Country United States Founder Ron Martoia | Senior pastor(s) David McDonald Phone +1 517-750-1111 | |
Denomination Non-denominational, evangelical Christian Address 1000 Robinson Rd, Jackson, MI 49203, USA Similar St John the Evangelist Catholic, Trinity Wesleyan Church, Queen of the Miraculou, Cornersto Christian Church, Cascades Baptist Church Profiles | ||
Westwinds Community Church is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian church located in Jackson, Michigan, The church has received regional and national attention for using innovative techniques during its weekly services.
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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. The TIME magazine article and other media attention concerning Westwinds and Twitter prompted Abingdon Press to contact Pastor John Voelz to write a book about the role of social media in the church. Voelz published Follow You Follow Me: Why Social Networking is Essential to Ministry in 2012.
Since 2005, Westwinds has been led by multiple lead pastors in what is referred to as a "shared leadership" model. Pastors John Voelz and Dr. David McDonald are the current lead pastors. This role was shared by Randy Shafer until his death in 2008. Much of Westwinds' leadership philosophy was written about in Voelz's book, Quirky Leadership: Permission Granted, published by Abingdon Press, 2013.
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, which pioneered ministry to “seekers”. Westwinds was also at one time considered by some to be an emergent church. Since 2005, Westwinds has been led by Pastors John Voelz and Dr. David McDonald. Both Voelz and McDonald are considered lead pastors in a shared leadership model they refer to as Coriolis using the metaphor of the Coriolis Effect to explain the team and their roles. Pastor Randy Shafer was a founding member of Coriolis and he remained part of the team until his death in 2008.
Books that mention Westwinds
• Thing Everyone Craves That Church Delivers • Engaging Worship Blueprints • Pastorpreneur • Future Church • Unfreezing Moves • Experiential Storytelling • Quirky Leadership • Follow You Follow Me