November 22, 2010

In his 21 years as lead pastor of Connection Church in Canton, Michigan, Rocky Barra's goal hasn't been to have the largest congregation, although the church has grown to 1,700 attendees from 180. Nor has it been to be the church with the most proficient music, although the worship team currently includes various professionals from the local music industry.

"What we try to be is the most caring place," says Barra of the Assemblies of God congregation. "Although we have more to do, piece by piece we want to care for hurting people."

In the past couple of years, the western Detroit suburban church has focused compassion efforts on its food pantry, Open Door Ministry. Open Door began 11 years ago as an appointment-only grocery distribution ministry.

Now, more than 400 families – 1,300 individuals – receive food every week. Open Door gave away a record 1.2 million pounds of food last year. With the economic downturn continuing, the church is on pace to distribute 1.4 million pounds of food in 2010.

"There's always enough," Barra says.

Open Door has gained a reputation as a caring organization in the area. Local food banks and businesses help provide fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and canned goods to be given away at Open Door's large warehouse. The overwhelming majority of recipients don't attend the church.

Open Door operates thanks to 50 volunteers, led for the past eight years by Steve and Jackie Darr, who each donate 40 hours a week to keep it going. Steve Darr says the goal isn't merely to give away food but to enable people to provide for themselves. Open Door also operates a job bank that assists the unemployed in finding work and in gaining computer skills.

"A lot of people have lost a job through no fault of their own and need food assistance, while others need help due to poor choices," says Darr, a retired Ford Motor Co. engineer. "We try to help them make right choices by introducing them to Jesus Christ."

One of the newest outreaches at the church is My Sister Song, a support group started by Laura Urenda for women in the sex industry. Urenda and three other women from the church have made contact with 110 women who are strippers, prostitutes or porn performers.

In groups of three, the Connection Church women deliver gift bags to the clubs, sometimes even being allowed into the dressing rooms. The bags contain cosmetics, jewelry, baked goods and a card communicating that the woman has a story that matters – plus contact information for resources to help.

"Most of us on the team have a background in the industry," Urenda says. "These women aren't accustomed to having anyone loving them unconditionally. They aren't used to trust."

Consequently, My Sister Song (http://mysistersong.com) is all about establishing a relationship.

"This is a lengthy process," Urenda says. "We let them know they are loved and that God has a purpose for them."

My Sister Song volunteers are available for counseling for the women, who often have been sexually abused, have taken illegal drugs or are victims of domestic violence. Urenda, a former "hostess" club worker, believes she might have been trafficked overseas if not for the intervention of a caring Christian.

"This could be anybody's wife or daughter working in the business," Urenda says.

People from 51 communities attend Connection Church, which is located near north-south and east-west expressways. On a Sunday morning, a college professor might be seated next to a homeless person in the congregation; a physician, beside a manufacturing assembly line worker.

Pastoring is the third career for Barra, who began as a nightclub musician and then became a Christian school principal after accepting Jesus as his Savior.

Barra attended church services for years before his radical conversion. As a highly paid nightclub entertainer, he saw no hurry to make Christ an integral part of his life.

But one early morning after finishing a nightclub set on piano and guitar, he no longer could put off the decision. At 3:30 a.m. he called up his pastor and said he needed to get right with God.

The pastor invited him to his house and clearly explained the truths of the gospel from the Book of Romans. Afterwards, Barra immediately began evangelizing everyone he knew.

Within a year, three local nightclub owners he knew committed their lives to Christ and got out of the business. That desire to see lives transformed has continued to be a burning passion for Barra.

"Just blessing the saints isn't enough to move me," Barra says. "I love to see people come to Christ and then grow in that relationship."

These days, a good share of those playing and singing on the Connection Church platform used to perform in bar bands.

AG-NEWS: The A/G News & Information Service
John W. Kennedy, Pentecostal Evangel