Rick Sims

According to Rick Sims, a minister at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church and executive secretary of the Community Pastors Association, Long Hollow and First Baptist churches aren't the only ones experiencing growth.Sims counted 42 churches in the Hendersonville community and said that most, if not all, seem to be seeing some type of growth.Sims said that he is also noticing a rise in the number of start-up congregations in the area.

Sims's Good Shepherd has been experiencing growth as well.

He attributes that growth to several factors including the amount of growth the city has seen north of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bypass as well as being located on the corner of New Shackle Island Road and Glenbrook Way.

"Glenbrook has helped us to have one of the prime locations in the city," said Sims, adding that the church's new high visibility has attracted several new members.

Sims gave another reason he thinks churches are growing.

"I think people are searching for meaning in their lives and trying to fill a spiritual void," said Sims.

He noted how important it is for churches to plan for growth before it is upon them - a lesson Good Shepherd learned all too well.

With a $3 million, 34,000 square-foot Christian Life Center near completion, Sims said that the facility is long overdue.

"This really should have been built four years ago," said Sims."We quickly ran out of space."Sims said that shortly after moving into their new building in 1996, the church's attendance started to plateau in about three years.

According to the CPA's executive secretary, Rick Sims of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Waters' message was one the group needed to hear.

"Many of the couples sitting in our pews are going through domestic violence and you'll never know it," said Sims.

Rick Sims

Youth Pastor