James Merritt’s Leap of Faith
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Wed, September 22, 2004
- Viewed 162
- (21) comments so far
In his sermon, the preacher quoted the same Bible he's always used. But now as he spoke, the text of the passage popped up on a large screen.
"It's not your mother's Oldsmobile," the Rev. James Merritt said to a visitor.
What Cross Pointe is, though, is the successful first-stage landing of Merritt's multimillion-dollar leap of faith.
The first Sunday he preached in the new church, Merritt told the congregation, "You're looking at a dream come true."
The dream began about a year-and-a-half ago, when Merritt, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, left a large and thriving church, Snellville First Baptist, to create the new church from an abandoned collection of warehouses and office buildings.
Next Sunday, Cross Pointe will celebrate its official grand opening. The external face of the services will be in keeping with Merritt's desire to reach out to "unchurched" people, who are not comfortable in a traditional church setting. For example, the choir won't be in traditional long robes; instead, they'll wear non-uniform casual dress. The ushers are more likely to wear knit shirts with a Cross Pointe logo than suits.
The grand opening will be the culmination of a process Merritt has called "the Lazarus deal."
The 71-acre tract not far from the Gwinnett Center complex was, Merritt thought, ideal for the expanded ministry he envisioned. His dream, he said, was to build a church where the faithful would be energized and the "unchurched" would be attracted and made to feel welcome.
However, the original $23 million asking price for the property was well out of his reach. Even when the price came down to $9 million, it was still too high.
Merritt said he was left with two options: give up, or pray. He chose the latter, he said, asking God to broker the deal, if that was his will. Then a group of businessmen, including some friends of Merritt's, bought the land and donated it anonymously to the new church.
The congregation for the new church has been meeting in the gyms of two Duluth-area high schools. About 500 people attended in those first weeks, and about 200 of those were people who had attended the Snellville church, Merritt said. Attendance has grown steadily, and the "soft opening" on Sundays at the new church has averaged about 1,600, he said.
The new worship center can seat 1,600. It was formerly a warehouse, but the open, high-ceiling space was relatively easily converted into a sanctuary, Merritt said. State-of-the-art sound and lighting systems were installed.
"God and God's people deserve the very best," Merritt said.
However, Merritt added, it is the unmeasurable qualities that make the new church truly special.
"Cross Pointe has the greatest spirit of any church I've ever pastored," he said.
The people who attended last Sunday's service were a reflection of that sentiment.
"You can just feel the spirit here," said Karlee Myers, who recently started attending church at Cross Pointe. "Everybody's so friendly."
Formerly a member of a small church in her hometown of Jefferson, Myers said this was her first experience at a larger congregation.
Steve and Debby Guelda, of Suwanee, said they have moved with Merritt from the Snellville church to Cross Pointe.
"This is not just a place where you come on Sunday and put in your hour, it's a place where you want to be active," Steve Guelda said, referring in particular to the small groups that meet before and after the regular services.
Steve Barton, of Lawrenceville, said he enjoys the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere at the new church. He and his wife, Beth, also made the transition from Snellville to Cross Pointe.
"This is not a stuffy church," he said. "This is a church where you can come as you are, where God welcomes you as you are."
Merritt said he wants Cross Pointe to become a regional church. A brief survey of license plates of cars in one section of the Cross Pointe parking lot showed that people had come from eight counties: Gwinnett, Hall, Forsyth, Walton, Barrow, Jackson, Cobb and DeKalb.
Within a few years, Merritt said, construction will begin on a permanent worship center for Cross Pointe. It will have space for 6,000 worshippers, and it will feature a 125-foot-high steeple with cross that will be visible from nearby I-85.
Cross Pointe is and will remain a Southern Baptist church, but Merritt said he decided to leave the denominational affiliation out of the church's name, in order to broaden the church's appeal.
"We're not trying to hide anything," he said. "We just want to bring as many people to Christ as possible."
