Going for 20 in 20

By Father DAVID EPPS
Contributing Writer

Father David Epps is Rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church which meets at 8 and 10 a.m. Sundays at 4881 E. Hwy. 34. He may be contacted at 770-252-2428, or at frepps@ctkcec.org

Eight years ago, a group of 19 people gathered in my living room and, within a few weeks, Christ the King Church was born. During those weeks leading up to the first service, a number of decisions were made concerning the policies and future direction of the congregation-to-be. One of the most seemingly absurd was that we would endeavor to plant 20 churches in Georgia over the next 20 years. A pretty bold goal for a congregation that did not yet exist!

On the second Sunday of September 1996, Christ the King held its first services on a Sunday in the facilities of Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home. Over the years, the church has steadily grown from that initial 19 people to embrace about 280 people who call the church their spiritual home. Tristan McGee was the first person to be baptized into the church in 1996 and, several weeks ago, Eliana Elizabeth Epps, my granddaughter, was, if our count is correct, the 100th person to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Our first minister to be "sent out" from our church was Father Mark Johnson. Father Mark, originally an ordained Assemblies of God minister, now serves as the rector of The Church of St. Peter the Fisherman in Wilmington, N.C. Since 1996, five men have been ordained to the priesthood and an additional five men have been ordained to the diaconate. Another man from a sister denomination was recently received as a deacon (our deacons are servants and ordained clergy, not "board members") and three women have been recognized as Commissioned Ministers. When people ask why we have so many priests and deacons, I remind them that we have 20 churches to plant in 20 years and the training is underway!

On Pentecost Sunday 2002, church number two was planted in Hogansville. Ron and Nancy Clemmer, who had been with us almost since the beginning, moved to Hogansville from Peachtree City and, for two years prior to the first Sunday service, held a weekly prayer meeting in their home to pray for Hogansville and Troup County. Now St. Matthew's Church meets on Main Street and Reverend Ron has been elected as a vice-president of the ministerial alliance.

This Saturday at 6 p.m., Sept. 11, church number three will be planted. Father Paul Massey and his wife, Dr. Judy Massey, one of our Commissioned Ministers, will hold the first official service of The Church of the Holy Cross in the historic Train Depot in downtown Fayetteville, across from the court house. Like Ron Clemmer, Paul is a "second career" clergyman. A former school principal, Paul retired last year after 24 years of service as the CEO of the Printing Industry of Georgia. Paul was one of the first men of Christ the King to be ordained to the ministry, first to the diaconate in 1997 and to the priesthood in 1999. For the last several months, Fayetteville and Fayette County have been the objects of much prayer as plans for the new congregation has taken shape. Now, on Saturday evening, we will move one more step closer to the vision of "20 in 20."

Some folks have suggested that we conserve our resources and build one large congregation. Certainly, I hope and trust that Christ the King will grow significantly over the years, but, if given a choice, I'd rather have 20 congregations with 300 people, each having their own pastors, than one church of 6,000. I know that bucks a trend among church growth enthusiasts, but I rather like being able to pray for each person in the church, including the children, by name! God called me to be a "father," after all, and not a CEO of a huge, impersonal corporation.

I don't know where the remaining 17 congregations will be planted but we are currently praying for nine counties, including Fayette, Coweta, Troup, Clayton, Fulton, Douglas, Carroll, Heard, and Meriweather. Will new congregations be established by us in those counties in the years to come? Only God knows. But I wouldn't be a bit surprised!

Oh, and this Sunday, we celebrate our 8th anniversary as a congregation. To God be all the glory!

[Father David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church, which meets at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sundays at 4881 E. Ga. Highway 34. He may be contacted at 770-252-2428 or at frepps@ctkcec.org.]