Revolution: Hitting the Bull’s-eye
“At Revolution we won't be secretive: We're about having a relationship with God - Jesus Christ. If you're looking for a place that will be shy, hiding what they believe, this probably isn't it.” So says one of the BIC’s newest church plants, Revolution on their dynamic website, www.salina-revolution.com.
From the beginning, Revolution set out to reach people in their twenties in the Salina, Kansas area. Pastor Jeff Piepho led a core group through sixteen months of Bible study and research to make sure they were ready and knew what they were doing. He explains, “We had heard of many churches defining a target but never really hitting it because of a lack of focus. So we did months of in-depth research about Generation-X and churches. We agreed on 30 principles that defined how a church should interact with people in their 20s and 30s.” Now, a year after their launch, one hundred and fifty or more 20-somethings meet each Saturday night for worship that is a combination of “a concert, a coffeehouse, and a spiritual experience.”
Jeff’s core group decided to focus on two aspects of Gen-X culture: the importance of relationships and a strong emphasis on technology. “The vast majority (over 95%) of people who are active in Revolution have been personally invited to the church,” says Jeff. “It is likely they have visited the web site but they must be invited to take the step of actually visiting. It boils down to two main things: information (web site) and personalization (invitation).”
Worship at Revolution is high-energy – another principle from the group’s research – and tech-savvy, but these are just externals that point to something deeper; as Jeff explains, “the church service is an extension of our passion for Jesus, rather than the starting point for it.”
Revolution’s website incorporates a vibrant combination of contact information, mission statements (see below), service opportunities, relevant articles, tools for spiritual growth (including a spiritual gifts test!) and apologetics. “Our church spends a lot of time focusing on apologetics (defending the faith),” Jeff says. “This is great for people who are not Christians yet because it can help them realize that our faith is reasonable - but it is also a great experience for Christians.”
For more information and a taste of unapologetic apologetics, visit www.salina-revolution.com.
Revolution's Mission Statement:
Revolution seeks to be a worship experience that will challenge a generation in need of spiritual renewal to grow in a relationship with a mighty, living God. We understand this can only happen through Jesus Christ.
We aspire to this goal in three main ways:
1. Practical: Services filled with powerful worship music and an innovative combination of technology, music and atmosphere.
2. Theological: Teachings packed with the truth of Christ's redeeming power from his Word as ultimate authority.
3. Philosophical: Appeals to reason as a way to understand our Creator and His creation.
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