So far, Merritt said, Cross Pointe has more than fulfilled the vision that the Lord resurrected for him.
"I've never been more excited," he said.
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Obviously, James Merritt has more resources than the average church planter... ok, he has more resources than any church planter I have ever heard of. But, often times more resources just mean even more risk. How can Merritt's vision and stepping out on faith apply to you in your ministry? Can it at all? I'd love to hear your comments...
Pastor James Merritt has a massive vision that is quickly becoming a reality. Merritt, who is the former head of the Southern Baptist Convention recently left a huge traditional Southern Baptist church to start a new, contemporary church. Here’s the text of an article about his vision that appeared recently in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (written by Bill Osinski) The message is still old-time religion, but the medium is new millennium. On a recent Sunday at the new Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, the preacher wore a lime-green knit shirt. The music was Christian rock, heavy on drums and guitars. The young people were off in another building, listening to the Word in a coffeehouse-style room that could double as a “Friends” set.
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Comments
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Barbi Carroll on Sun, May 01, 2005
Good morning :
This morning Sunday , may 1st my husband watched your sermon. He enjoyed your sermon very much. Could you please e-mail me your sermon.I was not able to hear your sermon.
Thank you so much !
Barbi Carroll
Destin , Florida
lynn on Mon, May 02, 2005
What does Jerry Vines have to say about this change. I noticed Merritt was not on the schedule at the last 2 pastors conferences in Jacksonville, Florida.
Is he still in contact with Adrian Rogers, Johnny Hunt, and Jerry Farwell?
Are the supporting him with this new church?
Marie on Mon, July 18, 2005
Sounds Like One More Southern Baptist Pastor Has Left The Old Fashion Way Of Preaching And Teaching The Bible Truths. Also Sounds A Lot Like What A Lot Of Southern Baptist Churches Has Fell For The Power Driven Church By Rick Warren. We Need To Focus On Soulwinning And NOT Church Growth Programs.
mike on Mon, February 27, 2006
dr. merritt,
i used to pastor a church. i knew who you were and always made sure to listen to you preach at the conventions and such. i heard you on tv the other week. i was surely blessed. i just wanted to give you a sermon title:
“what is the only army that kills its wounded???????”...“GODS”...you can surely relate…you see..you are doing God’s work and His army is trying to kill you. so sad
keep up the good work you are doing…i for one do surely support what you do..and appreiciate you…
praying always for you
mike
Lori Rader on Sun, March 19, 2006
WOW! I saw Pasor Merritt on tv for the first time this morning, the message spoke directly to my heart which I know to be from the Lord. I decided to look for his ministry online in hopes of ordering a CD of this mornings message. Instead I am appauled at the myriad of many negative judgemental comments regarding this pastor. The first thing that comes to my mind is that GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE AND KNOW DR. MERRITT’S HEART, not you nor I. And to “Jeff”, I’m sorry to inform you that God didn’t appoint you GMM (General Music Manager). To say that “Christian rock ain’t Christian” is so wrong. As long as the lyrics speak the Word of God and don’t attempt to alter them, I believe God will use them to speak to the receiver regardless of what musical notes surround the message. The Lord uses many different avenues to reach the lost and broken for we are not all in the same place nor do we all have the same tastes. We are all where we are by God’s Great Design, whether right or wrong, to learn what He wants us to learn and to do what He wants us to do. I don’t know Dr. Merritt but I know God does, better than any of you, and I trust that He will oversee and direct the pastors actions. I suggest we all put down our stones and walk away as Jesus says to do.
God Bless You, Dr. Merritt, my prayers are with you and your family in your attempts to do His will.
Lori Rader on Sun, March 19, 2006
Before posting my above comment, I thought that the writer’s name was directly above each comment. After my comment was posted, I realized that the writer’s name is instead below and separated by the dotted line. Therefore, I was wrong about who was not appointed GMM (General Music Manager), I should have directed that to “Rev. Miller” instead. Maybe “Jeff” should apply for the position.
My apology.
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