Covenant News

Rhode Island Church Quadruples in Five Years

EAST GREENWICH, RI (February 21, 2004) - There are all sorts of books and experts telling people how they can grow the biggest church around and Lyle Mook, pastor at Christ Church heard at least some of them.

He'll also experience church growth first hand - his congregation quadrupled in size in the last five years, and now numbers around 800.

Does this make himself a church growth expert? "No," Mook says. "We're still learning about all of this."

The story of Christ Church (which joined the Covenant in 1998) is worth telling and not just because of the numbers. It didn't grow because of some "master plan." Mook said that's the whole point - God's spirit has moved among his congregation and he's just happy to be along for the ride. The church that was meeting in a Masonic lodge six years ago is now in its own building, a facility that is busting at the seams with three Sunday morning worship services and many other weekly activities.

"We had a vision to be a new kind of community that had a clear evangelical identity" said Mook in describing what he thinks might be attracting newcomers. "And I think the distinctives of the Covenant blended into the vision and became part of our DNA. That sense of friendliness and openness was part of it and there was a hunger for teaching. There are a lot of unhealthy churches. But even though we were in sort of a (depressing) building, we were an "alive" congregation. The sense of community is tangible. And the worship is tremendous."

At first, Christ Church was a conglomeration of about 80 people meeting in a Masonic Hall. Most came from an independent church and some people from a Covenant congregation that closed. Mook said that a move to a church building in 2000 drew newcomers, which may have something to do with attendance increase from 172 to 349 in 2000. The church's attendance reached 647 by 2002.

Mook says that the new building is only one part of the story. A growing social service structure, led by Mary Patera, director of Family Life Ministries, has been a prime catalyst in providing practical ministry to parishioners.

Patera has helped organize ministries dealing with children's divorce care, bereavement, single parenting, and addiction recovery, along with assisting a divorce care program already in place. She's also helped with adult Bible studies. For Mook, who had once worked as a director for a hospice care organization, the idea of social services at a church was a natural.

"We saw the area of family ministries as a huge priority," Mook said. "But it's one thing for people to say that this (Christ Church) is a safe and healthy place to grow. It's another thing to be able to deliver the goods." This year the congregation has budgeted $50,000 for its social service programs.

Along with the social service element, Christ Church offers a wide range of worship experiences. A Tuesday service of prayer, communion and healing gives parishioners a more personal, small church intimacy. A Sunday night service called "Sanctuary" is offered, along with the three Sunday morning worship services. Lyle's son, Andrew, and a group of teens and young adults help lead the Sanctuary service.

"It's candles and darkness and it's very music driven," said Mook of the Sunday alternative service. "It flows without stopping for about an hour and a half. There are a lot of young creative artists who've been given the freedom to do this. And we believe God is doing something with it - it's meeting a need of an age group we may (otherwise reach)."

Christ Church has 4.5 acres of land on which to expand its facility in the future. Other land has become available for parking at a mass transit Park 'N Ride facility nearby. But a building project is going to take a while. So for now, the church uses space at a junior high school and a hospital treatment center for its various ministries.

"Our facility is small and we want to increase our staff to care for people," he said. "We are in need of help with systems and structures. The systems you need for 800 or 1,000 are different than for a church of 200."

For now, however, Mook is enthused by the energy of his church. A"40 Days of Purpose" program last fall drew 450 adults to the church and helped foster a desire for more small group ministries at the church. And the pastor feels that his church has become a safe place for the unchurched to learn about Jesus Christ and deepen their Christian walk.

"We get excited about new ministries being born at the church and people being passionate and gifted and willing to build a team," said Mook about his growing congregation. "There's a common vision and common theme and it's a contagious spirit. When we talk about our core values, we talk about keeping Christ the main thing and that becomes the refreshing freedom component. And it's drawing a huge eclectic group. That sense of awe and humility is what we are - we've been discovering where God's moving and just hanging on."

Christ Church has a five-tiered set of core values, including: Christ-likeness, Closeness with God, Community, Courageous Leadership and Compassionate Outreach. For more about Christ Church, its ministries and its values, call Mook at 401-884-8632.

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