A Fresh Start
Parkside has gone Green…to the city of Green, that is. On January 1, 2009, a once small congregation located between Akron and Canton became Parkside Church Green Campus. Though your mind may think of the familiar slogan of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” when you hear of something being green, Parkside has jumped head-on into this exciting new area of ministry.
For years, 125 worshippers were utilizing only 10% of the church’s auditorium, but over the past six months, God has brought an additional 200 people to the new Green Campus. Many of the people who attend are young families and young professionals who are looking to connect with others in meaningful relationships. Other folks have been looking for a Bible-centered church and have been long-time listeners of Pastor Alistair Begg through Truth For Life. Over the past few months, the Children’s Ministry classrooms and nurseries are filling up. Wednesday night Bible Studies and the youth ministry have expanded and seem to be meeting the needs of those who desire to go deeper in their walk with Christ. The college and career ministries continue to be a center of growth and service. The leadership, staff, and members are and are amazed by the kind hand of God to work in such wonderful ways.
A Fresh Approach
The Green and Bainbridge Campuses share not only a name and philosophy, they also share in the same senior pastor. You know that Alistair is a man of many gifts and talents but he certainly can’t be in two places at once…or can he? Pastor Alistair Begg arrives in Green every Sunday morning by way of HD technology, allowing the two campuses to be even more connected. The video messages began the first week of the book of Mark series began. God’s timing seemed to be perfect. During the Sunday evening service, the two Green Campus pastors share time teaching and preaching through various books of the Bible.
This fresh approach of starting a second campus using technology was met with some unease. What would it be like watching Alistair Begg on a 9 foot by 16 foot screen? So far, the reaction to the screen has been surprisingly positive. Many agree that after only a few minutes, it is easy to forget that Alistair is not preaching in person. Some are still not sure whether to laugh at a joke when he’s really not there. Still others ask which local florist is arranging the flowers in front of the pulpit and are surprised to hear that they are part of the projected message. Do not let technology scare you. Every other part of the service is live and local. The only portion of the service that is video is the preaching.
In general, Parkside Green Campus is beginning to be known as the church that has “the guy with the Scottish accent on a screen”. It is truly an exciting place to be right now. If you have yet to check out the Green Campus, please feel free to visit any Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. and see for yourself all that God is doing. Maybe you have a friend or family member who lives in the Akron or Canton area. If so, Parkside Church Green Campus is a wonderful place for them to visit!
A Fresh Vision
Please pray for the outreach events the Green Campus will be holding this summer. The Green Campus is committed to a vision of seeing many unbelieving people become committed followers of Jesus Christ. A “How-to Night for Women” is planned for women to refine skills in the everyday life of being a women in the 21st century. The FUNdamental Tennis camp is for unchurched kids between the ages of 9 and 13. And finally the Green Campus will be going to the poorest neighborhoods in the city of Canton to provide practical needs in an event called the City Love Bus Tour. If you have questions about these events or would like to participate in them, please contact the Green Campus office at greencampus@parksidechurch.com.
Take a video tour of the Green Campus!
