Around 2002, Orr took a mission trip to Africa. According to David Brown, it was a turning point for the church “because [Orr] developed this heart for serving the community, serving lost people, serving across the globe. The church started to be even more missional. That became part of the fabric of the church.”
Ministries were created for local and global missions. The church started supporting missionaries. Church members went on mission trips. Over the years, Brown has planted two churches in Africa, a church in Brazil, and two Hispanic churches locally. It also started a volunteer ministry to support local organizations in Memphis and the greater mid-South.
The church tripled in size again, and as the years passed, the Southaven area began to grow too. New faces, many who had never stepped foot in church, encountered Brown through its numerous partnerships in the community, prompting visits that have turned into memberships.
By 2005, the church had outgrown its old sanctuary, so a new one was built to seat 1,200 people, as well as a full gym that’s open to the community. As the years passed, two services became three, and then four. By 2010, the church knew it needed a second campus.
Four years later, a church property with a 2,600-seat sanctuary came up for sale about a mile down the road. Brown purchased it and now uses both campuses to meet the needs of the congregation and its neighbors, including hosting community events at minimal or no cost, like school graduation ceremonies, funerals for non-members, community sports leagues and HOA meetings. In 2022, they also purchased a conference and retreat center in Memphis, primarily for use by the community as a venue for pastoral conferences, retreats, weddings or other special events.
During the pandemic, the church started Greater Memphis Mission, an ongoing partnership with a local news station where each week the station selects a nonprofit to highlight in a news segment, and the church gives that nonprofit $1,000. It also partners with local small businesses in a summer job training program for young people. Youth work at the businesses, the church pays their salary, and in exchange for mentoring the youth, the businesses receive free labor. It’s a win-win for everyone, Orr says.
Generosity has strong roots in the church. Since 2000, Brown Missionary has given more than $25 million in college scholarship funds. It’s partnered with food banks, homeless shelters, local schools and other agencies and organizations. With more than 80 ministries in which members can volunteer, it’s easy for people to find a place they feel called to serve. And they do—each year more and more members step up, currently totaling more than 800 volunteers.