A Refuge to a Hurting World

by: Jordan Wales

Providence Elementary School

  On September 8, 2013, Pastor Jason Parks and a team of volunteers planted a non-denominational church in the heart of Madison County. Refuge Church was named after its purpose which is to be a refuge to a hurting world. Since its founding, it has been changing the lives and the opinions of the people it touches. The church is already starting to acquire a reputation for its excellent hospitality and how welcome visitors feel.

   As Parks explains, Refuge was made to be different from other churches, "We wanted to be a church that wasn't necessarily the coolest or the hippest, but we wanted to be a church that cared the most. There are great churches all over the state and all over the country and they're innovating in worship and they're innovating in technology. We wanted to innovate in the way we cared for people. And we want to care for people in the way that no other church has and that's really why we started Refuge Church."

Morning worship

  Morning worship takes place at 10:30 a.m. in Refuge's temporary home, the cafeteria of Providence Elementary School. Volunteers arrive early at 8 a.m. and start prepping the school for service. Cafeteria tables have to be rolled out and stored down the hall in order to move in all the gear to make the concrete walls feel more like home. Everything the church needs is stored in several large wooden carts which are then held in a trailer emblazoned with the orange and grey logo.

The carts get rolled out of the trailer, into the cafeteria, and then the group starts unpacking. Signs are hung, chairs are put out, and lemonade is made. A team over hospitality even makes sure that the little school bathrooms are decorated with curtains and accessories to take away that kindergarten feel. By ten, everything is complete and the group meets for prayer in what is now their sanctuary. Church members pass over every metal chair, praying for God to change the life of the people that may sit in them.

Praying over the chairs

  Refuge has big dreams and plans for the future. Parks envisions building a community center rather than a building for the church that would sit empty six days of the week. He wants to make it accessible to the public for whatever they may be facing in life. Parks hopes to have a social worker and counselors on staff to be able to truly care for people in Huntsville, AL. His goal is "to have a church that looks like the community."

  Member Vickie Wales joined Refuge shortly after it was planted and is a part of the hospitality team. For people visiting for the first time, Wales wants people to know that the heartbeat of the church is in its motto, "Everyone is welcome. Anything is possible."

  She explains how the common goal of helping others has pushed this church to new heights, "Because I know the caliber of the people that are in this building, they are broken and Christ has healed them, and we have such a drive to reach other people that are broken and struggling in life. Because if you are in that place in your life or if you do face it in your future, there's hope in Christ. And that is the direction of this church. To let everyone know, no matter what they're going through in life, no matter what they've done in their past, no matter what they come against in their future, Christ is hope."
  For more information about Refuge Church, it's purpose, and how to get involved, visit its Facebook or website, or simply show up Sunday morning at their address, 10 Chalkstone Street Huntsville,Al 35806.