MAHONING VALLEY Church reaches out to average people

By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
NORTH LIMA -- The Rev. Steven Fortenberry has an unusual mission this Palm Sunday: He's out to start a church that's not like all the other churches.
His vision is Common Ground Community Church, which will officially start at 11 a.m. Sunday at South Range High School, where it has been meeting since October.
"We're reaching out to those who really haven't been going to church or who grew up in church and aren't going now," said the Rev. Mr. Fortenberry. "That's pretty much who we've been getting."
The church's worship, which incorporates rock music, film and art, may seem similar to the approach taken by many of the thriving nondenominational churches.
But Common Ground is different since it's a five-year project of the Presbyterian Church.
Starting out
To get funding for the project, Mr. Fortenberry said a demographic study was made of the North Lima area.
"There are 20 new developments within a five-mile radius," he said.
The church recently sent letters to select homes in about a seven-mile radius of North Lima, trying to reach people in their 30s and 40s with children.
Studies show about 60 percent of people in the area aren't significantly committed to any one church, according to the pastor.
Since last fall, the church has been drawing about 35 to 50 people each week, almost all of which are from outside the North Lima area. The church has been attracting parents with children generally age 14 and younger.
Even before its unofficial start, Common Ground had services, events such as a vacation Bible school and mission projects.
Mr. Fortenberry had been talking to people in Austintown as part of a mission project. Ideas included starting a church in a home, but people weren't high on the idea.
Looking ahead
In early 2002, Mr. Fortenberry pursued more studies that included development of new churches.
"I found out that in our denomination and other mainline denominations, some of the best outreach ministry is in new church development," he said.
He became convinced that was the way to go.
"I want to very much maintain our rootedness in a very rich Christian tradition," Mr. Fortenberry said. "While we maintain that, we want to create an environment that allows for creativity of expression, that allows for different modes of communication, including the arts, music, and other forms of participation."
The church's praise band has performed the secular theme song from the television show, "Joan of Arcadia," which describes a teenager's encounters with God. Sue Deustchlander of Salem, Common Ground's music director, rewrote the lyrics to the Eagles' song, "Take it Easy."
Mr. Fortenberry said, "For me, it's the 'Common Ground' concept. We want to take the message of Christianity and bring it to the world of the average person. So often, some of the churches want everyone else to accommodate to the Christian subculture. We're seeking to bridge that gap and find that common ground that we all share."
The church may show a video clip or different pictures during a message, and it encourages youths and adults to enjoy the arts because people learn in different ways.
Straight talk
Mr. Fortenberry wasn't raised in the church but when he began attending, he said he "had a pretty steep learning curve to understand what everybody was talking about."
As a result, Common Ground tries to avoid church-speak.
"I think what has appealed to some of our folks is our intentional effort to keep jargon down to a minimum and speak the basics of faith," he said.
The pastor believes using a multimedia approach is simply speaking the language of the day: People get their information from a variety of media.
For example, at the church's Bible school last year, video and photos were taken, and then discs were sent home with the kids. The church also plans to make a promotional discs that members can pass out to others.
The church will also use items from National Public Radio for discussion topics at Panera Bread. Other discussions will look at technology and the spirituality of children.
"Some of our core families really aren't interested in duplicating what's out there," Mr. Fortenberry said. "So there is a strong commitment not to be different for different's sake, but to really be open in thinking about all the different possibilities in which we can express the faith and reach out to people. It's nice we don't have the traditions that can limit us."
The Eastminster Presbytry is behind the program, and area Presbyterian churches have helped Common Ground. Presbyterian ministers will visit the new church. Mr. Fortenberry expects there will be a "cross-pollination" of ideas between the established churches and Common Ground.
The new church will also be good for the Mahoning Valley, the pastor said. While many people are concerned about the area's future, he said, those who attend Common Ground are optimistic about the Valley's future.
wilkinson@vindy.com.
XVisit http://www.commongroundcommunity.net.