PARK CHURCH HELPS STRANGERS (3/1/15)

   "To me, the modern church has become irrelevant," said Rev. Paul Turner, of Candler Park's Gentle Spirit  'Church Without Walls.  "It's worrisome that you see empty pews. Some churches are trying to fix people rather than meeting their needs.   If you come to me and are hungry, you don't need salvation...you need food."

     Rev. Turner, who just turned 60, reflects on the movie quote from Field of Dreams™ ' build it and they will come.'  It was a plan to bring the message to the masses.  It opened in 1998.

      The 'without walls' portion comes from the fact that the members meet in Candler Park under an open-air pavilion.  The church was so committed to welcoming the stranger that they moved it  outdoors.  There's food, a message, and maybe a parting gift for these 'strangers'.

     Sadly, Rev. Turner admitted the service often represents a last stop for people who are about to give up.

  " We meet outside, near playgrounds, ball fields nearby nature," said Rev. Turner.  "Without walls means you have to be intentional in what you do.  Members don't argue about food because everyone brings food.  We don't have to worry about a sanctuary, we have a pavilion and it is what it is."

     Turner also runs a 'Good Hygiene Program' which allows the unfortunate attendees the ability to get free supplies.  Members of the church help gather the elements, and they are free for the taking at every service.  Many attendees had never experienced a welcoming environment with so much to offer.

     "Since taking the services outside, I know what their hurts are, challenges, pains.  I visit them in the hospitals," said Rev. Turner.  "You suddenly begin to see the diversity of God." 

     The attendees to services are sometimes fringe members of society, with homeless people standing shoulder-to-shoulder with affluent Atlantans. 

     To Rev. Turner, the ministry is like the familiar painting by Alberto Soord, which showed a lost sheep being rescued from the side of a mountain.  "Rescuing that sheep on the ledge of the cliff, that one sheep...that's what it is about.  If you don't get it off the ledge, the only way is down."

     To catch a service at Gentle Spirit's Church Without Walls, go to Pavilion 2 in Candler Park on Sundays at 10:30am.
info@gentlespirit.org

-----Ray Macon