Interview with Kirk DeWitt
K irk, thank you very much for allowing NEXT WAVE
the opportunity to experience this first service with you. We are very excited about what
you are doing.
>> How was the vision for Calvary
PM born?
 The service was born out of a vision
that God put in my heart the last four years for lost younger people who are disenchanted
with the church, whether they know God or not. This vision was shared by many others
who the Lord put in my path and we began to meet and pray early in '98, seeking what God
would have us do next, not assuming that it should remain within the organized
mega-church. We felt God leading us to start meeting not just talking about it, so
we met monthly for 6 months, then 2x a month, then weekly, then really started the core
group with more focus on going outreach in February, '99.
>> Tell
us a little bit of your target group. What are they like?
The target group is unchurched non-Christians and
Christians not feeling at home in traditional church settings. The target is younger
people, mainly ages 18-35, but we are reaching a much broader age group and it is awesome!
>> What
are the core values of the Calvary PM?
Core values:
- Authentic Worship.
- Authentic Community.
- Authentic Discipleship.
- Authentic Outreach.
Assumptions: Worship evangelism works.
Non-believers need to see and feel real community and real worship of a real God.
>> You
seemed hesitant to use Multi-media. Some people are saying that Multimedia is the means of
communication in the future. Why the hesitancy?
Multi-media will be used, but not as much as many places.
It needs to feel real and not over-programmed. It needs to be open to where
the Spirit is leading and it can never feel like a show. We will be high-tech with
web stuff and lap-tops and song words and video and good sound but still try to hang on to
a low-tech, relaxed feel.
>> You
enjoy many of the benefits of working within the structure of a very large and successful
church. What are some of the drawbacks?
| "The vision of
the whole church is "to help as many
people as possible to be ready for Christ's return" and this service goes after that vision" |
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Meetings. Sharing a room (lots of set-up). Many
drawbacks felt in other ministries we have not experienced because of clear communication
from the beginning and amazing support from Calvary elders and senior leadership. The
leadership feels that this service is God's obvious leading and a needed step for the
whole church!
The vision of the whole church is "to help as many people as possible to be
ready for Christ's return" and this service goes after that vision with a group of
people previously missing.
>> When
we talked last, you made the comment that you question the future of the mega church. But
you are very much part of a mega church? Can you share your thoughts on that with us?
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"I feel that the
day of the mega-church may be waning..." |
I feel that the day of the mega-church may be waning
and there may only be a few years left of very effective "invitational" ministry
("come with me to church and get saved"). This should occur due to
post-modern thinking, distrust of organizations and leadership, and the necessity to be
more local and neighborhood-based to prepare for or react to local or regional
shortages/recessions/disasters.
>> What
are your hopes for Calvary PM?
My hope is to help as many people as possible to be ready
for Christ's return [which is the central mission statement of Calvary Community Church,
ed.]. To not keep all of our leaders here to grow huge, but to be good stewards of
the resource of leaders by sending them to many places where people live apart from God or
real Christian community. To stay in tune with the Holy Spirit personally and as a
body.
Interview by Rogier
Bos
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