Small Town Big Church

Orginally published on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 at 8:07 AM
by Todd Rhoades

On Sundays you’re lucky to find a spot to park at the confluence of Rohnerville Road and Highway 36. Dozens of cars line the edges of highway and road, and a hundred or so more cram into the big dirt parking lot of the white, old-fashioned church on the southwest corner of the intersection. Which is odd, given that this is Hydesville — pop. 790, according to the sign on the way into town. The 2000 Census was more generous, giving Hydesville 1,200 residents. But still, it’s a small town. Sleepy. And yet that pretty, white, steepled building — Hydesville Community Church — is busting at the seams, with a congregation of nearly 600...

They don’t all show up at once. Maybe 150 or so will attend the 8:30 a.m. Sunday service, a couple hundred at 10:30 a.m., and another 150 or so at 6:30 p.m. There might also be 100-plus kids inside the fluttery white tent next to the main building. But get this: Last Easter, the Hydesville Community Church had to rent out the Fortuna River Lodge to accommodate the 1,100 who attended the service. Same thing happened at Christmas.

The church even has a big city-feel website. The week before Father’s Day, the homepage sported a picture of a young, be-suited man with a sleeked-back urban ’do, driving his car, right hand on the wheel and left hand holding a cell phone to his ear as he looked keen-eyed out the window. Changing lanes in a big city traffic jam as he multi-tasked his way to a high-power job? That’s what it looked like. The caption said something like, “Answering the call.”

What’s up? Is Hydesville an extraordinarily pious and single-spirited town with a hidden urban flair? Um, no. Most of the congregation comes from Fortuna, a smattering from Hydesville and many others from Eureka, Ferndale and as far away as Redcrest. But what draws them to this broad, airy bluff of hayfields and nice homes surrounded by tree-covered mountains?

Last Sunday, we checked it out — after roving for a place to park, then walking past the children’s ministry tent (from which excited yelling and laughter erupted), then past the “Guest Center” booth, just outside the main entrance, and into the church. The electric-guitar-led band was already soft-rockin’ on the stage. Words flashed on the screen over the pulpit, and everyone was standing and singing along — many with an arm raised.

Read more here at the North Coast Journal...

FOR DISCUSSION: What stands out to you about this article?

This post has been viewed 2047 times so far.


  1 Person Has Commented:

Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.

MondayMorningInsight.com | PO Box 446 | Bryan, OH 43506 |