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A UMNS Report
By Fred Koenig*
This is the second of a four-part series on new church starts in
one region.
11:30 A.M. EST Feb. 24, 2010 | KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UMNS)
The Revs. Barry Freese (left) and Eric Huffman visit in the new
Redemption
United Methodist Church. UMNS photos by Fred Koenig.
View in Photo Gallery
Both worship services at Broadway United Methodist Church are as
traditional as the majestic stone structure and the 100-year-old
sanctuary.
When the congregation decided to evangelize people looking for a
different spiritual experience, members wanted to do more than just add a
contemporary service.
They started a new worshipping community with its own pastor and own
identity in the coffee shop at Broadway.
That is what member Cathy Metcalf was hoping for.
“I was part of our hospitality team, and realized that we had two
similar services, and not everyone wants to worship in the manner that I
do,” Metcalf says. “The whole point of being a church is to lead new
people to Christ.”
She made a motion at a church council meeting for the church to start
a new worship experience.
Redemption United Methodist Church was born.
New people in aging building
The new congregation meets in the Keystone Coffee House, a special
room Broadway United Methodist started in 2006.
The founders determined it was critical that the new church have
contemporary music, small groups where people can build relationships
and programs for children.
The congregation also determined it needed its own pastor and lay
leaders.
The Rev. Eric Huffman, pastor of 5-year-old Revolution UMC in nearby
Westport, was looking for a place to start a second congregation.
He asked to see the coffee shop and began negotiations with Broadway
Church members.
“When a church starts a contemporary worship service, that’s usually
out of a desire for that type of service from members of the church.
Broadway didn’t need that,” says Huffman. “They were happy with their
worship. What they did have was a desire to reach new people for
Christ.”
Metcalf is one of his key evangelists, inviting her friends and
neighbors to the new church.
“I’m not passionate about this style of worship, but I think it’s
fantastic to see new people coming into Broadway, and see this new
service starting to bloom,” she says.
Palm Sunday launch
Redemption received $75,000 in the first year of operation from the
Missouri Conference Congregational Development Team. The church will
receive $35,000 this year and $15,000 in 2011.
The church started last summer with a 12-member core group from the
Broadway and Revolution churches. Last October, the congregation had a
soft launch in the coffee shop with 74 people in attendance, most of
whom were members of Revolution. The congregation recently had 70 new
people attending the coffee shop service.
The official launch of Redemption UMC will occur on Palm Sunday,
March 28, in the Broadway church sanctuary.
“Most of the people are now new faces,” Huffman says. “The people
from Revolution have returned to that church.”
The chancel is being remodeled to provide more open space, and
pledges totaling $33,000 will upgrade the audio-video system in the
sanctuary.
“There’s a great capacity for change here at Broadway. Greater than
at any church that I’ve been to,” Huffman says.
Model for others
Huffman believes Redemption could develop into a model new church
start for others who want to revitalize urban churches.
“Broadway drove the ship,” Huffman says. “It was their inspiration
and ideas that brought us this far. They didn’t have to do this. They
are a stable congregation. They choose to engage in risk-taking
mission.”
Huffman also praised how cooperative and considerate the Rev. Barry
Freese, Broadway’s pastor, has been through the process.
“It goes against the nature of most pastors to invite someone else
into their playground, to preach and lead new people,” Huffman says.
“This wouldn’t work if we didn’t have a selfless person as pastor at
Broadway who is willing to put advancing the kingdom first.”
Tomorrow: Growing suburb fertile ground for new church.
*Koenig is editor of Missouri Conference publications.
News media contact: David Briggs, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
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