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Bethlehem takes form

Bethlehem Community Church members have given an average of $11,500 each to see their dream of a church building become reality.

The church, which has grown from 19 people to 150 people attending two Sunday services during the past six years, had been meeting in the Bethlehem College chapel.

In May, a purpose-built facility valued at $1.6 million was opened on a prime site next to the main road through Bethlehem,
near Tauranga. Not having a facility to use during the week was inhibiting the church’s mission and growth, says minister the Rev Jim Wallis.

Jim says the church was fortunate that 40 years ago the Presbyterian Church had bought a large paddock in what was then a rural area. “If we’d had to buy the land now, we wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

The new facility cost $1.2 million to build, but would have needed another $400,000 if huge amounts of labour hadn’t been donated. A church member who was a developer acted as the project manager; another who was a carpenter became the site manager. “God seemed to bring people along who had the skills.”

Fundraising for the building began in 2004, when people were invited to commit an amount over three years: $702,000 was pledged. Repeating this opportunity a second time several years later saw an additional $150,000 promised. Another $200,000 was obtained via a suspensory loan from the national Church, and $50,000 came from a local trust.

Jim describes the new building as looking more like a service station than a church. French doors open up the sides of the building to courtyard areas, blurring the boundaries between public and inside space. The foyer can seat 200 people, and in time the church hopes to build stage two of the project, which would create a hall with the capacity for 350 people.

More than 250 people attended the opening of the new facilities, which include a commercial kitchen and space that can be hired out for community functions.

Previously Jim was minister at St John’s in Rotorua, which constructed a new facility in 1989 and had experienced strong growth. In 2001 Jim recovered from a brain tumour, then the following year he was called to Bethlehem during a period when the congregation had nearly dispersed after difficulties. Planted by St Peter’s in the City in 1997, it had grown at one point to 100 people, but some left to follow a minister stepping away from the Presbyterian Church and others left altogether. Jim says those remaining when he arrived had gone through a traumatic time but their vision was strong and they remain a key part of the church today.

In 2002 Jim had a particularly vivid dream, in which God told him to go to Bethlehem. Not being used to having or acting on this kind of experience, he told God that he needed a clearer word. After six months it hadn’t materialised, but then one day Jim picked up a pamphlet and a verse on the back caught his eye: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:15)

Jim had heard about the difficulties Bethlehem was experiencing. The congregation didn’t have the resources to fund a full-time minister, but it did have substantial reserves built up from renting out its manse. Although he declined the congregation’s offer to work part-time, Jim said he would take on the charge full-time if the parish would use its assets to pay his stipend for as long as that was possible. “It was a step of faith. It never crossed my mind that it wouldn’t work.”

“There are a lot of churches with huge reserves but they don’t even have a full-time minister. If you employ someone with a vision for growth, then use your reserves.

“It’s about encouraging people to leave a legacy that will outlast them, so that their grandchildren might have the opportunity to experience Christ.”

Slowly the parish became financially viable and they started to consider building on their site.

Bethlehem used a version of Saddleback’s Time to Build programme, adapted for the local context. The theme was “equal sacrifice not equal gifts,” to make sure people didn’t feel pressured to give. A pack that included a detailed explanation of the programme as well as a devotional guide was sent to everyone who attended the church, and lots of congregational meetings were held, but money was deliberately not sought from those not connected with the church, Jim says.

The church is continuing to grow. Jim says growth, like decline, has a momentum that carries its own energy. He describes Bethlehem as “community facing”, and says the church has begun the transition into building community ministries. On Mondays a drop-in service will operate, with free manicures available.

Bethlehem’s surrounding community is affluent and booming, with house and land prices extremely expensive. The demographics are mixed, with a lot of young families but also a significant proportion of retired people.

Before the building project started, the church surveyed local people on what their needs and concerns were. The survey revealed that the lack of community facilities where people could hold meetings or gatherings was a major issue. In new subdivisions, developers often build only dormitory and commercial spaces, and one new development not far from Bethlehem will hold 7,000 homes.

Regular letter-box drops keep people informed about special programme and activities, like the church’s monthly movie night. “Maybe less than 1 percent respond, but if you do 2,500, that’s five new families. We do a letter box drop every six weeks.”

“Even if only one new person comes along a week, in a year that’s 52 people.”

The contemporary service uses the latest worship songs and a relaxed format, but still has space for reflection and prayer, Jim says. There’s a traditional service later in the morning that attracts a mostly older audience, but also those who prefer a more “classical” style. Jim says this service also offers a more familiar entrance point for people than the contemporary service, which can seem more intimidating to some people, particularly those who have grown up with hymns.

Between 30 and 40 people attend regular movie nights, which Jim says are designed as an outreach rather than being a kind of club for the congregation. “It’s really important to provide flight paths in.”

A series of lectures has also been planned that will engage intellectually with some of atheism’s arguments.

Another project still in gestation is a Sunday night “jam” gathering, which will be a café-style service where people can play music or read poems they’ve composed. Jim hopes this will kick off in August, with a group from the congregation providing the energy and organisation.

The church put careful thought into the look and style of its signage, employing a designer to create the logo, which puts a stylised cross before the church’s name and gives the word “community” significant prominence.  “Everything we do has it on it: from PowerPoints during worship to newsletters and even fridge magnets. It says something about us.”

By Amanda Wells