Discovery Waterworks Ministry Team: pictured left to right are: Greg Smedley, Associate Pastor; Kent Chevalier; Pastor, Jill Daly, Children’s Ministry; Ryan Phipps, Worship Leader and Southside Pastor; and, Dan Martin, Creative Arts Coordinator

There is a breath of fresh air occurring when it comes to church. Instead of going to church, the church is now coming to you. And, it is coming where you would least expect it to be – theaters, lofts, storefronts, and homes. There is a new generation of ministry taking place on the basketball court, ski slopes, coffee shops, entertainment centers, Clubhouses and in homes. In the midst of all this is Discovery Church Waterworks in Fox Chapel.

Where studies over the past decade have indicated less than 30% of the population attend a church in this area (with churches declining and some closing or merging) Discovery Church is busy growing. Where the very word ‘church’ often turns people off, Discovery Church is finding people getting excited about being part of a faith community. “I never knew church could be so much fun,” one person said after becoming part of Discovery Church Waterworks.

Church being fun? You’ve got to be kidding! According to Kent Chevalier, Campus Pastor, introducing persons to the community of faith means developing relationships. That translates to developing relationships on common ground by getting together, eating, hanging out with each other and having activities and events (including fun) that everyone in a group enjoys. It also means having different type of groups so everyone can fit in. It is in this environment that trust, honesty and openness takes place and the gospel is communicated. And, yes people at Discovery Church Waterworks are finding it fun!

Discovery Church is all about discovering the Christian message. It is communicating an eternal truth today in a way this generation will understand. And, it is reaching people where they live and through the way they communicate today.

Sunday Worship services (9 and 10:30 a.m. at the Waterworks Theaters) are planned with today’s generation in mind. The music, worship, announcements and a message using multi media communicate in a simple, straight forward manner. It isn’t repetitive or has the trappings of what many see as boring church services. From the minute someone walks in they are engaged in a low key friendly environment. Coffee and other drinks along with donuts are at the front entrance. Babies, kids and youth will find creative and active areas designed to both entertain and communicate the gospel message. The Service affords opportunity to worship to contemporary Christian music played by a band. Different styles of music are presented by shared music ministries. Each week there are enough changes in the Service to keep everyone’s attention and participation.

Discovery Church meets every Sunday at the Waterworks Theater

What commonly is called preaching is the ‘message’ at Discovery Church. Introduced by a video, the message is relevant and is given in today’s terms. Truth isn’t sacrificed for convenience or to purchase someone’s attendance. Kent said, “We don’t water down the message, we are open and honest about our approach.” He added they, “. . . want to help people find their way back to God.”

That is what Discovery is all about – connecting: connecting to God and His people. Kent said, “I love connecting to people and get fired up about communicating [the gospel].” About one-third of those coming to Discovery Church are persons who have left a church at a younger age or from broken relationships. Another third are un-churched persons and others are those who are seeking a change in their Christian experience. What they are finding at Discovery Church is what Kent calls “an authentic environment”.

Discovery Church is more than Sunday mornings. Each week “Journey Groups” meet in people’s homes and a few meet in other places such as businesses. Here smaller groups gather to be together, have open discussion, eat and spend time studying. Right now Kent’s group is reading a book called “Everybody is Normal Until You Get to Know Them”. Journey offer people a place to connect with other people at Discovery who are at a similar stage in life for the purpose of “taking the journey of life together” Kent said that the church takes those attending through different levels of growth starting with membership and going on to spiritual gifts, leadership and implementation.

Considering Discovery Church is relatively new and presents a very different type of church experience, it has literally burst on to the scene, so as to speak. The initial service last year drew 275 people and since that time has averaged 217 people in the services. The church also reaches out to the community and is looking to increase their community involvement. Recently, they bought out the seats to two theaters and gave away the tickets to the movie “The Nativity Story”. When people showed up at the theater they discovered (no pun intended) the tickets were free.

Kent Chevalier is called a Campus Pastor because the Discovery Church actually has three campuses throughout the Pittsburgh area. The first Discovery Church is in Cranberry was founded in 2003. Discovery Church Waterworks began in October 2006 and Discovery Southside was just recently started. One church, three campuses. Each campus has its own pastor and staff and each share by interchanging ministry personnel. The actual name of the church is Discovery Christian Church.

There are two other team members that work with Kent at the Waterworks: Greg Smedley is the Associate Pastor and Jill Daly is the Children’s Minister. Kent was born and raised in the Beaver Falls area graduating from Blackhawk High School and Geneva College. He earned a Christian Ministry degree and went on to youth work that he started while in college. After ten years he moved to Detroit as a Youth Pastor and spent four years there before returning to the area. A college mate had told him about Discovery Church and the rest is history. Married to Erica, they have two daughters, Kalea, three years old and Madalyn, four years old. They live within ten minutes of the church.

The church office is located at 1148 Freeport Road, directly across from Rita’s in Fox Chapel Plaza. Their mailing address is Blawnox, PA 15238 and you may reach them by phone at 412-782-1010. The office is staffed each week day. You may also visit their web site at:

www.discoverywaterworks.com

or for all three campuses:

www.discovertogether.com.

NOTE: The Campus Pastor at Discovery Church Waterworks is now Greg Smedley. [Updated July 2007]