Growing up together and ministering at a church together, Curt Deoff and Shawn Marsack always dreamed of starting a church.
They went their separate ways, but they’re back, making that dream come true.
Demoff and Marsack, pastor and associate pastor at Bridgewood Church off M-15, started the church in a small building off Sashabaw Road with a core group of six couples.
They decided to sell the church to Independence Township and used the money towards their new 12-acre, 20,000-square-foot building. The congregation has grown from 12 people to ‘pushing close to 400.?
‘We have a lot of people from the community, a lot of families, a lot of students, business people, (and) teachers,? said Demoff. ‘It’s really great to be a part of a church that’s really inundated in the community.?
Demoff said the church has already outgrown the new building even after only being in it two years. They have had to add another addition to the parking lot.
‘We had a lady call on Sunday say, ‘I am waiting in line trying to get into the parking lot and I can’t. If you can let me know when you’re going to two services that’s when I’ll come back,?? said Marsack. ‘We’ve got ushers out there trying to park people as fast as they can.?
Demoff said they are going to two Sunday services starting Nov. 4.
‘Our whole goal is to see people come into a relationship with Jesus Christ,? said Marsack. ‘We don’t want people to feel intimidated, or to feel like they have to clean up before they come to church, a lot of people may feel that they’re not good enough to go to church. Some think that God is up in heaven ready to bang them into the ground, and that’s not the truth.?
Demoff said the death of church member Brooks Stuart Patterson, son of L. Brooks Patterson, greatly influenced the church.
‘Brooks was somebody who had a personal relationship with Jesus and told everybody he knew about Jesus and invited them to church,? he said.
‘After his death, so many of those people that he touched and invited to church, starting coming to church and that was really kind of the snowball that created a lot of the momentum. Ever since his passing it really has sparked a lot of thought in people about eternity and what happens after this life.?
Even though they are excited about the church growing, they are more excited about lives being changed, Demoff said.
Both Demoff and Marsack believe in being relevant.
‘One of our real goals every week is to teach the Bible in a way that makes sense in your everyday life. There are so many people that read the Bible. They read it but have no idea what they are reading and can’t apply it to their life because it doesn’t make sense. Part of our preaching strategy is to make it simple for everyday life,? said Demoff.
‘If you can’t use it on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday then it’s not relevant.?
Bridgewood church is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. Demoff said they have a contemporary church and music style. They are family oriented and have services for students and kids, including a nurture center for babies, toddlers, and pre-school age.
Both the ‘Nurture Center? and ‘Planet Adventure Kids? have security cameras and TVs so those sitting at the front desk can monitor them.
‘Security is high on the task list,? said Marsack.
They also have a caf? where people can order coffee, sit down and chat, before or after service.
‘There is plenty of room,? said Demoff. ‘Everyone is welcome, we would love for people to come and try us and check us out once and kind of be the judge. There is a lot of great churchs in the area not just Bridgewood. (People should) get plugged into a church somewhere.?
Currently Sun. service starts at 10 a.m. Starting Nov. 4, the first service will be at 9 a.m. and the second at 10:45 a.m.; and Wed. at 6:45 p.m.- 8 p.m.
There is also a night service every first Sunday of the month at 5 p.m.