Tippecanoe and Worship, Too

Most ministers are familiar with summertime attendance slumps, but pastors in resort areas see tourists strolling right by the church en route to the beach or other amusements. How can ministers in these areas reach vacationers? If you are Dr. Donald C. Lacy, pastor of Leesburg United Methodist Church near Lake Tippecanoe, Indiana, you conduct services from a pontoon boat.

A typical Sunday morning on the lake involves fishing, swimming, and relaxing on the beach. The Leesburg church provides an informal worship alternative for vacationers. Members of the impromptu congregation recline in lawn chairs on the beach, sit on the long pier, or relax in boats anchored near the pontoon boat. Lacy's "pulpit" sits 100 feet from the shore, and the program is amplified by a sound system capable of being heard a half-mile away.

The program lasts half an hour and consists of preaching, Scripture readings, and singing. Volunteers provide bulletins, coffee, and juice, and collect ...