BY BLAKE JOHNSON
bbjohnso@go.olemiss.edu
Oxford has a variety of sizable churches to offer for Christians of various denominations, but despite the constant growth and expansion of these larger bodies, more new churches have been starting up in the last few years.
Curt Liles planted the church The Life Oxford over two years ago after working at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon for 10 years. He has experience with the pros and cons of large churches and small, planted churches.
“I think church plants are needed everywhere,” Liles said. “Planting smaller churches has proven to be very effective in connecting with people on a more personal level. I’m not necessarily talking about more large ministries, but more ‘Gospel communities.’”
For Liles, the decision to come to Oxford had nothing to do with a lack of good churches available or a desire to be the next big one, but rather to help bring people together who may not have found a good fit somewhere else.
Liles worked in the youth ministry at Crossgates during his time there and so has seen many of his past students go through Ole Miss, many of whom were having trouble finding a good church to feel “plugged into.”
“I grew up in a nearby town and have always had a soft spot for this town,” he said. “As I got involved in ministry, I began to see Oxford differently and became burdened for the many students here who lack direction and leadership.”
Pat Ward, pastor at The Orchard Oxford, is the head of a church planted by The Orchard church in Tupelo in 2007.
Ward said that one of the main reasons he saw a need for a new church in Oxford was the lack of more contemporary services being offered by the more traditional, older churches in town.
“There were, and still are, many great churches with traditional worship services in Oxford, but we knew that there were probably people who were searching for Jesus who may be open to a different expression of what church could be,” Ward said in an email.
Ward saw that the addition of new churches helped draw more people to church, as opposed to people not going to any church because they couldn’t find the right fit.
“I would just say that every new church adds something special and unique to the spiritual landscape in any city,” Ward said. “I love Oxford and I love doing ministry here alongside other great churches. None of us do everything perfectly, but together we paint a beautiful picture of who God is for our city to see.”
Most church plants are started up and heavily supported by larger churches in the beginning. Crossgates and First Baptist Oxford were two important benefactors of The Life for a majority of its first two years.
Another way that large churches spread is by creating satellite campuses. Essentially, the new location has the same name and will either broadcast its services in from the main campus or have an entirely new staff.
“Satellite campuses aren’t an abomination, but I think actual church planting should be the norm, with a healthy connection between the mother church and the new one,” Liles said. “This allows the new church to grow and develop its own distinct identity, while receiving helpful guidance and support early on.”
Ward said it is important for churches that are growing to spread out or plant because it means more people can be involved with the growth and have more opportunities to use their talents in the church.
“More people can lead, more people can open their home, more people can teach kids and, therefore, grow in their faith by being generous with their time and their abilities,” Ward said.
He said that satellite churches, like planted churches, have the added benefits of the connection with the more established church. This enables them to have a well-structured administration and share resources and teaching.
Lance Ingram, seeking his second degree at Ole Miss, has visited and been involved with various plants like The Life, The Orchard and even Grace Bible in Oxford. His father has also worked for one of Jackson’s largest churches, which he attended growing up.
Ingram said he has always felt more comfortable at the church plants in Oxford because of the typically more relaxed atmosphere found in planted churches.
Both Liles and Ingram said that community is very important, but it is difficult to maintain relational, honest community with too many people.
“I feel that with church plants, it enables the same message and beliefs to be spread and developed but with a different personality or feel to it,” Ingram said. “It’s the same body of Christ working towards the same overall goal.”
