For Charles Nicholson, River Bend Community Church is an appropriate name for the congregation he wants to reach. Stressing that the church near Dora embraces Southern Baptist doctrine, he said placing “Baptist” in the name can also be intimidating.
“When you put ‘Baptist’ in the name, you automatically exclude the other denominations — not in our own minds, but in the minds of many people, particularly those who aren’t Baptists,” he said.
“That’s why we said ‘Community,’ because it’s made up of all different kinds of people. Not even all Baptists think alike,” Nicholson added.
Nicholson, senior pastor of River Bend, said the church’s philosophy comes from Psalm 147:2-3: “The Lord doth build up Jerusalem; He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds.”
‘Humble beginnings’
He still recalls the church’s humble beginnings when he met with 15 people Oct. 16, 1999, at a restaurant, to discuss starting a church like River Bend.
Prior to starting the new church, Nicholson served for two years as pastor of Good Hope Baptist, also near Dora.
“The vision for River Bend started long before I was at Good Hope,” he said. “I can’t tell you the exact time, but it was probably back in 1972. That was the first time I taught from the book ‘In His Steps’ by Charles Sheldon. The idea really started then.”
The longer he taught from the book, the more it became evident the Lord wanted him to change the focus of his ministry, according to Nicholson.
“It needed to go from inside the building (the church) to outside, especially to those we (Christians) seem to have written off — the poor, the needy, those who don’t fit our standards.”
For Nicholson, there was also a personal side to his work.
“There was a time in my life when I was an outcast. I was a rebel,” he said. “All of us have been outcasts, yet God is willing to take us in and call us His own.”
Already, the church is showing signs of success in its efforts to reach the community.
A recent Sunday saw the church’s initial membership nearly tripled when 43 people attended the morning worship service.
Nicholson shares the pastorate with his son, Troy, and his brother, Eddie. “If you have to make a distinction between us, I’d be the senior pastor but strictly because of my age.”
Unique styles
Claiming River Bend has something for everyone, Nicholson said the church mixes contemporary and traditional worship, but leans toward contemporary. He adds each preacher has his own style.
“Troy’s more into the dramas — his idea is if you can see it, people will remember it,” Nicholson said. “Eddie’s the good old country preacher; and me, I’m more of a teacher.”
Along with its emphasis on a varied approach to ministry, River Bend also works to reach another group who might not attend church.
“Every Sunday morning, one of us gets on the CB radio and invites truckers to come in for our breakfast and to worship with us,” Nicholson said.
So far no truckers have taken him up on the offer, but Nicholson remains optimistic.
“This the only way we’ll be able to expand our ministry and really reach travelers and truckers,” he said.
“We don’t want other churches’ active members,” Nicholson said. “We want to go after the lost and those who say they are members but don’t go to church.”
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