TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

New Walk Church's Growth 'Rewarding'

ADVERTISEMENT

By DIANE LOEBEL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2007

Updated: 10/19/2007 09:22 pm

ZEPHYRHILLS - New Walk Church celebrated its first anniversary this month.

The congregation, which meets at the East Pasco YMCA, has grown from two members to 300.

'The growth is good, but seeing the life change in so many people has been the most rewarding thing for us,' said Gary Baldus, the church's pastor.

Still, the growth is remarkable.

Stephen Gray, director of church planting for the General Baptist Denomination, helped New Walk get started. He said fewer than 2 percent of all new churches in the United States reach 200 members in their first years.

Nelson Searcy, who pastors a church called The Journey in New York City and coaches pastors across the country, attributes New Walk's success to its solid structure. That will help it as it grows.

Each Sunday, the church transforms the YMCA's gymnasium into a full-fledged church sanctuary. Side rooms are used for classrooms for children and youth groups.

The church tries to keep things lively with an eight-person praise team whose members sing and play contemporary music.

'Most people thought of this area as having only retirees and that this type of church would not do well here,' Baldus said. 'What we knew was that there were tons of people in the community looking for a place where the younger to middle-aged generation could go - a place that connected with them and their lifestyle.

In addition to the Sunday services, youth in grades 6-12 meet at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Alice Hall Community Center. The evenings usually draw 50 to 70 teens.

'I think it was the fact that we took on a real aggressive nature to reach young people and families that helped the church growth,' Baldus said.

To suggest a Faith in Focus feature, call Diane Loebel, (727) 815-1081; write her at The Tampa Tribune, 6214 U.S. 19, New Port Richey FL 34652; or

dloebel@tampatrib.com.

NEW WALK CHURCH

WHERE: 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills, site of the East Pasco YMCA

WORSHIP: 10:30 a.m. Sunday; 7 p.m. youth night at Alice Hall Community Center

CALL: (813) 788-8188

ONLINE: www.mynewwalk

.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT