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Some worship wherever they can
By JEAN JOHNSON Several Hernando County churches don't have their own parishes. Some meet in the homes of members, some worship in a school auditorium or community center, and some pay homage in a church of another denomination. Whatever it takes to praise the Lord. Art Buck started Calvary Chapel Hernando County more than three years ago with seven members. The congregation began with home fellowship and progressed to renting the Community Activity Center in Brooksville. Buck described the church as being between fundamental and charismatic, with a live band and a worship leader. "The dress was casual and very informal, and we focused on worship and the word of God," said the psychiatric registered nurse. Health problems forced Buck to resign, so two months ago Matt Andruss became pastor. Andruss had been the youth and Bible study teacher at Calvary Chapel of Tampa for 41/2 years. "In my church, there is no title as clergy, but I have been affiliated with the church since I was 13 years old and taking care of the youth probably for about 51/2 years." The 25 to 30 members of the church range from senior citizens to people in their early 20s; there also are about five or six children. Andruss' wife, Jenny, teaches Sunday school and performs administrative duties. She is planning to add a women's prayer group in the near future. Andruss hopes that by the end of the year or the beginning of next, the church will move on. Will it build? "I could say we would build but I can't. We'll build or seek a different facility." Although they have not outgrown the activity center, Andruss said it would be nice for the church not to have to set up and break down every week, "and worrying about being out of the building at a certain time." The Wednesday service for worship, prayer and teaching is being held at different members' homes. "If it got to the point where we outgrew the homes, we would rent additional space," said the 38-year-old father of a son, 21/2. Andruss was thankful for the dedicated people who get to the center early and begin setting up for services. "It's leaving at a certain time that gets to be a nuisance, so we hang out in the parking lot at the end of the service. The center is, though, definitely comfortable." Worship services are at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday and 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday. The center is at Fort Dade Avenue and Jefferson Street in Brooksville. The Rev. Andy Sidden has led the Spring Hill satellite mission of Spirit of Life Metropolitan Community Church since it began more than a year ago. The group was formed to offer residents in Citrus County and northern Pasco County a place to worship without traveling to New Port Richey. Services are at 6 p.m. every Sunday, except for the third Sunday when they worship at 2 p.m., at the Spring Hill Civic Center, 1202 Kenlake Ave. Any plans to build? "Long term, down the road, several years away," Sidden said. The congregation has about 35 members, a quarter of whom splintered off from the Pasco church, the pastor said. "Members have done much remodeling, and right now it's a church in a cabinet or a church in a truck, with volunteers setting up each week," Sidden, 48, said. "It meets our needs, and we've made it look like a church. We add something about every week, including new altar ware that people have donated." Sidden, ordained in 1992, mentioned that this weekend will be his last with the satellite church. He plans to take a Spanish course at the University of Tampa, complete work for his master's degree, attend church conferences and pursue a regional elders position. "This will sort of shake things up," said Sidden, "and sometimes that's good. There will be a district coordinator working to get an interim and a full-time pastor, a process which will take about a year." Since its founding 17 years ago, Community Bible Church has conducted worship services at various locations. For the past four years, the congregation has worshiped at a leased building off U.S. 98. Before that, services were held at Brooksville Elementary School, a smaller leased property and in people's homes. "We've been a few places," said Carl Brown, the planting pastor of Community Bible. A handful of families has grown to a congregation of about 200. By the end of the year, they plan to move into a sanctuary now under construction. "Growth has been steady and slow," said Brown, "but that's almost the nature of our church. It's just been consistently growing a little every year." The makeup of Community Bible consists of mostly young people. "We have more age 25 and under than those above 25," Brown said. "There a number of reasons for this," said the 49-year-old married father of five. "We're youth friendly, and are always committed to having a youth program and meeting their needs. We're family oriented and have young ministries for families. "When I started the church," Brown said, "obviously I was younger myself and maybe that drew a few younger families, who were drawn to a younger pastor and his family. My family is (ages) 25 down to 9, and families feel comfortable that I have some ability to give to youth." Brown pointed out that the congregation also has 20 or more couples who could be classified as senior citizens. "For a while we only had one, and we prayed that God would give us that balance . . . and God was good to us." The new building will be about 8,000 square feet and will accommodate a little growth. Brown said it will be completely paid for from savings through the years. "It's very difficult for a young church if it builds too soon or goes into great indebtedness too soon," the pastor said. "It can be an overwhelming struggle to pressure people to pay off a building. In our church there is no pressure to give or join.," The new church, at Powell and Griffin roads, about 4 miles east of U.S. 41, will have a ball field and a recreation area. The grounds are large so kids can play there, Brown said. There is no other church for about 4 miles. The building will be an all-purpose structure with a sanctuary, fellowship hall and classroom areas. The total cost is about $300,000. Sunday school currently meets at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday followed by worship services at 10:45. Bible study, prayer and youth meeting, and women's Bible study are at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday.
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