Pastor launches street church in East Durham
By Harlan Brown
Durham, NC
Nov. 21, 2010
Updated Nov. 22, 2010
A new church for persons who are not interested in attending a conventional worship service held its first meeting at 11 a.m. this morning in east Durham.
Bull City Outreach Ministries (BCOM) Street Church held its inaugural worship service in a bus at the corner of N. Hyde Ave. and Holloway St. Pastor Terry Shuff delivered a Bible-based, Christ-centered message about what the new church is and is not all about. Dean Padgett led praise and worship songs ("How Great Is Our God," "Offering," and "Amazing Grace").
Shuff and his wife Eileen have been ministering to the unchurched in east Durham for two years. Recipients of their ministry include prostitutes, drug addicts, gang members, and others. BCOM feeds the hungry, helps meet other physical needs, and delivers a powerful message about Jesus Christ. The T-shirt worn by the Shuffs and volunteers says, "Jesus: It's hell without Him! John 14:6 - One Way!"
"What we are not all about"
In this morning's worship service, Shuff described "what we are not all about." He said, "We will not be a 'social club type church'!" and quoted 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Shuff added, "We are not here to tickle your ears!" He quoted 2 Timothy 4:3-5:
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
"What we are all about"
Photos courtesy of Bull City Outreach Ministries
The photograph at left shows a side view of the Bull City Outreach Ministries Street Church bus. The photograph at right shows a front view of the bus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.
He also quoted Hebrews 13:21:
may He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.
"Key scripture for today"
Shuff referred to the "key scripture for today," Galatians 2:20:
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Pastor Terry talked about the importance of how we as Christians use our time. He referred to a sermon by Damon Thompson about being entangled with the affairs of this world. Shuff said that much of what is on television is a waste of time and of no lasting value. He added, "If you spend an hour a day watching TV, you should spend two hours a day for Jesus."
Attending the inaugural service were the Shuffs, about a dozen supporters of their ministry, and one resident from the local neighborhood. The local resident said that he enjoyed the service and plans to bring others with him next Sunday.