Church in the Woods

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Things haven’t been the same since the fall of 2001. Our Sunday celebration was never really very traditional in the first place, but since we started meeting in the woods out at Freedom Ranch we’ve lost many more of the traditional trappings of church. Little things we normally take for granted when we go to church became the focus of our attention. What standards we used to measure the success of a Sunday meeting of the church have radically changed as well. All in all we have been “stretched” in our thinking about what “church” really is and what is really important to the Lord.

WHERE'S THE RESTROOM?

Little things often become major obstacles in trying to relate to others. After our morning coffee and a long drive to the ranch, not many people feel the urge to fellowship with others until their more physical urges are relieved. In most traditional church buildings there is easy access to the men’s or ladies room. Although churches have been known to split over what color they are painted, the fact that they exist is never really questioned. In the woods things are different. Even those who are used to the great outdoors experience some difficulty locating an isolated spot when a large group assembles for worship. I have learned that this issue may have been the subject of much “murmuring in the wilderness” by the children of Israel. Can you imagine listening to 1.5 million Jews asking where the restrooms were? Thankfully, the Lord provided relief immediately through the generous, and very thoughtful, donation of a port-a-potty and the building of a “modern” out-house with running water. After seven years of these primitive facilities we were able to retire them as we completed the new training center complete with the best bathrooms in Okeechobee County.

WHAT ELECTRIC?

It’s amazing how much we take for granted the modern conveniences powered by electricity. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and the others who learned to make our lives easier through electric power. Trying to have a worship service without electricity was a real challenge for the church in the woods. Week after week we felt sure that we had it figured out. We would rely on a variety of gas-operated generators to provide us with the electric power we needed to light the kitchen, make the coffee, run the public address system, and empower the praise team. Although there were no serious casualties, we did manage to fry a soundboard, blow up a coffee pot, and burn out an overhead projector bulb. Once again we were finally blessed with real electricity even before we built the training center. But the lessons we learned will stay with us forever.

These lessons concerning electric power have a real spiritual significance. It is impossible to have a worship service without the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit making Jesus real to us. What we lacked in electric power was more than compensated for by spiritual power as we continued to persevere week after week. The praise team continued relying entirely on the Spirit to supply any lack of power in worship and praise, and we learned the true meaning of the scripture,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col. 3:16)

TOO HOT - TOO COLD?

Church in the woods often gives us assurance that we are pleasing to Jesus who warned the church at Laodicea against their “lukewarm” condition. Jesus stated that he preferred them to be either hot or cold, but not lukewarm (Rev. 3:15, 16). There have been meetings in which we were too hot, and meetings in which we were too cold, but I can’t remember a meeting in which we were lukewarm. We have been rained on, chilled, steamed, and baked; but we are not lukewarm. Of course the real meaning of Jesus’ words has nothing to do with the weather, but we can be assured that the willingness to endure the elements to celebrate and live out the gospel proves in some way that we are not “lukewarm”. Although it is somewhat of a trade off, learning to worship outdoors has been one of the greatest blessings we have received.

VOLUNTEER HOGS?

A significant part of church in the woods is the fact that we like to eat after every service. People who drive some distance to come to the ranch like to enjoy a meal with friends and family before going back. This also gives us a chance to build relationships and practice some of that love we talk so much about. As you might imagine, it takes a good amount of groceries to feed the folks who come each week. While the original crowd learned to bring enough food for their own family as well as a few extras, we try to make sure we have plenty by recruiting a volunteer wild hog or two. Ranchers generally view feral pigs, also known as wild hogs or “piney woods rooters”, as a nuisance since they root up pasture land. Frequently these hogs are hunted for sport or simply killed on sight. The church in the woods, however, takes a different view. We consider them to be a divine blessing that enables us to feed a small multitude. It’s true that pork was considered unclean and forbidden under Mosaic Law. However, we are sure that God has sanctified these volunteer hogs, as well as us, by the blood of his Son on the cross. At least once a month we would serve a true “Cracker Cowboy” dinner of pork smoked on an oak wood fire and might even toss in some “swamp cabbage” (hearts of palm for city folk).

Lately we have had such large crowds that it was no longer practical to rely on “pot luck” for our dinners, even with the wild hogs. Trusting the same God who fed the multitudes in Jesus day we prepare a meal for around 200-250 people each week. Our volunteers have been formed into “serving teams” that set up, cook, serve, and clean up each week. From the meager beginnings of a homemade cook shack to a complete commercial kitchen in our new training center, we have certainly made progress in the feeding department.

