Dogwood Community Church: a healthy country church
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A Healthy Church Is…
(Part 1 of a series on what makes a healthy church)
Since retiring from local ministry in 2006, I've had the privilege of preaching in countless churches, both large and small. What I've seen has been overwhelmingly encouraging. With a few exceptions, I've been reminded again and again that the Lord's church is alive, well, and making a difference in people's lives. Over the coming weeks, I want to share some of those experiences with you—stories of churches that are thriving, transforming lives, and shining as a light in their communities.
Dogwood Community Church – A Healthy Country Church
A couple of years ago, Anthony Moore, the minister of Dogwood Community Church near Paoli, Indiana, attended one of the pastor's retreats I regularly conduct. Anthony, a man in his mid-fifties, humbly introduced himself, calling himself a "simple country preacher." But it didn't take long for me to see past his modest demeanor. Anthony had a deep knowledge of Scripture and practical wisdom that not only made him a compelling teacher but an exceptional leader.
After the retreat, Anthony invited me to preach at his church. He wondered whether a former megachurch preacher would be willing to come to a small congregation like Dogwood. I assured him I grew up in a country church myself and would be honored. We set the date, and my wife Judy and I looked forward to visiting.
When that Sunday arrived, we made the hour-long drive from Louisville to Paoli, Indiana, a town of about 3,500 people. But Dogwood Community Church wasn't in Paoli—it was several miles out of town along Doan Road, nestled halfway between Paoli and Orleans, Indiana. We wound our way up a gravel drive to a steel Butler building perched on a prominent hillside.
Inside, the church was bustling with activity. We were greeted warmly by Anthony and several other members who had arrived early to serve and help ready the church before the service. There was an unmistakable spirit of joy in the air as people greeted each other, teased, and looked forward to the morning worship ahead.
The service started about five minutes late, which immediately took me back to my childhood church, where we seldom started on time. Nostalgia set in further when I saw the only worship instrument—an upright piano. It was slightly out of tune, but it didn't matter because the congregation sang enthusiastically. The worship leader guided us by waving his hand in time as we sang all the verses of "It Is Well with My Soul" and "The Old Rugged Cross."
During communion, a young man stood nervously to deliver a heartfelt four-minute meditation. Pastor Moore whispered to me, "This is the first time he's ever done this, but he's doing very well, don't you think?" After the meditation, church leaders came forward to serve the communion elements. There was a prayer offered for both the bread and the cup, and the leaders distributed the elements throughout the congregation. After several minutes of reflective silence, the church leaders returned to the front to partake of communion individually. No one seemed restless or in a hurry.
Anthony then stood before the congregation to introduce me. "We've been in the book of Acts for the last year and a half, but today we're going to take a break from that series because we have a guest preacher from Louisville." His introduction was complimentary, and the congregation laughed heartily at one particularly humorous anecdote about me. It was clear the congregation had great affection and support for their pastor, who had faithfully shepherded them for over 15 years.
As I preached, I was struck by how attentive the people were. Many followed along in their Bibles, clearly accustomed to deep engagement with Scripture and hearing its truths. It was a joy to share the Word in such a receptive environment.
You might presume a church with no worship band, no contemporary songs, and no prepackaged communion cups would be filled with older adults. Not so. Dogwood Community Church defies presumptions. I would estimate their average age to be around 35. The sanctuary buzzed with children and teenagers. Dogwood doesn't provide an alternative service just for kids. Instead, kids worship alongside their parents. Dogwood's website explains they are a family-integrated church: "We spend our time at church as families—we do not have youth group or children's church."
More than 200 people were in attendance that morning—an impressive number for a church seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Most were excited about returning for a "Dinner on the Grounds" event later that evening. Judy and I left feeling inspired by the unity, joy, and conviction we'd witnessed.
After the service, we joined Anthony and his wife at their home for lunch. I was so impressed by Dogwood Community Church that I used the opportunity to ask Anthony many questions about its effectiveness. He explained that he had been a bi-vocational minister for much of the church's history, working as a taxidermist to support his family. His home reflected his trade, with walls adorned with mounted deer heads and other wildlife. He spends much of his free time hunting and fishing with men from his church.
Anthony explained that 16 years prior, with just a handful of people, they started Dogwood Community Church in a storefront on Dogwood Street in Orleans, Indiana. As the church grew, they purchased land and built an inexpensive steel building. Eventually, Anthony left his taxidermy business to focus on full-time ministry. His approach has always been simple: preach through books of the Bible, teach the Word clearly, and apply it to everyday life. The church's website states, "We are not affiliated with any one Christian denomination. We base what we believe solely on the Word of God."
Dogwood's health and growth reflect two timeless truths about healthy churches:
A healthy church is not dependent on gimmicks.
Dogwood doesn't have smoke machines, strobe lights, rockstar musicians, or flashy children's programs. Rather, they thrive by teaching biblical truths and strengthening relationships.A healthy church is almost always led by a faithful shepherd.
Dogwood has a leader who loves his flock and feeds them a steady diet of the Word of God. His teaching and application of Scripture have fostered a spirit of joy, unity, and a love of God that is contagious.
Once again, I saw the truth of Jesus' promise: "…on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18).
 | Bob Russell became the pastor of Southeast Christian Church at just 22 years old. That small congregation of 120 members became one of the largest churches in America, with 18,000 people attending the four worship services every weekend in 2006 when Bob retired. Now through Bob Russell Ministries, Bob continues to preach at churches; conferences throughout the United States, provide guidance for church leadership, mentor other ministers and author Bible study videos for use in small groups. Learn More » |
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