It may have sounded like a gathering new-age sci-fi trekkies, but “Alien” was the name given a conference for churches desiring to be innovative in their goal of reaching people with the message of Jesus.
The conference was envisioned by four innovative Virginia Baptist pastors who conceived of an Alien Innovative Church Conference. Defining “Alien” as “a stranger, one who is different from those around him,” the four used 1 Peter 2:11-12 as a scriptural theme: “I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world …. live such good lives that others may glorify God!”
Doug Murren, an author and preacher familiar to many, provided inspiration laced with hilarity. Murren, who began a church in Seattle 29 years ago, told the gathering, “In the western world, only Copenhagan, Denmark, has fewer people, percentage-wise, who attend church than Seattle,” where 4 percent of the population attends church. In 1996 Murren left the church to devote his full time to consultation and evangelism.
Referring to himself as the fourth unchurched generation in his family, Murren said, “I was a 19-year-old college student when I came to faith in Jesus and I had been a Christian three weeks before I ever went to church. I had been in a band whose members sold drugs on the side. I had never been in a church before. I knew that Jesus was very important to a few people, but I had no idea why. When I got to church there was a guy in our town who was a police officer standing inside the church in his uniform and I thought they had tricked me!”
Emphasizing that he had no idea what happened in a typical worship service, he felt totally out of place. “The people were really into singing these songs that I didn't know and really weren't very good anyway. And the offering … it was taken in bags that looked a lot like feed bags and I didn't know whether you were supposed to put something in or take something out!”
Murren categorized churches as Inventors, Innovators and Mimics and encouraged churches to be innovators. Inventors never quite know what they are doing and are constantly testing to see what works and mimics are never in on the excitement of being part of a movement of the Spirit. By the time mimics get on board the wave has passed them by.
The four pastors, Jeff Boggess of Atlee Community Church in Mechanicsville, Hank Brooks of Coastal Community Church in Virginia Beach, Brian Hughes of Powhaten Community Church in Powhatan, and Mark Jenkins of Mountain View in Culpeper, lead churches that are showing significant growth in reaching unchurched people in their areas. Each of the four is high-energy, outgoing, witty, self-effacing (except when they turn their wit on each other!) and deeply committed to seeing people come to know the Lord.
From the beginning of their work with their churches, each one “knew they would do whatever it took, unless it violated a biblical principle, to reach people with the gospel,” according to Hughes. “We are trying to reach those who are far from God and outside of other churches.”
Each has worked hard to develop a “whatever it takes” attitude on their staffs and in their churches. They are excited about the innovations of their churches, but each is also keenly aware that pastors of more traditional churches have a different set of circumstances they are working with.
“Our issues are so different that there is often a glazed look when I try to speak with other pastors in meetings we attend. Most churches don't have to set up and take down every Sunday, for example,” offers Hughes. Brooks agrees and adds, “A traditional church our size would have a budget four times what we have.” Since their churches are reaching unchurched people, they have to be taught the biblical principle of stewardship.
What would they say to a deeply traditional church pastor who yearns to see the church develop and reach people around it? Far from feeling disdain for more traditional churches, the four expressed affection and understanding for the pastors. “I tell people all the time, ‘In Virginia, there are some people who are looking for their kind of church. Not everyone wants to be in a church like ours,” volunteers Jenkins.
Boggess agrees. “We're not the only great church around. Just because we are creative and innovative doesn't mean that people are not drawn to other churches.” Hughes continues as if completing his thought. “We need each other. We can learn from each other.”
Each is very appreciative of the lay leadership in their churches that allow them to try new things and even fail without being negative. The four are acutely aware that many Virginia Baptist pastors don't have that luxury. What would they tell a pastor who believes strongly that he is called to a particular congregation but feels ‘stuck' because lay leaders seem to be so mired in tradition that they are unwilling to change?
They answer in agreement: “Start with ‘what does God want from me?' ” They point out that innovation is different for each church. What is innovative for a country church steeped in tradition is going to be different from the innovations they experience in their congregations.
“The most basic question,” according to Jenkins, “is if they really want to reach their community for Christ.” All agreed that innovations follow the commitment to reach others for Christ. Churches are willing to change if they are more deeply committed to reaching people than to staying the same.
They also agree that we need to not judge each other. While at times pastors of traditional churches have felt that they are not appreciated by pastors of more change-oriented churches, the opposite is also true. “We have been accused of being shallow,” one of the four reflects. “Maybe this innovation conference can help churches like ours find our voice. What we hope is that our hearts can be heard.”