Growing with God

God's little black book has gotten pretty big.

Several churches in Cape Girardeau have welcomed so many new parishioners through their doors they've had to build new spaces to hold everyone. Some people are new to the community, some are new to God and some commute from as far as Paducah, Ky., to worship where they feel welcome and at home.

"At one time church used to be neighborhood," said the Rev. Zack Strong at Christ Church of the Heartland on Bertling Street in Cape Girardeau. Now, he said, people don't mind driving to get to a church.

"We have people drive as much as an hour away," he said.

Ten years ago, Christ Church of the Heartland had fewer than 100 people. Over the years, it has become home to around 700 people. The church has expanded twice already, and Strong said the church has made plans for building a sanctuary that will hold 1,500 for future growth.

The expansion is not solely from population growth, considering some parishioners are also coming from outside the area.

"Church growth and population growth are related because when new people move into a new community, they often start looking for a church home," said Brian Anderson, who's been the senior pastor at Crossroads Baptist since its inception four years ago. He said reaching out to the "unchurched" has helped Crossroads grow.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com The Rev. Zack Strong led worship on Palm Sunday at Christ Church of the Heartland.

"In our case it's through the worship service," he said.

Their services feature music he called "contemporary and relevant." They are "services that attempt to be innovative and creative and geared toward a person who perhaps does not attend church.

"The worship service, you can slip in, you can slip out and that is anonymous, and that is comfortable for a person who doesn't know what to expect from church," Anderson said.

In the past six months alone, Crossroads has increased its congregation by almost 200 people. He said the prominent location on Jackson Boulevard helps Crossroads get the word out.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com The Rev. Kevin Detweiler led the children's praise and worship service Wednesday night at Christ Church of the Heartland.

"There are people out there who may not go to church very often or don't have a church -- they might drive by and see it and stop," he said.

Outreach programs are responsible for growth in a lot of the churches. Dan Steska, executive director of La Croix United Methodist Church -- which averages 1,900 parishioners a weekend -- said the church has more than 60 ministries for people to get involved. That involvement has helped drive La Croix's growth.

"I think it's been significant for people who want to see the church roll up its sleeves and get to work," Steska said. "People want to see that the church is living its mission."

Especially young people, Steska said. "Children's ministry has been a big draw. I think another thing is that the music continues to be very contemporary."

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Dr. Brian Anderson presented a Palm Sunday message at Crossroads Baptist Church in Jackson.

He said he hears feedback on the sermons as well and that people like the biblical application to relevant topics.

The contemporary services and outreach programs are growing across the board at most area churches. The Rev. Scott Moon of Grace United Methodist said members are increasing programs and altering practices at the 150-year-old church.

"Grace has grown significantly in the past several years not through observed numbers, in participation or worship, but in terms of putting into place" new ministries and mission trips, he said.

Their numbers have not increased yet, Moon said, but the level of involvement from current members has increased.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Tim Winborne led the praise and worship service at Crossroads Baptist Church in Jackson on Palm Sunday.

"Churches have life cycles, and we're at present regenerating a new congregation, literally building on a new generation," Moon said. "We are changing our inward focus to becoming an outwardly focused church, which is essential for church growth."

Grace's numbers haven't increased, but they are by no means small. Moon estimated 500 people as members of the church.

Smaller churches, like Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Cape Girardeau, have about 150 members but serve the areas they are in just as well.

"We haven't had giant influxes," said Rev. Robert Towner of Christ Episcopal. But, he added, "we're not shriveling up and dying. Our ministry is getting stronger."

In most churches in the area, outreach and ministries seem to be helping in one of two ways according to several clergymen -- growing a congregation or growing someone's faith. Either way, the churches feel they are serving the people.

charris@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246

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