by Pastor Rick

Since Blue Mountain Community Church began in January 1981, there have been some stories and rumors circulating as to the nature of the church. The truth, however, is that Blue Mountain Community Church is a church that gets its purpose and mission directly from the New Testament in the Bible.

Blue Mountain Community Church's vision is to be a Second Chapter of Acts community of believers. This means we believe in and experience the power of God in a very real way - in our own personal experience of knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior and leader of our lives, and in our commitment to sharing and helping one another through the challenges and difficulties of life.

Jesus said in John 13:34...

"By this shall men know you are my disciples - that you love one another."

Blue Mountain Community Church's mission is unique in the sense that it is different from most traditional churches. Blue Mountain Community Church's mission is to help today’s generation come to know, love and serve Jesus.

As a boy growing up in a traditional church, I was constantly struck by how boring and irrelevant church services were to me. My friends would go once with me, and then they would remark how boring it was.

I noticed there were rarely ever any non-Christians coming in and becoming Christians the way it used to be in the Bible. The few that would venture in seemed awkwardly out of place. They weren't dressed right. They didn't know when to sit down and stand up. They didn't know the words that everyone else suddenly began to recite.

The hymns were too high or too low for them to sing, and the organ droned on like a funeral dirge. After the service, people would gather together in cliques. You could hear them talking about other people in less than encouraging terms. The whole experience was so foreign to the uninitiated that it seemed almost bizarre.

At sixteen, I decided there might not be a God, or at least if there was one and if this is what being in His presence did to you - I didn't want it!

Then at age nineteen, through an unusual set of circumstances, I came to know Jesus Christ personally. At that time, He said to me, "You see now that I am real. Go and tell others that what I have done for You I will do for them also."

That was in 1972. I am still as committed today as I was then to do whatever it takes to help people who have lost their way - those who feel church is irrelevant and boring - those who feel their sins are too great to ever be forgiven - those who for whatever reason are "non-churched" - to come to know and experience the abundant life Jesus Christ offers.

Because of this commitment to the non-churched, when you come to Blue Mountain Community Church, you will notice things are different from the typical church. The building is not "churchy." In fact, it looks like a big barn! When you come inside, you'll notice it's very homey... almost like a nice living room.

There are no stained glass windows. There are no statues or icons. The seating is padded chairs rather than pews. The stage is set up more like a theater than a church. The music is provided by a band of musicians playing guitar, trumpet, flute, drums, piano, and keyboard. The music is contemporary and upbeat. It is easy to sing, and it's enjoyable. Drama and video are often used to cause the message to have a greater impact, and the Bible lesson is practical and relevant. There are helpful tips on how to apply God's truth to everyday life.

Our facilities are not seen as a monument of past accomplishments but as a tool to be constantly upgraded and remodeled to be the most practical benefit to our community. In this way, we strive to meet the needs of the non-churched as well as the community of believers. While our message stays the same - "a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is what everone needs to have an abundant, eternal life" - everything else is subject to discussion and change!

Buildings, methods, format, music - all these things change according to the the needs of each generation and our changing culture. However, Jesus Christ (and our need for Him as Savior of the world) remains the same - yesterday, today, and forever.

Pastor Rick