March 2008 Herald

CPI Bolsters North Louisiana Church Participation

Eros, Louisiana Community of Christ congregation

Eros, Louisiana, a typical North American Community of Christ congregation, averages around 50 people in weekly attendance with about 90 percent of those related to one another. Yet their promise of a future is that they have around 20 children, and those kids stay involved in church.

Greg McManus had been Eros pastor fewer than four months when he first learned about the Co-Missioned Pastor Initiative (CPI) during its introduction at the 2004 World Conference. “Whenever they said it, I said, ‘That’s what the Lord wants me to do,’” remembers Greg.

As a part of CPI, Cohort Two, Greg’s quadrant is part of the total of 100 pastors looking to sharpen their skills in leading congregations through education and collegial support. Community of Christ International Headquarters in Independence, Missouri, hosts their training. Besides training regarding books, budgets, and administrative procedures, CPI participation leads to more-dynamic ministry. “I like the spirituality classes and the preaching classes with Danny Belrose,” said Greg. “Of course it’s a lot easier to listen to him preach than it is for me to do it.”

Eros has great youth participation in church programs.

“Greg always comes back pepped up after CPI training,” observed Ellis Lewis, a longtime member of the Eros congregation. “Because of his excitement, Greg might take 15–20 minutes for announcements.”

Ellis’s wife, Debra, teaches Sunday school to Eros children ages 6–10 and has been a member of the congregation for 12 years. She believes CPI has helped Greg become a better pastor. “I’ve seen growth in Greg,” shared Debra. “He’s become a great speaker. There’s been a lot more involvement by our congregation since Greg’s been in CPI.”

“God has called us to do something unique and special,” said Greg. “We believe in the mission of the church and know that it is to establish Zion. God is revealing to us the ‘how’ of that mission.”

“Greg combines an innate sense of God’s mission with the ability to enthusiastically articulate that vision so others can grasp it and make it happen,” said Apostle Linda Booth. Eros is a part of her Southern USA Mission Field. “The CPI program has enhanced Greg’s vision of the kingdom, developed his gifts for leadership, and blessed him and his congregation.”

Like most CPI (and other Community of Christ) bi-vocational pastors, Greg works a full-time job as well as shepherding his congregation. He also leads a single-parent household. CPI training and other church activities mean that sometimes Greg is away from home. “It’s OK. I stay with my grandma,” explained Greg’s son Noah McManus. Nine-year old Noah likes the drums in Eros’s new praise band.

The Eros praise band livens up worship services.

“We started a praise band, not for the sake of starting a praise band, but to praise God,” said Greg. “We worship God and praise is a part of that.”

Eros had no pianist to accompany traditional worship services. Their new praise band includes vocalists, drums, and acoustic and electric guitars. They have a keyboard, but still no pianist to play it. That musician vacancy has not dampened their new sense of vibrant worship. “The praise band has changed our entire worship service situation,” said Ellis. “Our people really like praise music and we’ve now a more spiritual service.”

“Our praise band makes us more involved in singing and makes us closer to God,” said Debra. “We are using our worship time to make every person feel comfortable worshiping God,” explained Greg.

Because Ellis Lewis is the financial officer for the Ark-La-Tex USA Mission Center, visiting other congregations takes him away from Eros a Sunday or two a month. He recognizes that his own church has exemplary youth ministries. “Greg is youth-oriented and empowers our youth,” said Ellis. “It helps that Greg himself is young.” Eros dedicated a lounge room to Sunday school youth classes.

Greg McManus, pastor and Ellis Lewis, Ark-La-Tex USA Mission Center financial officer

Ellis’s contribution to Eros’s outreach has been cooking for Wednesday evening prayer services. Whereas fewer than 20 attended the midweek services before, now an average of 40 people come to pray and enjoy the soups, spaghetti, or tacos offered weekly. “I believe if we’d had CPI years ago, we’d be a different church today,” said Ellis. “Many churches closing their doors might still be open.”

“With Greg’s leadership and by his example, the Eros congregation is beginning to experience the joys and challenges of sharing the gospel, witnessing to their friends and neighbors, and inviting others to their congregation,” noted Apostle Booth. “You have to introduce Jesus’ vision in order for the world to solve problems,” added Greg.

By strengthening local leadership, CPI’s goal is to keep congregations open, flourishing, and reaching out to their communities. Visit www.CofChrist.org/co-missioned for more information about the Co-Missioned Pastor Initiative.

—Dirk Ellingson reporting