This is part of a series of interviews with pastors of churches whose attendance has grown 20% or more in 5 years. We hope this series will be a resource of ideas to help increase worship attendance at your church.

A Church for people who didn’t do church

Sugarloaf United Methodist Church was launched in 1997 as a “church for people who didn’t do church.”  From its early days of meeting in a local middle school, it has become a vibrant, growing and innovative congregation.  Today it is one of the “Top 100” United Methodist Churches in the country based on worship attendance, which currently averages 1500. Its stated purpose is to help persons “Worship God, Grow Their Lives, and Serve the World.” According to current Senior Pastor, Stuart Greene, Sugarloaf’s growth can be attributed to several specific ministries.

“In our efforts to reach the people in our community, we have unapologetically designed worship to be relevant, innovative and contemporary.” Greene says. While recognizingcontemporary forms of worship do not appeal to everyone, Sugarloaf has found that such worship is effectively reaching both the “un-churched” and “de-churched” segments of their community. “Our theology is Wesleyan to the core, but our methodology is anything but traditional church.”  Music runs the gamut of contemporary Christian, secular pop rock, country, jazz and anything in between.  “If a genre of music or a particular song can help us convey a spiritual truth on a Sunday morning, we will probably use it,” says Greene.  Preaching at Sugarloaf takes the form of Expository Teaching from a biblical text and presented in relevant fashion.  Videos, personal testimonies, drama are utilized to communicate biblical truth and life application.

Aside from Worship and Music ministry, Sugarloaf is known for its creative approach to Student (Youth) and Children’s Ministries.  Student Life activities take place on Sunday morning as well as Wednesday and Thursday nights.  The Youth have their own worship experience on Sundays, led by the Student Life Team.  These services are “high-energy” and are geared toward the spiritual issues facing young people today. Activities for Middle High Students on Wednesday nights and High School Students on Thursday nights are huge draws for kids from both the church and community.  Many youth who do not have a church home participate in these gatherings.  These events are truly “the place to be!” for local teens!

Sugarloaf Kids is the name of the Children’s Ministry.  Sunday morning is a little different than the traditional Sunday School hour.  The Kids start with a fun time of worship, and then go to various workshops for crafts, activities and learning opportunities.  Every Sunday morning is like a mini vacation Bible School. The program is called “Blast” and it lives up to its name!

Mission outreach is part of Sugarloaf’s “DNA” and involves growing numbers of the membership.  “This summer alone we commissioned over 350 students and adults for mission trips around the world,” Greene states.  While maintaining its commitment to foreign or overseas missions, the church is currently seeking ways to enhance its mission outreach within the local community.

Stuart Greene, sgreene@sugarloaf.org

Sugarloaf UMC website, http://www.sugarloaf.org