Westwinds Community Church
Encyclopedia
Westwinds Community Church is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian megachurch
located in Jackson, Michigan
, the home of the state’s prison. The church has received regional and national attention for using innovative techniques during its weekly services.
The church has attracted media coverage relating to its unique, symbolic building design, it use of tactile art and its experiential services. Westwinds also made national headlines when it posted “Porn Sunday
” billboards in Jackson as part of an XXXchurch.com
campaign.
Westwinds' use of livestreaming worship, blogging, podcasts and their church social network called “Community W” has led some to note “the church’s use of media and technology is prolific.” Most recently, this techno savvy-ness was seen in the church’s move to become a twittering congregation, a move that attracted the attention of Time Magazine.
During one leg of the church’s existence, it was part of a loose association called the Willow Creek Association
, which pioneered ministry to “seekers”. Westwinds was also at one time considered by some to be an emergent church.
• Engaging Worship Blueprints
• Pastorpreneur
• Future Church
• Unfreezing Moves
• Experiential Storytelling
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
located in Jackson, Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, the home of the state’s prison. The church has received regional and national attention for using innovative techniques during its weekly services.
The church has attracted media coverage relating to its unique, symbolic building design, it use of tactile art and its experiential services. Westwinds also made national headlines when it posted “Porn Sunday
Porn Sunday
Porn Sunday is an event organized by several hundred churches in the United States and around the world to feature the issues of pornography and sexual addiction...
” billboards in Jackson as part of an XXXchurch.com
XXXchurch.com
XXXchurch.com is a non-profit Christian website that aims to help those who struggle with pornography. Its targets are consumers and those in the adult entertainment industry...
campaign.
Westwinds' use of livestreaming worship, blogging, podcasts and their church social network called “Community W” has led some to note “the church’s use of media and technology is prolific.” Most recently, this techno savvy-ness was seen in the church’s move to become a twittering congregation, a move that attracted the attention of Time Magazine.
History
Westwinds was founded in the early 1986 by Ron Martoia, who began the church from a high school Bible study.During one leg of the church’s existence, it was part of a loose association called the Willow Creek Association
Willow Creek Association
The Willow Creek Association , a 5013 not-for-profit ministry, is an international, evangelical Christian association of more than 9,000 member churches from 90 denominations and 45 countries.-Mission:...
, which pioneered ministry to “seekers”. Westwinds was also at one time considered by some to be an emergent church.
Books that mention Westwinds
• Thing Everyone Craves That Church Delivers• Engaging Worship Blueprints
• Pastorpreneur
• Future Church
• Unfreezing Moves
• Experiential Storytelling