congregation! 

We were recognized by our denomination two years in a row as a ‘Multiplying Church’.  It was about this time that we were asked to participate in a national survey of churches.  It was awkward because we were asked to have our people fill out a form during worship that would take nearly ten minutes.

We decided to participate, and our people took the awkwardness in stride.  The responses were immediately placed in an envelope and sent in.  Weeks later we received the results and our leaders pored over them to see what we could learn from these vital responses. 

We were delighted – above all – to see that when asked:  “How often do you experience the presence of God in your church’s worship?”, our people resoundingly responded “Regularly!”

It was a vital affirmation that we were on the right track! 

The worship was vibrant!  Prayer was highly prioritized!  All age groups were fully represented.  There were no open conflicts among the body of believers.  New people were attending regularly; not all stayed, but many did!  Leaders were being continually recruited and trained.  The entire ministry was led by teams! 

I have many memories of sensing the moving of God’s Holy Spirit during our worship times!  And I am grateful for His leadership and for His blessing!