Big Bend United Methodist Church
You can hear the interview with Reverence Guerre of Big Bend United Methodist Church here.
11525 Big Bend Road,
Riverview FL 33579
Telephone: 813-677-9482
Contact: Rev. Dr. John R. Guerre
Religion: Christian
Denomination: United Methodist
Web Page: http://www.bigbendumc.org/pwsite/index.php
The Service
Lately, I've noticed there are three main type of Christian church services.
Type A: Traditional. Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, etc.
Type B: Conservative. Mormon, 7th Day Adventist
Type C: Modern. Love First Associate Reformed Presbyterian
I'm not saying that any one is superior to another. Modern churches may be easier for "mainstream" people to accept. Instead of 200+ year old songs like in Conservative or Traditional, Modern churches use those electric guitars and drums, more, well, modern songs that are toe tapping and just fun.
Which brings us to today's church, the Big Bend United Methodist church. Certainly in that modern format. First thing I noticed upon coming in was the electric guitar up front and a projector screen that flashed scripture references with words like "You Are - Saved! Redeemed! Loved!", which a high expectation music playing in the background.
The actual services were much the same as other modern services - opening songs and prayers, a greeting moment where people were encouraged to shake each others hands, maybe another song, the sermon, ending song and prayer, and time to go home.
There were some interesting elements here. I won't focus on every detail - to be honest, it's something I've seen a few times before. What was surprising was seeing - the Mythbusters.
I should mention - I'm a fan of the Mythbusters. They're show is a short hand example of scientific inquiry - hypothesis (can you create a steam cannon?), experiment (try to build one), result (cannon shoots a bowling ball that decapitates a manikin), conclusion (sure - you can do it). It's not rigorous science that would be accepted in any journal - but it introduces people to skeptical thinking.
There were two "myths" that Reverend Guerre addressed - the first is that "missionary work is something for outside the United States", and the second is that "America is a Christian nation."
The latter one nearly made me fall out of my seat. Not that I think America is a Christian nation - it's a Republic that happens to contain a majority of Christians. But in the wake of recent news events, with the President of the United States declaring that the United States is *not* a Christian nation - one that is secular in nature so it can accept members of all faiths, it was shocking to see a minister agreeing with that sentiment.
Reverend Guerre was using that statement as a kind of call to arms - a call to bring the message of Jesus to more people. Especially as churches are suffering the "post Easter blues", where church pews swell for Easter Sunday only to shrink back to normal a week later.
I had a delightful interview with the minister, which you can hear here where we discuss where the Methodist church comes from (and no, not from Mommy and Daddy Methodists - pay attention here).
