Contemporary church spreads timeless message
by Sherrie Norris
In 2001, “theHeart” introduced a relatively new approach to worship in the Boone area and has since attracted hundreds of families and individuals to its unique Christian fellowship.
“Church” has often been referred to as a building in which a group of believers meet. As the solidarity of “theHeart” easily illustrates, “church” is simply the congregation, those who are called to be followers of Jesus Christ.
The less-traditional worship experience of theHeart hasn't been compromised at all by the lack of stained glass windows or Sunday morning meetings in the auditorium of Watauga High School.
“We are a body of believers attempting to be and do church in a simple way,” said teaching pastor, Jason English. “We are a modern church that believes in God and that there is one true God. In the beginning he created all things good. He was and will always be in relationship with himself as father, son, and Holy Spirit.”
Everything that the church does, English said, is centered upon three ideas — Love God. Share Life. Serve People.
“Our (congregate) Sunday gatherings, home gatherings and service opportunities provide ways to, first and foremost, worship God, who is the main character in the story,” he said.
“Everything is about God. He deserves our worship. So much so, that without this as a foundation, the other two won't make as much sense.”
Secondly, English said, to share life is an entire category that can be summed up with the word “community.”
“Sharing life is all about loving the people you are with, whether it is family, friends or a body of believers,” he said.
“Throughout the week, we meet in small groups called Home Communities, which are all about building relationships. The groups meet in homes or a public setting and may include a meal, studying Scripture, supporting one another, enjoying life together and efforts to serve others,” he said.
Thirdly, serving people involves removing barriers, going outside of comfortable circles and noticing the unnoticed. To remove barriers — to reach out in love is central to what it means to follow God, he said.
TheHeart is supported by regular attendees and guests who believe in the vision of its ministry.Founded in 2001, the idea for theHeart came when several area ministers felt the need for a “church for the unchurched,” said charter member Jack Lawrence.
“At the same time, there were several of us from one of the local churches who also felt the need for something different than the traditional church,” he said.
After much planning, prayer and travel, the church was born.
“Under the very capable leadership of Richard Miller, our first pastor, we began with the purpose-driven philosophy that had been promoted by Rick Warren in California,” Lawrence said. “Since then, we have moved to a more simple church philosophy, with our goal to be a safe place for all, transparent, authentic and welcoming.”
From the beginning, he said, those attending the church didn't need to have church and Bible knowledge before they were welcomed in. “After all, Christ accepted people right where they are,” he said.
Starting out with a very casual approach, the church decided to have a band for provide music, rather than and organ and piano.
“We were pretty much cutting-edge for this area,” Lawrence said.
Having evolved from a core group of 10 to 12 people, which included Lawrence and his wife, the church now has 500-plus in attendance on Sunday mornings.
“We knew from the beginning,” Lawrence said, that if this church grew and became viable, it would not be because of anything that we did personally. We have always tried to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit and we knew if theHeart was going to survive and grow, that it would be because of God's leadership and for His glory.”
Lawrence served on the leadership team for about 10 years and has been the band's bass player from the beginning. “We were also involved in the first home gathering, which is also another part of our church that we truly enjoy,” he said.
The ministry of “theHeart” is far reaching, members agree, and supports both local and foreign mission work. The budge is “not large,” but the church needs have always been met.
Functioning as it does, the church members must leave the school auditorium the same way in which they find it every Sunday. It is often time-consuming to assemble, remove, store and haul necessities such as sound equipment, but it's worth the effort, members agree.
“I have never been a part of anything that has been so fulfilling,” Lawrence said. “We have been blessed beyond measure. There has not been one need that has not been met.
Lawrence and others in the church said they can't imagine “doing church” any other way. “That is not to say that our approach to church is the only way,” he said. “We may change the method but never the message, which is that Christ died once for all, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.” That, he said, “is the gospel in a nutshell.”
Richard Miller, founding pastor, is “very much enjoying my new role as Kidz Church teacher,” he said. “I am very pleased with the leadership, energy and depth of spirituality that Jason (English) has brought to the Heart as our pastor.”
Mary Frank Smith directed music at a Baptist church for more than 30 years and loved it, she said. “But, when I started going to theHeart, it was a very different worship experience.”
As one who had always “dressed up” for church, Smith said the casual atmosphere — in which some wear shorts and some come barefooted — was hard for her, at first. But, the idea that people can come just as they are —and the fact that the church doesn't meet in a building of its own — helps make those feel welcome “who have previously been disillusioned by religion.
That's what it's all about, she said. “Instead of playing church, like following a set routine, we are doing and being church.” Smith finds the teaching to be “so good.”
“Although I've been in church my whole 66 years,” she said, “I learn something every time I go. There is no Sunday school, but we have home groups where, as Jason says, ‘Church really happens.'”
According to English, his congregation is attempting “to be and do church in a simple way.”
“We are passionate about love, truth, community, freedom, removing barriers, wholeness and forgiveness,” he said.
“We hope that people are seeing the stickers that are showing up around town that read — “Love. Simple.” They serve as a visual reminders of our goal.”
The name and unique spelling of the church — “theHeart” — are intentional, English said.
What began as a small congregation, evolving to 50-100 regular attendees in those early years, has now grown to fill the high school auditorium, including the balcony, on any given Sunday.
The church is appreciative of the space to meet, acknowledging that the school staff continues to be “extremely accommodating,” Lawrence said, and pointing out facility/maintenance director, Ted Drum, “who has been especially helpful.”
