What is a community church?

A community church is a Christian church that seeks to serve and minister to its local community. Community churches emphasize reaching out to the neighborhood and meeting the needs of people close by. They aim to make a positive impact where they are planted and foster connections among those who live nearby.

The idea behind a community church is that the church should be integrated into its surrounding area and be actively engaged with those who live there. Rather than being insular and self-focused, a community church strives to be outward-looking and build relationships with its neighbors.

Community churches may have different names like “neighborhood church,” “community fellowship,” or just “(Name of City) Community Church.” But they share the common goal of connecting with those who live, work, and spend time near the church building and grounds.

Distinctives of a Community Church

There are several key distinctives that characterize most community churches:

• Strong emphasis on community service and meeting needs – A community church looks for ways to get involved and make a difference locally through kindness projects, partnering with schools, hosting community events, supporting local charities, and more.
• Relational focus over programs – Rather than operating as a program-driven church, a community church concentrates on building genuine relationships with those who live nearby.
• Integrated into neighborhood – A community church strives to be an integral part of its neighborhood rather than separated and isolated from it.
• Informal and relaxed atmosphere – Community churches tend to have a casual, down-to-earth feel that helps neighbors feel comfortable participating.
• Outreach events – Part of engaging the community means hosting outreach events like block parties, cookouts, sports activities, holiday celebrations, concerts, and other community happenings.
• Biblical teaching and discipleship – While community focused, a community church is still centered on Jesus Christ and teaching the Bible in depth to encourage spiritual growth in its attendees.
• Meeting in accessible facilities – Many community churches rent space in schools, hotels, homes or other easily accessible buildings to facilitate local participation.
• Lay leadership – Community churches empower non-vocationallay leaders to teach, lead ministries, and contribute their diverse talents and gifts.
• Demographic diversity – A community church seeks to welcome and include allpeople from the community, embracing diversity in age, family status, economic status, ethnicity, culture, and interests.

In summary, a community church is characterized by being relationally focused, serving its neighbors, integrating into the fabric of the local area, presenting the gospel message in everyday language, and building connections between attendees and residents.

The Mission of a Community Church

The core mission and heartbeat of a community church is ministry to its neighborhood. This involves several key aspects:

• Presenting the gospel – Community churches seek to clearly communicate the message of salvation through faith in Jesus in ways that connect with the local culture and demographics.
• Making disciples – A process of helping people grow in their faith walk with Jesus is emphasized through Bible teaching, fellowship, and leadership development.
• Meeting felt needs – Community churches prayerfully seek ways to meet practical needs in their area, both physical and spiritual.
• Uniting believers – Providing a gathering place for Christians to worship, study Scripture, pray and build relationships with one another.
• Impacting the community – Whether through acts of service, unity among churches, influencing systems or speaking out on local issues, community churches aim for gospel-centered community impact.
• Reaching the lost – Outreach to those who don’t know Jesus, including the marginalized and underserved, is a high priority for a community church.

The vision is to reflect the love and message of Christ in practical ways right where the church is located. Instead of focusing on its own preferences and agenda, a community church seeks to be attentive to how it can best minister to needs around it by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Core Commitments of a Community Church

Community churches share certain biblical commitments and practices that lay the foundation for their neighborhood ministry:

• Prayer – Prayer fuels a community church’s decisions and strategies. Seeking God’s wisdom and depending on His strength is crucial.
• Bible-centered – Keeping Scripture central guides the church’s message, values and direction for ministry. The Bible is taught as authoritative truth.
• Gospel-focused – Spreading the message of salvation through Jesus and making disciples are fixed priorities.
• Spirit-led – Following the Holy Spirit’s leading and empowering is essential. His gifts and guidance are welcomed.
• Authentic community – Genuine, loving relationships that provide care and accountability are cultivated.
• Sacrificial service – Meeting needs through generous acts of service embodies Christ’s love.
• Every member ministry – The diverse gifts and callings of each person are encouraged and activated.
• Kingdom-minded – Advancing God’s Kingdom locally and globally stays in focus.
• Neighbor-focused – A passion for connecting with and caring for neighbors drives the church.
• Dependency on God – Reliance on God’s provision and power avoids substituting human effort.

These core commitments stem from biblical commands and examples. They shape the community church as a distinct expression of the church rooted in timeless Kingdom values.

