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Hernando Today

Rural Nondenominational Church

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By MAUREA SLEESMAN Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 9, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - If you remember when Chevrolet used the word "heartbeat" in its ads, a similar expression is appropriate for Community Bible Church, according to its senior pastor Carl Brown.

"The church endeavors to be the caring heartbeat of God where they worship," Brown said "You could say we're a Chevrolet group in our approach to church life. We are practical and reliable. We are nondenominational but not anti-denominational."

The worship services, Bible study classes and fellowship events take place in the large Phase One of the spacious church countryside facility, a short country drive southeast of Brooksville. It is already paid for and built debt free, with much of the construction done by its members working alongside contractors.

A sanctuary and classroom expansion will happen in the future, as may a veggie garden to help feed the local needy. Upholstered seating presently is positioned for a calm vista looking out on rural woods and occasional bicycle runs, with orange groves and cattle ranching in the surrounding acreage. Local egrets, herons, sand hill cranes, raccoons and other critters are in the neighborhood and on the church grounds. The large parking area abuts pastures and plantings of pale blue plumbagos.

"We intentionally chose to build a church in this quiet countryside community," Pastor Brown said. "There are expensive professional church demographic studies for locating building of the usual faith community. In our history since 1985, we have met in homes, a defunct rest home, storefronts and warehouses. With young families then, we had more children than adults. We voted to buy a roomy parcel of land in the quiet countryside. The setting and all does attract people who live nearby. We built and are building in a style fitting for the area. And it's a short peaceful and picturesque drive half way between Brooksville and Spring Lake.

"Our ad says that our church is 'refreshingly different.' Collections aren't even taken on most Sundays, the exception sometimes for a special need or hardship someone is facing ... We just have a small box in the foyer for donations and tithes.

"A diverse group of ages and religious backgrounds meld here to be a caring extended family. People who have had a traditional church experience will find some of that worship style in our responsive readings during Sunday worship service, as will those who come from some Pentecostal background during some of the open testimonials or prayer request times. If there's a need, a personal story or prayer time may override the sermon time. We strive to build sharing Christian relationships so those members are all equally caring in serving God.

"In fact, the current sermon series is on "Life and Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," stressing a message of freedom and hope."

Children enjoy the Sunday time of "Sermon in a sack." The pastor presents a paper bag with something in it to use as a prop or illustration of a biblical story or moral question, and engages them in dialogue to make his point. "A piece of yarn bound loosely around wrists can be easily broken," the pastor said, "but what if the yarn is spun around and around? A little white lie may seem escapable, but then often telling lies becomes a habit that traps."

Music on Sunday mornings is a blend. It may include traditional hymns, newer music with lyrics projected on a screen, or classical symphonic pieces played by members with cello and violins. The drum set is digital so the rhythm can be quieter as needed. "The Sunday bulletin seeks more voices currently if you like to sing," the pastor noted. "We enjoy lots of whole congregational singing too of course." Carl Brown showed a treasured wallet photo of his wife and their five children and five grandchildren. The pastor met his wife when both were students at Moody Bible Institute. When they were newlyweds some 35 years ago, Ruth was the head of counselors in a camp for underprivileged children while Carl was the cook. He noted that they didn't have time or money for a honeymoon, so this summer they will return to southern Indiana to a nice resort near that camp for their anniversary.

"Good marriages aren't automatic. They need times of refreshment," the pastor said. One such refreshment happens tomorrow night as a church Valentine banquet will be held at nearby Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant. The children of the attending adults will enjoy free child care and fun activities at the church. Exchanging of child care is a hallmark at Community Bible Church as are family barbecues and friendly sports and games.

"Our large outdoor AWANA circle for children is kept clear after each use," the pastor said." Sometimes helicopters need to land there for heliport to hospitals in emergency situations. The basketball hoops, lights and playground equipment make it a safe place for recreation and play, too. As a community outreach, we have home schooling and other group meetings and weddings."

Beth and Tom Marshall sampled several churches when they moved to the area from Pinellas County.

"We were looking for a friendly Bible-based church with some older people and a range of ages too," Beth said. "We visited in 1991 and became members in 1993. My husband is a full-time chaplain for hospice, and we know what comfort and support a church and one's faith can offer. Carl Brown is a humble man and there is such good fellowship here. Lately we older members are enjoying meeting for breakfasts, appropriately at Rooster's ...."

The church supports about two-dozen local and global ministries including Jericho Road, A New Generation, Lighthouse, Helping Hands and missions abroad. The pastor worked as an administrator for nearby Lakewood Retreat years ago, and recently the church "adopted a cabin there." He explained that while the large facility is used for retreats, family reunions and workshops, some of the older cabins need refurbishing. The youth and the men of the church did a remodel and update on one cabin with new flooring, carpentry and painting. A small sign outside the cabin denotes the church adoption. Hopefully, other churches and organizations may wish to similarly adopt cabins. In Haiti, the church designed and helped build a large bed ministry wherein special bunk beds accommodate families that had previously slept on bare floors in makeshift dwellings.

The church will be helping to support a young couple who grew up in Community Bible Church in their helping to establish a church and mission in East China.

"Always the Word" is the commitment focus of the church. The Bible is read, taught, and applied daily to life," Pastor Brown said. "Anyone is welcome to join the pilgrimage of being a follower of Christ."

Brooksville Community Bible Church is located at 504 at the corner of Powell and Griffin roads, east of U.S. 41. Phone: 799-5462, Web site: www.cbible.org.

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