From 40 People to 1,800: The Power of Taking Church to the People
THE CHURCH
Heartland Christian Center in Valparaiso, Indiana
THE CHALLENGE
People weren’t traveling to worship at the main campus
ONE BIG IDEA
Create new locations with unique identities.
Over a quarter of a century ago, Phil Willingham and his wife Rhonda moved to Valparaiso, Indiana, so he could take the reins at Heartland Christian Center. Back then, about 40 people were in the congregation. Over the years, the church grew steadily under a different approach. Were there church growth strategies?
Willingham believes that people will drive a distance to work, shop and eat, but they prefer worshiping within their own community. So as the church expanded, they created unique campuses in different areas.
“As we grew and added services, we started to feel like instead of expecting people to come to us, we should go out into small communities around us and see what the Lord might do,” he says.
A Vision That Started Small
Heartland Christian Center, whose vision is to touch the heart of God, heal the heart of man, and reach the heart of the world, wants people who feel distant from God to develop a growing relationship with Christ, no matter their location. So, the church’s first satellite location was at a prison 20 minutes from Valparaiso.
“The prisoners started to feel belonging,” explains Willingham.
Heartland also launched a Spanish-speaking church in East Chicago for the same reason—belonging. These communities were born out of wondering, What if we tried something new by reaching a culture nobody else has?
RELATED “HELPING PEOPLE FIND THEIR CALLING”
That’s how the church’s two biker churches came to be. Willingham thought, What if when you walked into a church, you saw motorcycles and bike parts? But then you also heard the gospel?
Heartland has always been biker-friendly. In fact, Willingham goes to more than 20 biker events a year where he blesses more than 4,000 motorcycles. After a successful first biker church location, a second one was launched because Willingham said, “Why not?”
It’s a different form of a “what if?” question, but one that is equally as effective in enacting change.
Part of the church’s openness to reaching everyone is their emphasis on special needs, including the formation of Sunshine Community Center, named after the Willinghams’ daughter.
Additionally, once every quarter Heartland hosts a Sunday night prayer and praise service at the main church where between an average of 40 to 50 people get baptized.
Today, the church has added five locations, growing the total membership to between 1,500 and 1,800. And this was all without church growth strategies.
