BOAT CHURCH AT VIRGINIA BEACH
Go to any coastal community around the country or throughout the world and you’re sure to find marinas and beaches buzzing with enthusiasm. In these communities land meets sea and amidst sunny skies and refreshing breezes everyone can experience “salt life”, a lifestyle revolving around the ocean. It’s that place that combines basking in the laid back rest of ‘chill’ all while having fun through all kinds of recreation from tame kite flying to adventurous jet skiing. Once in a swim suit slathered in sunscreen many may grab a case of beer but definitely plenty of cold drinking water and make a day of it. On Sundays during the summer more people are finding there’s something more than what they may envision ‘a day at the beach’ to be. It’s Boat Church. You should find a boat church service you can attend. If there isn’t one where you’re boating then seek God, network with others and get one started.
Virginia Beach Boat Church has a mission to engage and lead people of all ages to worship Jesus Christ on the beach and on the water, and inspire them for service to others in a faithful local church. It is a nondenominational outreach ministry that members of the Virginia Beach community have created to spread the Gospel in a unique way that will reach those who may not usually be church goers. The services from Memorial Day through Labor Day and are open to everyone providing a Christ-centered experience for all who attend. Watch this video to learn and see more then explore even further.
Governor Bob McDonnell: Here’s a way to go to church. You just go go church in your boat. You listen to the pastor for 45 minutes then you go water skiing, tubing, fishing, whatever you want to do. The whole idea is a community-based church. It’s a way to bring in those people who may not go to a brick and mortar church but love going out on the water.
Ronnie McAdoo: The method has changed but the message stays the same. Come out with your beach chairs and family to hang out on the beach or in your boat or whatever – you get to hear the Word of God. It gives you the freedom to bring your family and have your kids in a safe zone where you can focus and hear what God has to say to you.
If Jesus Christ was totally committed for us, surely we can be committed to serving him with all the gifts, talents and abilities he has given us to be used for his glory and honor. Volunteers have the opportunity to minister to people.
It’s not just the pastor’s job to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it’s everybody’s job.
David Proffitt: It’s a very informal style of gathering. We have people who just wander in on the beach because they’re here on vacation and want to be part of the celebration.
This isn’t a fad or trend. We’re committed to see people connected to a deeper relationship in their faith and connected to a local church.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF BOAT CHURCH
The lyrics to the 1874 Frances Havergal hymn, Take My Life And Let It Be, could have easily included a verse, “take my boat and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee”. Boats were tools used by God even during Christ’s time on earth – They still are today.:
- Jesus walking on the water out to the disciples in rough waves
- Jesus calling out to Simon and Andrew fishing
- Jesus guiding disciples to an abundant fishing harvest
THE BOAT AND BEYOND – WHAT WILL YOU DO?
But the story isn’t really about the boat, it is about YOU saying #herIam Commit yourself to being available for a greater purpose, have a usable attitude, be used by God where you are, and then see the harvest that only God can do. Maybe you have a boat – use it! Maybe you simply have an above ground pool in your back yard or an umbrella on a beach. Perhaps it’s tubes on pond or a raft in a river. You may be on the deck of a cruise ship. Whatever you have, wherever you are, God wants to use you along with Christians there to do a good work.
Look at the examples below to consider how others are doing boat church and more:
Georgia, Clayton, Lake Raybon
Georgia, Warwick, Lake Blackshear
Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii SeaFarers Ministry
Hawaii, Honolulu, Waikiki Beach
Kentucky, Lewisburg, Lake Malone
Louisiana, Gramercy, Our Lady of Blind River Chapel (accessible by boat only)
Michigan, Union, Long Lake
United Kingdom, London, St. Peter’s Barge
FOLLOW ME TO THE WATER – AUDIO
To enhance this feature story we’re including a variety of audio resources below for you to enjoy and share. We think they’ll help you Shout! along with those of the Virginia Beach Boat Church and our Shout! OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE community.
- The first is an audio version of the video we produced about VB Boat Church.
- The second is the song The Martyr by Chris Howland (the song that inspired the title to our feature story).
- The third is the song Build A Boat by Colton Dixon.
GET TO VIRGINIA BEACH FOR CHURCH – BOAT CHURCH!
Start making your travel plans to go to Virginia Beach. Arrive by air and discover not just a great place to vacation but home to many people. Travel by road and bring your boat, stand up paddle board (SUP), kayak, fishing gear, bikes, disc golf gear, running shoes and everything else you want to Shout! outdoors. Do your trip over the weekend in the summer and make plans to get to Virginia Beach Boat Church to experience the fellowship first hand. Use the links below to access the Virginia Beach Boat Church website for all the latest details and to access map – A Travel Lifestyle Magazine our resource to help you Go Where God Is.
QUESTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION AND GROUP DISCUSSION:
1. Think about the times you’ve gone to the beach and ocean, a lake or river or some other place where you get to enjoy being outside in or near the water. Recall what you did and thought about – how you occupied that time and space. What would it have been like if you were more mindful of God? What could you do to make these times your opportunity to hear from God and be more worshipful? Describe what that would be like if you encountered the presence of God’s Spirit while on the water. Take a moment to identify a couple of specific ways you can intentionally connect with God the next time you’re out in a boat, on the beach or poolside.
2. What could you discuss with a friend or family member if you took the chance to do it the next time you are outside at the water? What kinds of conversations do you normally have during these times? How could the experience be more rich if instead of having recreational conversations you pursued having deeper or more personal conversations? What’s it take to let such deeper conversations go beyond talk and become a time of connection with God?
3. When you’re at the pool, on the beach or out on the water in a boat with others what would it be like if you took some time to simply pray, read some Bible passages or play and sing some worship tunes? What would be like to invite your family, friends or others there to join you? What would it be like to work toward launching your own boat church initiative wherever you do water activities?
One Response
I have been participating in Virginia Boat Church for the past three seasons, with our fourth season just beginning. It is a wonderful experience to worship along the waters of our beautiful First Landing State Park where folks who want to gather can do so on any sort of watercraft or they can come to the beach at “the Narrows” in the park and enjoy listening to the service. Thanks so much for publishing such a wonderful article as the word gets to even more folks!