Common Characteristics of a Community Church

While community churches embrace diversity in style and expression, many share these common characteristics:

• Emphasis on biblical teaching and applying Scripture to daily life.
• Casual, welcoming atmosphere where attendees wear casual clothing.
• Contemporary worship music led by a praise band, less formal than a choir.
• Topical sermon series focused on practical life issues people face.
• Small groups for building relationships, community service projects, and Bible study.
• Informal networking time over coffee before or after worship services.
• Ministry opportunities related to the skills and interests of those involved.
• Financial giving invested into local outreach and community improvement.
• Kids programs that teach parents how to disciple children at home.
• Not owned by a denomination but independently organized and led.
• Lay pastors or unpaid bi-vocational pastors who have secular jobs.
• Meeting in a school, theater, community center or other accessible facility.
• Demographic diversity embracing all ages, family types, and socioeconomic strata.

These features create a low-pressure setting where neighborhood residents feel comfortable coming as they are to explore Christianity and engage in community.

Outreach Practices of a Community Church

A community church desires to build bridges into its neighborhood. This is accomplished through various outreach practices:

• Being good neighbors – Greeting, getting to know, and offering to help nearby residents in practical ways.
• Inviting the community – Promoting church events to the area and warmly welcoming all who attend.
• Partnering with local organizations – Collaborating with schools, police, businesses and service agencies for community problem-solving.
• Supporting local events – Participating in town fairs, kids programs, fundraisers, clean-up days, etc. as contributing neighbors.
• Meeting felt needs – Whether through food pantries, auto repair, budgeting classes, AA groups or counseling, offering resources to meet needs.
• Loving the marginalized – Making special efforts to serve the poor, disabled, immigrants and others who are overlooked in society.
• Christian hospitality – Using facilities for weddings, graduations, receptions, funerals, baby showers and other significant events as ministry opportunities.
• Community service – Organizing projects like park cleanups, ramp building, school makeovers, and disaster recovery through volunteer teams.
• Free community programs – Hosting learning experiences like financial seminars, health talks, cooking clubs, exercise classes and afterschool activities.
• Justice issues – Advocating for righteousness, reconciliation and restoration in the community when appropriate.

These demonstrate God’s love in action. Any outreach efforts flow out of genuine relationships, not just chasing attendance goals.

Benefits of Community Churches

There are many excellent benefits of the community church model:

• Reaches new people – A neighborhood approach connects with unchurched people right around the church.
• Fosters fellowship – Attendees build relationships with those who live nearby, not just driving in from a distance.
• Impacts community – A concentrated local presence makes a deeper influence on an area over years.
• Promotes service – Close community connections provide natural opportunities to meet needs.
• Develops leaders – More personal ministry involvement empowers growth as leaders.
• Unity in diversity – People of various ages and backgrounds are brought together in their locale.
• Contextualizes ministry – Programs address unique needs, issues and culture of the local community.
• Stewards resources – Less spent on facilities allows more funding for outreach ministry.
• Reproducible model – The approach can be replicated to reach different geographic areas or people groups.
• Kingdom impact – Bringing God’s light and love into everyday community life advances His Kingdom.

In a society dealing with distrust and disconnection, the community church represents an powerful tool for expanding Christ’s influence through grassroots service and evangelism.

Starting a Community Church

Planting a meaningful, sustainable community church requires much prayerful planning and reliance on God. Key steps include:

1. Define the target community – Is it geographical or a niche group? Clarify the demographics and psychographics.
2. Assess community needs – Listening to residents, surveying opinions, researching issues.
3. Network and build relationships – Meet leaders, agency reps, local pastors to learn views and make connections.
4. Gather a launch team – Enlist a core team of committed families/individuals to provide volunteer support.
5. Secure meeting space – Determine a flexible, affordable place to hold services and activities.
6. Plan first local service project – Organize a clean-up day, block party or similar event to introduce church.
7. Start small groups – Begin Bible studies and discussion groups to reach people and develop leaders.
8. Offer a free community class/activity – Host a parenting seminar, job skills course, exercise program or similar outreach.
9. Define core values and mission – Clarify biblical foundations for church’s vision and approach to ministry.
10. Promote startup services – Spread word on social media, flyers, ads, door knocking, yard signs, announcements, etc.
11. Launch public worship services – Begin regular Sunday services and build as God brings increase.

With much prayer and sensitivity to God’s guidance, the community church plant will grow deep roots where God has planted it.

Conclusion

In summary, a community church is defined by intentional outreach and service to its neighbors. It seeks to be salt and light by meeting needs, building relationships and sharing Christ’s love. While every community church has unique aspects, most reflect a casual style, biblical discipleship, lay leadership and a demographic diversity that mirrors the neighborhood. This biblical model offers a powerful means for the church to fulfill its mission within today’s society. As the apostle Paul said, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).