Bryan Taunton believes ministering in the community and reaching out to men are two strategies that will grow ChristPoint Community Church, a 2011 church plant he leads as pastor.
“Our name, Community Church, says we will minister to the Sylacauga community. The number one way to reach a town is by reaching its men,” explained Taunton.
This congregation, which began with four individuals meeting in a living room, and currently averaging 60 in attendance, is ministering to the community in big ways.
Each Thursday ChristPoint prepares a hot meal for anyone who needs to be fed. In recent days 250 meals are being served weekly. Nancy Smith, a ChristPoint member, coordinates the meal called Café 112.
“I always wanted to operate a restaurant, but an accident prevented me from reaching this goal. Café 112 is now the restaurant God gave me,” Smith said. “We place white tablecloths on the tables so our guests won’t feel they are in a soup kitchen.” Smith says about 70 percent of those who are fed walk or ride a bike to Café 112.
Last Thanksgiving ChristPoint provided a community meal to 1,500 people. And this past Easter the church dispensed with the normal Easter service and organized a community outreach block party instead.
ChristPoint participates in a community garden ministry called Sylacauga Grows. The church maintains an acre in the garden for growing vegetables that are given to people in need.
Last October the church provided a Prayer Pumpkin Festival outreach to the city. Anyone who let ChristPoint members pray for them walked away with a free pumpkin. Ice cream was served, and gift boxes were distributed to those who came.
Jill McCarter, a ChristPoint member, says the best part of attending ChristPoint is the opportunities to serve. “We have such a missions field right here in our own community and we didn’t even realize it,” McCarter said.
In 2011 ChristPoint received the annual Glenn Stephens Award from the city of Sylacauga for the church’s community ministry.
The Saddle Up! men’s conference aimed to fulfill ChristPoint’s second focus, reaching out to men. At the conference, 22 men made decisions for Christ.
Taunton explained that men have a great amount of influence in their homes. But the large number of broken homes today has resulted in men failing to lead their families. “If we reach the men, we have a much greater chance of impacting their homes,” Taunton said.
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