news article
From the Advocate: New church finds its Destiny
March 1, 2016 / By Pastor Alicia Wood
Click below to read the full Advocate online.
This past Advent season, my church and I were challenged and energized by the Rev. Adam Hamilton’s “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It” Bible study. In chapter 6, Rev. Hamilton talks about how John Wesley preached in fields and marketplaces. We may grin as we hear this story of our founder. He was so bold and unusual! Then in the study, Rev. Hamilton asks: “Where would the marketplace be today? What is the equivalent of the market place in 2016?” We believe it is in our grocery stores and malls. Wesley believed in going to the people to spread God’s word. This is exactly what we plan to do.
For 20-plus years, people have been praying for a United Methodist presence at a large mall in Syracuse. Currently, a small group of bold people are working to open a storefront church at Destiny USA in Syracuse. This is a very large and successful mall. In 2014, it had 29 million visitors and 4,500 employees – think of the lives that may be touched. In this modern day marketplace, we will spread God’s love through our presence, hospitality, small groups, outreach, and worship. This storefront church will offer drop-in prayer, and a safe and familiar place for people to get to know God. Our goal will be to continually offer a way to get involved in outreach and meaningful worship, which may take place on a weeknight. As Wesley said, “The world is my parish.” Therefore, we believe we need to be where people gather: The marketplace, the mall!
Some churches today have an on-site day care or a pre-school to generate donations/income. To create a sustainable ministry, the storefront church will host a coffeehouse. We will sell beverages and pastries. This atmosphere will create on opportunity to build relationships with guests and employees of the mall and support the ministry financially.
This is not a small task to start. If you would like to join us in this adventure or would like to donate to this church plant at Destiny USA, please contact me at pastoraliciawood@gmail.com or (315) 475-7277. We are so excited to be a part of this budding ministry! Please join us in any way you feel called. Just as Wesley looked beyond the regulars at church to share God’s love, we will do our best to keep up this bold Methodist tradition, even at the mall.
Pastor Alicia Wood serves at the University and James Street United Methodist churches in Syracuse.