Service hours are 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. each Sunday, at Watauga High School auditorium in Boone.
For more information, visit http://www.theheart.us .
“Church” has often been referred to as a building in which a group of believers meet. As the solidarity of “theHeart” easily illustrates, “church” is simply the congregation, those who are called to be followers of Jesus Christ.
The less-traditional worship experience of theHeart hasn't been compromised at all by the lack of stained glass windows or Sunday morning meetings in the auditorium of Watauga High School.
“We are a body of believers attempting to be and do church in a simple way,” said teaching pastor, Jason English. “We are a modern church that believes in God and that there is one true God. In the beginning he created all things good. He was and will always be in relationship with himself as father, son, and Holy Spirit.”
Everything that the church does, English said, is centered upon three ideas — Love God. Share Life. Serve People.
“Our (congregate) Sunday gatherings, home gatherings and service opportunities provide ways to, first and foremost, worship God, who is the main character in the story,” he said.
“Everything is about God. He deserves our worship. So much so, that without this as a foundation, the other two won't make as much sense.”
Secondly, English said, to share life is an entire category that can be summed up with the word “community.”
“Sharing life is all about loving the people you are with, whether it is family, friends or a body of believers,” he said.
“Throughout the week, we meet in small groups called Home Communities, which are all about building relationships. The groups meet in homes or a public setting and may include a meal, studying Scripture, supporting one another, enjoying life together and efforts to serve others,” he said.
Thirdly, serving people involves removing barriers, going outside of comfortable circles and noticing the unnoticed. To remove barriers — to reach out in love is central to what it means to follow God, he said.
TheHeart is supported by regular attendees and guests who believe in the vision of its ministry.Founded in 2001, the idea for theHeart came when several area ministers felt the need for a “church for the unchurched,” said charter member Jack Lawrence.
“At the same time, there were several of us from one of the local churches who also felt the need for something different than the traditional church,” he said.
After much planning, prayer and travel, the church was born.
“Under the very capable leadership of Richard Miller, our first pastor, we began with the purpose-driven philosophy that had been promoted by Rick Warren in California,” Lawrence said. “Since then, we have moved to a more simple church philosophy, with our goal to be a safe place for all, transparent, authentic and welcoming.”
From the beginning, he said, those attending the church didn't need to have church and Bible knowledge before they were welcomed in. “After all, Christ accepted people right where they are,” he said.
Starting out with a very casual approach, the church decided to have a band for provide music, rather than and organ and piano.
“We were pretty much cutting-edge for this area,” Lawrence said.
Having evolved from a core group of 10 to 12 people, which included Lawrence and his wife, the church now has 500-plus in attendance on Sunday mornings.
“We knew from the beginning,” Lawrence said, that if this church grew and became viable, it would not be because of anything that we did personally. We have always tried to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit and we knew if theHeart was going to survive and grow, that it would be because of God's leadership and for His glory.”
Lawrence served on the leadership team for about 10 years and has been the band's bass player from the beginning. “We were also involved in the first home gathering, which is also another part of our church that we truly enjoy,” he said.
The ministry of “theHeart” is far reaching, members agree, and supports both local and foreign mission work. The budge is “not large,” but the church needs have always been met.
Functioning as it does, the church members must leave the school auditorium the same way in which they find it every Sunday. It is often time-consuming to assemble, remove, store and haul necessities such as sound equipment, but it's worth the effort, members agree.
“I have never been a part of anything that has been so fulfilling,” Lawrence said. “We have been blessed beyond measure. There has not been one need that has not been met.
Lawrence and others in the church said they can't imagine “doing church” any other way. “That is not to say that our approach to church is the only way,” he said. “We may change the method but never the message, which is that Christ died once for all, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.” That, he said, “is the gospel in a nutshell.”
Richard Miller, founding pastor, is “very much enjoying my new role as Kidz Church teacher,” he said. “I am very pleased with the leadership, energy and depth of spirituality that Jason (English) has brought to the Heart as our pastor.”
Mary Frank Smith directed music at a Baptist church for more than 30 years and loved it, she said. “But, when I started going to theHeart, it was a very different worship experience.”
As one who had always “dressed up” for church, Smith said the casual atmosphere — in which some wear shorts and some come barefooted — was hard for her, at first. But, the idea that people can come just as they are —and the fact that the church doesn't meet in a building of its own — helps make those feel welcome “who have previously been disillusioned by religion.
That's what it's all about, she said. “Instead of playing church, like following a set routine, we are doing and being church.” Smith finds the teaching to be “so good.”
“Although I've been in church my whole 66 years,” she said, “I learn something every time I go. There is no Sunday school, but we have home groups where, as Jason says, ‘Church really happens.'”
According to English, his congregation is attempting “to be and do church in a simple way.”
“We are passionate about love, truth, community, freedom, removing barriers, wholeness and forgiveness,” he said.
“We hope that people are seeing the stickers that are showing up around town that read — “Love. Simple.” They serve as a visual reminders of our goal.”
The name and unique spelling of the church — “theHeart” — are intentional, English said.
What began as a small congregation, evolving to 50-100 regular attendees in those early years, has now grown to fill the high school auditorium, including the balcony, on any given Sunday.
The church is appreciative of the space to meet, acknowledging that the school staff continues to be “extremely accommodating,” Lawrence said, and pointing out facility/maintenance director, Ted Drum, “who has been especially helpful.”
Service hours are 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. each Sunday, at Watauga High School auditorium in Boone.
For more information, visit http://www.theheart.us .