The Journey church
Encyclopedia
The Journey church is an interdenominational Christian church
located in St. Louis, Missouri
. The church is theologically conservative and culturally liberal
. Services are offered at multiple locations in the city. Locations include Tower Grove in South St. Louis, Hanley Road Baptist Church in Clayton, and Missouri Baptist University auditorium in western St. Louis County, Missouri
. Services have also recently been added in Edwardsville, Illinois
. The congregation has seen relatively rapid growth from a handful of attendees in 2002 to over 2,000 attending services at the multiple locations in 2009. It is a member of the Acts 29 network of churches and serves as a church planting institution.
. Initial services were held in private residences and then community centers. As attendance increased, the church formed a relationship with Hanley Road Baptist Church of Clayton and began operating out of their offices and having services within their sanctuary. The Journey also began having services at Maplewood High School in their theatre auditorium.
As the congregation began to grow, other pastors were brought up from within the church through internships. These pastors include Jonathan McIntosh, Steve Miller, Joel Lindsey, and Steve Mizel.
In 2006 the church bought the former Catholic church Holy Innocence on South Kingshighway in South St. Louis across from Tower Grove Park. This became their central campus. During this same time period, the church also began holding services in West St. Louis County at Missouri Baptist University. In 2008 another campus was added to the Edwardsville, Illinois
area.
of church planters. Lead Pastor Darrin Patrick serves as vice-president for that network. The Journey has facilitated the establishment of several churches in the St. Louis area including The Refuge in St. Charles, Missouri and Crosspointe Church in South St. Louis.
The group holds smaller discussions weekly in local coffee shops and then larger monthly discussions at a local brewery/restaurant.
The controversial practice of meeting in the back rooms of The Schlafly Bottleworks and Tap Room locations made news through an article published by the St. Louis Post Dispatch titled "Beer and the Bible". The discussion groups have also gained national and world attention through articles in The New York Times and BBC.
The controversial practices also caught the attention of the Southern Baptist Convention of Missouri who will no longer finance start-up churches like The Journey related to these theologically conservative and culturally liberal practices.
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
located in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The church is theologically conservative and culturally liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. Services are offered at multiple locations in the city. Locations include Tower Grove in South St. Louis, Hanley Road Baptist Church in Clayton, and Missouri Baptist University auditorium in western St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
. Services have also recently been added in Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
. The congregation has seen relatively rapid growth from a handful of attendees in 2002 to over 2,000 attending services at the multiple locations in 2009. It is a member of the Acts 29 network of churches and serves as a church planting institution.
History
The Journey church was founded in 2002 by Lead Pastor Darrin PatrickDarrin Patrick
Darrin Patrick is an American author and pastor. He is the founder and lead pastor of The Journey church in St. Louis, Missouri. He serves as the vice-president of the Acts 29 Network and published his first book, Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission in 2010.- Personal background...
. Initial services were held in private residences and then community centers. As attendance increased, the church formed a relationship with Hanley Road Baptist Church of Clayton and began operating out of their offices and having services within their sanctuary. The Journey also began having services at Maplewood High School in their theatre auditorium.
As the congregation began to grow, other pastors were brought up from within the church through internships. These pastors include Jonathan McIntosh, Steve Miller, Joel Lindsey, and Steve Mizel.
In 2006 the church bought the former Catholic church Holy Innocence on South Kingshighway in South St. Louis across from Tower Grove Park. This became their central campus. During this same time period, the church also began holding services in West St. Louis County at Missouri Baptist University. In 2008 another campus was added to the Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
area.
Church planting
The Journey is a part of the Acts 29 NetworkActs 29 Network
The Acts 29 Network is a Christian organization dedicated to church planting. It derives its name from the Book of Acts in the New Testament, which has 28 chapters, making Acts 29 the "next chapter" in the history of the church...
of church planters. Lead Pastor Darrin Patrick serves as vice-president for that network. The Journey has facilitated the establishment of several churches in the St. Louis area including The Refuge in St. Charles, Missouri and Crosspointe Church in South St. Louis.
Controversy
In 2007, the church came under scrutiny for its controversial cultural outreach practices. 'Theology at the Bottleworks' is a monthly monitored and guided discussion group that is organized by members of The Journey through a group called Midrash. The group's functions attempt to reach an audience that would otherwise not approach or feel comfortable discussing topics involving theology in a formal church setting.The group holds smaller discussions weekly in local coffee shops and then larger monthly discussions at a local brewery/restaurant.
The controversial practice of meeting in the back rooms of The Schlafly Bottleworks and Tap Room locations made news through an article published by the St. Louis Post Dispatch titled "Beer and the Bible". The discussion groups have also gained national and world attention through articles in The New York Times and BBC.
The controversial practices also caught the attention of the Southern Baptist Convention of Missouri who will no longer finance start-up churches like The Journey related to these theologically conservative and culturally liberal practices.