BABY SQUIRRELS?

On any given Sunday you never know just who might come to church in the woods. Each week we seem to have a number of first time visitors. We welcome any and all visitors into our sanctuary under a canopy of oak, cypress, and palm trees we call the hammock. I’ve noticed the look of amazement and curiosity on their faces as they find their way to a picnic table not knowing what to expect. Having driven down the dirt road that runs parallel to a canal full of turtles, alligators, water birds, etc., most first time visitors are relieved to find a semblance of civilization in the kitchen and grouping of picnic tables that serve as pews. But the two–legged visitors are not the only ones that come to the church in the woods. We have a growing population of squirrels, an occasional loose dog, horse, cow, a variety of birds including a bald eagle, raccoons, armadillos, and, of course, the usual crop of pests. Recently, a trio of baby squirrels decided to share the stage with me during a sermon. There was really no competition at all. They won the attention of all who were close enough to see them.

SABBATH REST?

I know the Sabbath was the day God ordained for rest. That’s why we need to take it easy on Saturday because Sunday afternoons for the church in the woods is no longer nap time…there’s just too much to do. Regular activities include the swamp buggy tour of the back 100 acres, volleyball, horseshoes, nature hikes, pony rides, and just a lot of fellowship with family and friends. Some of the brave hearts may learn to crack a whip or rope a steer, but all enjoy just hanging around without any pressures to perform. The distinct advantage to church in the woods is the infinite places for small children to explore and for grown-ups to enjoy a quiet moment or two. Those who remain long enough to get in on the cleanup also may enjoy watching the sun set through the trees, building a fire, and finishing off the last bit of the food. For the servants of the church in the woods this is the most rewarding time. While the sun is setting on another day of service, the true Sabbath rest that comes from knowing you have done what the Lord wanted you to do literally floods your mind and heart. The body is tired, but the spirit is refreshed.

WHAT'S CHURCH?

The people of the Church in the Woods come from a broad spectrum of religious experiences. They all have encountered religious bondage of one sort or another, and have been led by the Spirit to “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free.” The membership of this body also desires to live and minister in the liberty of Christ and is attending this church for the message of grace rather than convenience. While there may be many reasons for this grace centered attendance, the primary one has to do with the fact that Christian people in general are dissatisfied with the religious programs and systems taking the place of a real relationship with Jesus.

Churches that emphasize programs, beg for money to support those programs, and seek to conform each member to their own “brand” of Christianity; do so at the expense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who are burned out by such religious game playing will travel whatever distance required to receive the good news of what God has done for them in Christ. In many respects Alpha Ministries’ Church in the Woods has been a place where wounded and burned out Christians may find “rest unto their souls.”

The warm invitation of Jesus to the religious people of his day is recorded for us in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Those who do not yet understand the good news of all that God has made them to be in Christ are working hard to please God by some sort of religious performance.

They have substituted religion for a personal relationship with a loving Father. Many people today are “laboring and heavy laden” because no one has told them what God has done in Christ to make them an awesome spirit being of magnificent worth as a person. These tiered souls are struggling day after day to “be a good Christian” so that God will accept and bless them in some way.

Some have been so discouraged with their religious efforts to please God; they have given up altogether and turned to a variety of anesthetics to cover the emptiness in their heart.

Jesus promises rest to all those who take upon themselves his yoke and watch him work in their lives. This agricultural metaphor reveals our responsibility to depend upon our union with Christ to meet all our needs-physical, personal, and spiritual. Instead of worrying about our circumstances we can rest in the yoke of Jesus. Rather than seethe with bitterness and hatred, we can experience eternal security and significance as persons. Trusting our true identity in Christ and relying entirely upon his direction in our everyday lives, we discover the much needed “rest” to love others like Christ.

The lack of a sanctuary with stained glass, padded pews, air conditioning, and a host of other conveniences have allowed us to see the real church. It’s not a building with religious programs that entertain people once a week; its people relating to others out of their own relationship with God. Paul reminded the church at Corinth that they were the body of Christ and members in particular. The true church Jesus promised to build consists of people loving and encouraging one another in the faith.

Meeting together in the woods each week has put those relationships to the test in a variety of ways. In spite of it all, however, the Lord has been building His church at Freedom Ranch in a most miraculous way. We are excited about the potential we have to be the church, not only in the woods each week, but also in our homes and communities.

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