May 2010 Real Life
On a bitterly cold morning on February 11, 2001, Pastor Ronnie Floyd stood before the congregation of First Baptist Church of Springdale and unveiled a pioneering approach to reach the Northwest Arkansas region with the gospel of Jesus Christ through the inception and creation of the Pinnacle Hills congregation in Rogers, Arkansas. In 2001, few churches in America had undertaken the mission of becoming one church in more than one location. While the strategy was “innovative,” it was also “unproven.”
On that Sunday, Pastor Floyd implored the Springdale congregation to “embrace the vision.” And they did. 350 people from the Springdale campus were commissioned to begin the Pinnacle Hills congregation, and on the third Sunday in August 2001, the Pinnacle Hills campus was launched—the “unproven” yet prayer-soaked vision was set into motion.
Because the Springdale congregation committed to the dream of Pinnacle Hills, today, the Pinnacle Hills campus that began with only 350 faithful individuals averages 2,501 people weekly. Since its launch, over 1,534 people have been saved and baptized in the fellowship. The Rogers location is no longer a vision, but a thriving, successful body of believers reaching Northwest Arkansas in mighty ways with the Gospel.
On Sunday morning, April 25, 2010, Pastor Floyd once again stood before the people with a vision—a new and compelling strategy that will allow our church to advance the Gospel into the largest city in the Northwest Arkansas region—Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Pastor reminded the church of our missional vision, “Reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the World for Jesus Christ.” Of the vision, Pastor said, “That’s what we’re all about…. [It] consumes our church…. Everything we do as a church flows from the heart of this missional vision. We take very seriously the assignment…. Our message is the gospel. Our mission field is the world, beginning right here in Northwest Arkansas.”
In 2009, the city of Fayetteville boasted a population of 74,552. According to research, an estimated 66.1% of the population of Washington county (with the dominant cities being Fayetteville and Springdale) “have never been born again and do not profess having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Pastor added, “We know from our own research that we have conducted in the last five years, the most unchurched city in our region is Fayetteville.”
Shawn Smith, Springdale Campus Pastor and Multi-Site Leader, said, “There are a lot of great churches in the city of Fayetteville doing great things for God, but as we looked at the ‘lost’ index of the region and the amount of people who live in the city who don’t attend any church, we are compelled to start a work there. According to the North American Mission Board statistics, there could be as many as 50,000 people who live in the city of Fayetteville who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. This is remarkable, and we must take the gospel to these people.”
Pastor added, “Within our Southern Baptist work in Fayetteville, we have 19 churches in the city and its outlying areas. While those 19 churches touched on a given Sunday 2,108 people, in Fayetteville, they reached and baptized only 107. Dear Church, we must go to Fayetteville more strategically….”
The new Fayetteville campus will be located at 3484 W. Wedington Drive, an area of tremendous population growth and expansion in Fayetteville. The building, which occupies 15,780 square feet, will be leased and “constructed inside as we desire,” said Pastor Floyd. The venue will accommodate 500 individuals with areas for children’s and preschool space and a worship center that will hold 344 people. The building will be completed in the late fall of 2010, though the launch date for this campus has not been determined.
Pastor Floyd announced that Dr. Nick Floyd, Associate Pastor and Preaching Assistant, will serve as Campus Pastor of the Fayetteville location. “We will be trying a new model that includes [Nick] speaking weekly at that location,” Pastor said. “I may be there occasionally in person, but only consistently by simulcast.”
Dr. Nick Floyd is ready for the challenge. “This is an incredible opportunity to reach the people of Fayetteville like never before,” Nick said. “We have a huge task in front of us. We need the prayers and help of every person from Springdale and Pinnacle Hills. We want the city of Fayetteville to know they have a new church who wants to love the community and meet the physical and spiritual needs of those within it.”
While the prayers of everyone in our current locations are vital, Pastor Ronnie Floyd called for no more than 200 adults to help launch the new site. “I need pioneers,” he told the church. “I need people willing to sacrifice to make this location successful. I need people who want to see that city come to Christ. I need people who are willing to commit to attendance, who will invite and bring others, serve in a ministry, and also people who are willing to come alongside the ministry financially.”
On February 11, 2001, when Pastor Floyd challenged the Springdale campus toward the vision of Pinnacle Hills, he closed his message with the words of a hymn. The song, from Pastor’s childhood days in his father’s small Texas church, speaks of a vision and the call toward it. “On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand and cast a wishful eye, to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie. I am bound for the Promised Land. Yes, I am. I am bound for the Promised Land. So who will come and go with me? I am bound for the Promised Land.” In 2001, the church accepted the call toward a new vision, and ever since, lives have been transformed by the power of the Gospel through the ministries of The Church at Pinnacle Hills.
On April 25, 2010, Pastor Floyd again closed his message concerning the advancement of our mission into Fayetteville with the words of the old hymn and added, “I want to be in the will of God. So who will come and go with me?”