The Well Church
New congregation ministers to those who thirst
By JOY HAMPTON
CLAREMORE DAILY PROGRESS 2.13.09
The Well Church officially opens its doors to the public Feb. 22 at B&B Theater in Claremore. The members who make up the church say they want to make a difference by serving the community one person at a time. With the motto, “We’re re-thinking church,”The Well is hoping to appeal to college students and people who might not otherwise attend church.
Jeans optional, upbeat Christian services with contemporary music are not entirely new. In recent years, churches have been popping up across the nation to appeal to those who fled religious establishments they considered judgmental or intimidating.
Church in a movie theater may also sound different, but that too is a growing trend.
The setting allows for comfortable seating with high tech presentations and imagery to enhance the religious service.
“The relaxed, come as you are environment at the theater will serve those in the community who want to re-think church,” said Lead Pastor Ricky Van Pay. “Church isn’t a location but who we are. We would rather BE THE CHURCH than DO CHURCH.”
Even among the emerging breed of contemporary churches, The Well Church stands out.
Members of Team Well, the start-up group that forms the core of ministers and involved lay persons, have found innovative and surprisingly humble ways to serve the community.
They have picked up trash along the roadside and cleaned trash from the streets following parades.
They handed out gift bags as a thank you to often overlooked city employees. They have promised to baby-sit free for those who need a night out on Valentine’s Day.
They even held a garage sale where they gave things away instead of selling them.
A few folks have thought the group was just a little bit crazy. Whoever held a free garage sale before, complete with promotional advertising?
Whatever the occasion for service has been, when people stop Team Well and ask, “Why are you doing this? ”the answer is always the same.
“Because, like Jesus, we love you. Every one of you.”
And that is the core of what The Well Church is and wants to continue to be. A modern means for the Shepherd to bring lost sheep into a loving fold.
“You matter,” according The Well Church.
Van Pay said the church will follow the example of Jesus who befriended the lost, the forgotten, and those the religious establishment of his time shunned and condemned.
Van Pay said Team Well will go into the places where people are and minister to them, seeking to discover their needs. He said The Well will focus on attracting members through being role models of loving service, rather than on more traditional means of promotion through active evangelism.
“Every single person matters,” said Van Pay.
He and wife Amy have blogsites that allow members and friends to connect and chat with them daily,sharing spiritual experiences, prayer requests, and the foibles of daily life.
On the church Web site visitors can answer a short survey and get a chance to win an IPod Nano, subscribe to hear Sunday sermons free through iTunes, or log onto the pastor’s blog.
Van Pay and his team encourage people to ask questions, express doubts, fears or anything they feel regarding faith and spiritual matters. The theme is unqualified and unconditional acceptance of each person as is.
On his blog site, Van Pay shares his feelings following a preview meeting of the new church.
“I watched person by person come in and continued to be reminded of how incredibly good God is,” wrote VanPay. “He longs for people to come to know him intimately. He longs for their hearts.”
The theater setting provides ample parking. Coffee, juice and pastries are available in the lobby free to all comers.
The Well Kids Nursery serves infants up to 23 months of age. Volunteers working with the children have been cleared through background checks and trained through a risk management course.
Well Kids Preschool for ages 2-4 years is more than daycare. Creative, educational play will allow children to learn about a loving God while their parents are in the service. Snacks, puppets, and songs make the experience fun.
Well Kids Elementary for kindergarten through sixth graders will be specially geared toward fun and learning. “Kids deserve our best” is the motto.
Upbeat contemporary Christian music and special video presentations are part of the teen and adult worship experience.
Van Pay seeks to deliver messages that are relevant to the real lives of real people on their walk through their everyday lives.
“We are passionate about the Bible,” said Van Pay. He said he believes real truths and real life solutions can be found there.
A gifted vocalist, Amy leads the praise worship team. Guitars and drums, rather than a traditional organ music, accompany the singing.
Both Ricky and Amy Van Pay are passionate about their family. The couple is raising two pre-school age sons. The family lives in Claremore where their ministry started with helping out a neighbor with mowing and meals.