Outward-Focused Lessons from Our Launch: Spring Hill

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Resurrection Spring Hill launched as our 7th location on September 8, 2024. The 113-year-old building previously housed Spring Hill United Methodist Church, whose average attendance had dwindled to around 40. Energy was consumed by maintaining long-standing practices, leaving little room for outreach, and the model was no longer sustainable.

Since becoming Resurrection Spring Hill, we average about 130 people across two worship services. The 9:00 service sees nearly double the attendance of 11:00, largely because we offer vibrant children’s ministry at that time. I’m convinced adding Sunday school or childcare at 11:00 is essential for that service to grow.

To engage the community and introduce them to our location and welcoming atmosphere, we held two major children’s events: Trunk or Treat in late October and Egg Venture on Palm Sunday weekend. Our Spring Hill team believed we knew the ideal timing for these events.

In conversations with colleagues, however, we were reminded that the timing of each event was not meant to be the easiest or most convenient for us. The purpose of these events was to welcome the community to our property at times that would work best for them. When we discovered our preferred time for Egg Venture conflicted with the city’s egg hunt, we quickly punted rather than making families choose between two opportunities. Setting aside our own convenience is often what it takes to be as welcoming as possible to folks who don’t call our church their home…yet.

Both events attracted around 150 attendees, including many first-time guests. The energy was high, and the sight of their pastor dressed as a taco (for Trunk or Treat, not Egg Venture) added to the fun.

Another decision point came when considering whether to host a kid’s interactive Easter service on the Saturday before Easter. It was a risk – we had never hosted Easter services before and had no attendance history to guide us. Though it pushed slightly against broader recommendations, we believed offering a Saturday event would increase our impact.

Our worship space comfortably seats 100. On Easter Saturday, 60 people attended the kid’s interactive service – mostly families who regularly come at 9:00. It was loud, chaotic, and deeply meaningful. The next day, 132 people attended the 9:00 Easter service. Had those 60 joined on Sunday instead, we would’ve run out of room.

These experiences reminded me how vital it is to listen to those with more experience and to take risks for the sake of making room for new people. Leadership sometimes means deferring to others' expertise and setting ourselves aside. It also involves discerning when to take bold steps, even with the risk of failure. Both can challenge our instincts and may impinge on our own convenience.

Outward-focused decision-making is rarely easy and is sometimes gut-wrenching. I’ve learned the value of both trusting seasoned voices and leaning into risk when the purpose of the church is at stake. It’s not easy, but it’s who we’re determined to be.

Angie McCarty is Location Pastor of Resurrection Spring Hill. Before moving to Kansas in 2017, she served churches in Tucson, Arizona for 14 years. She loves coffee, playing the piano, reading non-fiction, watching dark TV shows, teaching cycling classes, and life with her husband Jonathan, their combined 6 children, and dog Milo.