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Print Celebrities aren’t the only ones who ride in Nashville stretch limousines. There are also the kids from all sections of town, men from the rescue mission, and even women and children from shelters. New Life Apostolic Church has decided that they are the real celebrities.
Pastor Jack Batson received this vision several years ago, but quickly dismissed it from his mind. He reminded himself that, “We’ve got the vans, they’re paid for, and they’re doing the job.” But New Life was not experiencing growth, even though they had moved into a new facility. God continued to impress Pastor Batson with the limousine concept, day after day and week after week. Finally he relented and began the shopping process. As a result, the church purchased two limousines, one black Lincoln and one white Lincoln. Nearly a month passed by and the limousines sat on the parking lot. They looked great, but they were not serving any purpose. Then a fire was kindled in the congregation. An outreach department that had become somewhat stagnant started coming to life with excitement and enthusiasm. On Saturdays outreach department went to wash, shine, and vacuum the limousines. Hitting the streets in the limousines, this revived group went into some of the poorest sections of town, stopping right in the middle of drug deals, gang fights, and domestic disputes to invite children, parents, and grandparents to church. Of course, they found some people who just wanted a ride in the limousines, but what better way to transport them to the house of God? Soon the third limousine (a black Cadillac) was purchased, then a fourth (a gold Lincoln). Drivers had to be found who would be willing to go the extra mile, obtaining special licenses and special skills to maneuver those long limousines through crowded projects and narrow city streets. The outreach department visited the Battered Women’s Shelter. They picked up women and children who felt totally worthless and chauffeured them to and from church, proving they are important and offering them a message of hope and life. The outreach volunteers went to the Men’s Rescue Mission, full of homeless and dejected men who had no dreams and no hopes for a better day. These men, reeking with vile odors, were placed in clean, shiny limousines and brought to church. They were told and shown that they were priceless to God, and that He could change their lives. Yet the best part of this ministry involves the children—children who sleep at night with drug deals going down under their windows; children who hear gunfire on a regular basis; children who know violence and hatred first-hand. These children climb into those stretch limousines and arrive at a safe haven. Although they obviously do not always know how to act in church, little by little God’s Spirit is washing over them as they respond to God and allow His peace to permeate their minds and bodies. Those who are limoed to church do not only receive a free roundtrip, but they are also fed by other volunteers. A first-class ride, a nice meal, and a wonderful church service are provided for these spiritually desperate souls. A lot of work is involved in this continual process of outreach, but the outreach department is cleaning and shining the cars, then hitting the streets every Saturday. They are heeding the scripture that instructs, “The night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). God has blessed these efforts. The limousines started by picking up 12, then 18, then 32, then more than 70. They continue to transport from 70 to 100 people to church each week.
Because the limousines were making two and three trips to
pick up the willing every Sunday morning, a fifth vehicle (a black stretch
Lincoln) was purchased. A sixth is being sought now. It’s no surprise that revival has erupted at New Life Apostolic Church. A church that averaged 140 is now averaging 200 to 210. “The Kingdom of God is the greatest thing on earth. We represent the great King of Kings and the great Church of the Living God. We cannot forget the poor. We must go to them and let them know they are the most important things on earth. People are the only thing God is going to take off this earth and they must be brought to the greatest place on earth—the Church,” Pastor Batson said. In a way, perhaps these limousines represent judgment. It seems to be extremely difficult to get spiritually complacent Americans to drive to church. Maybe New Life’s fresh ministry is a last day judgment in which God is sending limousines to attempt to reach the lost one last time. The limousines are a means to “compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). Not only is New Life growing in style, it is making a difference in lives with style. (This article was originally printed in Apostolic Witness, but was too delicious not to publish.)
ninetyandnine.com © 2004, Janet Smith --------- Janet Smith attends New Life Apostolic Church in Nashville, TN. |
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In the
1970’s and 1980’s the church had a bus ministry going full force. In the 1990’s,
New Life Apostolic adjusted to the times and began using 12 and 15 passenger
vans to make the rounds and bring people to church. But that was then. Now their
new form of outreach values people the way God values them—through limousine
outreach!