Slow growing” and “organic” are words typically associated with vegetation rather than a church ministry. But that’s how Todd Harrington describes the Journey ministry of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association.
“The purpose (of the Journey ministry) is to connect with people groups that might not be a part of an existing church … or of our faith,” said Harrington, minister of spiritual formation at Dawson Memorial Baptist. “We try to identify people who don’t have natural connections with a church, and we try to support them, to reach out to them with time and energy.”
That goal is accomplished through seven-week cycles of small-group meetings. For the first four weeks, members meet for a fellowship meal, Bible lessons and prayer before serving in a community missions project the fifth week, gathering for a worship service the sixth week and spending time with their families the last week.
While only one “cluster” — the term Harrington uses to describe Journey groups — of approximately 30 adults and children has formed since the ministry began several months ago, he hopes to establish multiple groups. He also hopes the missions projects will help facilitate that as intentional relationships are built with post-modern Christian groups.
Seeking a Savior, not a system
Pastor Gary Fenton describes these post-moderns as people who, for the most part, struggle with the role that absolutes and logical arguments have played in gospel presentations yet are open to experience and relationships, making them more open to a Savior than a system. “They want to know if faith is real — not how many have lived the Christian faith but does it make a difference in their life?”
Reaching those individuals is what makes Journey a worthwhile ministry, Fenton said.
“I think it’s significant in that it allows us to reach a new generation that has a different cultural philosophy,” he said. “It helps to reach a post-modern world with the gospel and influence their faith.”
Fenton added that Journey does not seek to get participants involved with regular services at the church.
“They’re already at Dawson,” he said. “We’re not trying to bring them into the traditional church but plant the work of the Spirit in their heart.”
While the current cluster meets at Dawson on Sunday afternoons from 5–6:30, Harrington would like to see future groups meeting in homes, restaurants and other venues where members can worship in a less formal setting that is comfortable for them.
“We want to connect with traditional pieces of the church. We want to take practices of the faith that have been around for thousands of years and implement them in our daily lives and spiritual disciplines,” he said. “We want to take some of that from the past yet contextualize in a way that connects with where our culture is.”
Sean McConnell said Journey’s small-group settings appealed to him and his wife, Christine.
Small-group format
“I like the small Bible study group format, because I think I learn a lot better from that than the traditional sermon format,” McConnell said. “There’s something about the learning in a small-group setting. It’s the difference between a large auditorium lecture and being in a small classroom.”
Harrington believes that there are others who are disconnected from not just the church community but maybe the faith community that the existing church will not reach.
“The good news needs to be heard by people who may hear it in a different way,” he said.
For more information, visit the Web site at www.journeybirmingham.com or contact Harrington at 205-795-7707 or todd@journeybirmingham.com.
Share with others: