All over America little country churches are shutting their doors and selling their property. They have grown too small, too old, or just too tired to keep going. Many of these churches are going the way of the small communities they serve—they’re simply dying.
The little white church on Macks Mountain Road was headed down the same path. It closed its doors in 2012 and stood empty for almost a year. There was talk of selling it, but God seemed to have other ideas. Now, every Tuesday evening at 6:30, folks gather to share a potluck supper, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, sing, pray, discuss Scripture–and sometimes do a little square-dancing. It’s just a regular gathering of the Wild Goose Christian Community, a church in Floyd County, Virginia.
Wild Goose Christian Community began holding services in the spring of 2013. Our goal: to celebrate God’s presence in creation, to honor the culture of Appalachia, and to provide a Christ-centered community, especially for those who are not drawn to traditional church.
The pews have been replaced with a circle of rocking chairs. Our aim was to eliminate the performer/audience atmosphere and replace it with a more participatory setting. As one member, Greg Wolford, says, “We don’t know anyone by the back of their head.”
In place of the pulpit stands a stone fireplace. Communion is served in Mason jars and singing is accompanied by banjos and guitars. When it comes to the sermon, everyone pitches in, sharing ideas about Scripture and its relevance to their daily lives.
“Wild Goose has brought Jesus alive for me again—up close and personal,” says one participant, Roye Evans. “The in-depth Bible reading as well as the focus on how to really think about the Scripture and how it can influence your day-to-day life has made me feel closer to Jesus Christ and has made a personal relationship with him seem more possible.”
Wild Goose not only draws people from the local community; people from urban areas come from more than an hour away. For them the weekly gatherings provide a retreat from the hectic pace of life and allow them to connect with Appalachian heritage. They also reconnect them with the blessings of Christian fellowship.
Roye continues, “My perspective of church has undergone a dramatic shift since attending Wild Goose. The services create space for just being quiet, for individual contemplation, and for learning from others in the group. There is so much joy and laughter, so much community—and at the same time such a sense of sacredness. I leave feeling encouraged—not judged. It has been very uplifting and empowering. It has made me excited about church again.”
Some come for the food, others for the fellowship. Some love the music and many are drawn to the casual, participatory worship style. But most talk about the warmth of the community and the fresh engagement with Scripture.
Susan Slate is impressed with the variety of people attending Wild Goose: “The service is different from anything I’ve ever attended,” she says. “It’s very meditative, very positive, very accepting. I love that so many different types of people have come together to form this brand new awesome community.”
Neil Sagebiel says, “I'm challenged and sometimes perplexed by the discussions, which isn't a bad thing at all. The Scriptures can be hard. Understanding their relevance to us is fascinating, frustrating, illuminating. I believe that considering these things is part of my journey of faith, and being on that journey with others at Wild Goose makes it more satisfying. We have great family conversations on the ride home, too, which I cherish!”
The way we “do” church in America is beginning to change and Wild Goose is an important part of this new movement, especially in rural America. Most important, it’s providing a venue for people to connect with God who might have never walked through the doors of a regular church.
“I haven’t been to church in the last thirty years to speak of,” says Wolford, “and I’ve rarely missed a night since I’ve been coming here.
Edwin Lacy plays banjo and leads Wild Goose Christian Community in Floyd County, Virginia.
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