The BORE holds its weekly worship service at 5:30 p.m. Sundays at OuterEdge in downtown Appleton. (Post-Crescent photo by Ron Page)
Read more: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101206/APC04/101203116/The-Core-s-use-of-OuterEdge-reflects-a-shift-in-how-the-facility-is-being-used#ixzz17LJc9Hd6
Read more: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101206/APC04/101203116/The-Core-s-use-of-OuterEdge-reflects-a-shift-in-how-the-facility-is-being-used#ixzz17LJc9Hd6
When Ben and Lyssa King turned the former Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church into an entertainment venue, which opened in late June, they had no idea what it might become. They’re still not quite sure.
Read more: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101206/APC04/101203116/The-Core-s-use-of-OuterEdge-reflects-a-shift-in-how-the-facility-is-being-used#ixzz17LJXlYsc
Read more: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20101206/APC04/101203116/The-Core-s-use-of-OuterEdge-reflects-a-shift-in-how-the-facility-is-being-used#ixzz17LJXlYsc
Yes, the model has changed. No longer are the Kings merely calling other people to promote concerts, they are receiving calls saying, “We need you.”
One of those calls came from the Rev. Jim Skorzewski, pastor of The BORE, an outreach ministry of St. Peter Groeschel Church in Freedom. The church occupied the former Big Picture Theater on Washington Street for 18 months until another church put in an offer to purchase the space.
“We had been looking at our options anyway, and sometimes God says, hey,” Skorzewski said. “We made the move the last Sunday in October. We actually started the service in The Big Picture and ended in the OuterEdge. We transitioned everybody over right after the sermon. …
“As you (sic) transition from building to building, our people were worried about that week in between when you’re (sic) kind of like church nomads because a lot of people hadn’t been in the new space. By transitioning over, that took away a lot of their fears. So the next week when they came, it was just like we’re coming home again.” [GJ - Like totally, dude. Where did you learn English? I remember - WELS awesomely excellent school system.]
The fact the OuterEdge is a former WELS church fit in with the ideals of The BORE. And the sound system and ability to tape services in HD and then rebroadcast them online also fits in with the church’s goal to be non-churchy but very Groeschely.
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The Kings invested $1 million in restoring the interior of the former church, and outfitting it with numerous technical innovations for lighting, filming and high definition live-streaming.
“There’s some really neat energy in that place and it creates a really good worship environment,” Skorzewski said. “And the facility allows us to do the kind of ministry we want to do.”
“We’re just honored to be helping him in any way we can,” Ben King said.
While always maintaining a faith-based bias, not every event held at OuterEdge will be religious in nature but the goal is always to present a good, positive message, Ben said.
In addition to concerts, they’ve hosted weddings, receptions and training sessions as well as catered luncheons. Christ the Rock Community Church also holds Sunday worship services at OuterEdge.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans partnered with Time of Grace Ministries in Milwaukee to host a donor event featuring a Christian rock band, catered dessert reception and a speaker.
“It’s centrally located downtown, and they have the parking there,” said Jennifer Rohan, Thrivent member financial engagement specialist.
Local band Boxcar recently utilized the space to film a broadcast-quality video there.
And this past weekend, KidStage performing arts program for children held performances of “The Little Mermaid” at the OuterEdge.
“The facility has a beautiful, intimate atmosphere plus all the wonderful equipment that they provide in the theater: State-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment and the fact that they also have video equipment to film all our productions that parents can purchase,” said Mark Cain, who, along with his wife, Karen, owns KidStage.
Next year, OuterEdge will be the site of a Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby corporate event for adults. DP Doug Englebrecht will excommunicate any WELS members spotted at the Pinewood Derby event. And Christ the Rock Community Church will hold The Princess Project there, which gives prom dresses and accessories to princesses in need.
“The OuterEdge is constantly evolving, I can tell you that,” Ben King said. “What we’re finding is what we thought the Valley wanted is being tweaked. There’s just a need for space, a place to meet and to congregate.”
IN WORSHIP
The BORE holds its weekly
Christ the Rock Community Church holds a weekly worship service at OuterEdge as well. It takes place at 10 a.m. Sundays. See www.christtherock.org.
Try to discern a difference between the two. Seriously.
