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Greg Atkinson is the pastor at the Carthage campus of Forest Park Baptist Church – but he doesn't deliver the sermons every week.
Forest Park is known as a multi-site church, meaning each campus of the Forest Park Church family receives the same message every Sunday no matter where they are in the world.
“This is a new idea that is surging across the nation,” Atkinson said. “We're the only church in Southwest Missouri that is a multi-site, and it is unique in the church culture here in Carthage.”
Between 450-500 people make up the congregation currently including the two services Sunday morning at Forest Park Baptist Church's Carthage campus. The church has a live worship service, in the style of a rock band, and then prepare to hear the message. The senior pastor of Forest Park appears on all three screens in each church's sanctuary for the 20-minute pre-recorded sermon.
“If you like plays, you would prefer the live sermon, but if you like movies you would like this,” Atkinson said. “It allows us to feel like we're a part of Forest Park, which is in many places, but is one church … it's a phenomenon that's swept the country. Nobody in Southwest Missouri is doing this. It's a neat thing. It feels normal now, and it's very interactive.”
Atkinson said the congregation has adapted well to the four-year-old program, raising hands when prompted, laughing at jokes and taking solace in the message. But does this new format take away from Atkinson's role in the church?
“Oh I love it,” he said. “It gives me more access to the congregation. That's the beauty of it. I get to be more involved in the community because I'm not in my office studying – the people love it too.”
Atkinson preaches to his congregation approximately six times a year, which he says make those services special. Normally, however, the sermon is routinely operated on a computer, a DVD is the backup, and Atkinson serves as the third backup in case there is a power-outage.
Nine months ago, when Atkinson first came to the Carthage campus, the congregation had 200 people. Two weeks ago, the Sunday services hosted more than 300 people. The Carthage campus is four years old, and the Forest Park has a 160-year-old history. This fall, Atkinson said the church will relocate to the former Home Depot facility.
“We're enjoying the location now, and looking forward to what God will do in the next building,” he said. “Great days are ahead.”
Greg Atkinson is the pastor at the Carthage campus of Forest Park Baptist Church – but he doesn't deliver the sermons every week.
Forest Park is known as a multi-site church, meaning each campus of the Forest Park Church family receives the same message every Sunday no matter where they are in the world.
“This is a new idea that is surging across the nation,” Atkinson said. “We're the only church in Southwest Missouri that is a multi-site, and it is unique in the church culture here in Carthage.”
Between 450-500 people make up the congregation currently including the two services Sunday morning at Forest Park Baptist Church's Carthage campus. The church has a live worship service, in the style of a rock band, and then prepare to hear the message. The senior pastor of Forest Park appears on all three screens in each church's sanctuary for the 20-minute pre-recorded sermon.
“If you like plays, you would prefer the live sermon, but if you like movies you would like this,” Atkinson said. “It allows us to feel like we're a part of Forest Park, which is in many places, but is one church … it's a phenomenon that's swept the country. Nobody in Southwest Missouri is doing this. It's a neat thing. It feels normal now, and it's very interactive.”
Atkinson said the congregation has adapted well to the four-year-old program, raising hands when prompted, laughing at jokes and taking solace in the message. But does this new format take away from Atkinson's role in the church?
“Oh I love it,” he said. “It gives me more access to the congregation. That's the beauty of it. I get to be more involved in the community because I'm not in my office studying – the people love it too.”
Atkinson preaches to his congregation approximately six times a year, which he says make those services special. Normally, however, the sermon is routinely operated on a computer, a DVD is the backup, and Atkinson serves as the third backup in case there is a power-outage.
Nine months ago, when Atkinson first came to the Carthage campus, the congregation had 200 people. Two weeks ago, the Sunday services hosted more than 300 people. The Carthage campus is four years old, and the Forest Park has a 160-year-old history. This fall, Atkinson said the church will relocate to the former Home Depot facility.
“We're enjoying the location now, and looking forward to what God will do in the next building,” he said. “Great days are ahead.”
