Hamburg Baptist Church goes high-tech
HAMBURG — It is called the little building on the hill. An unassuming brick faced facade, simple in adornment, Hamburg Baptist Church is known as the little church that could.
Founded in 1798, the congregation has survived it's fair share of challenges and setbacks, yet always managed to survive. In 1889 a cyclone blew down it's steeple. It was replaced the following year.
During the winter of 1936 the church burned to the ground. That same year the bell fell on the front lawn, never to be used again. By that November the present building had been completed.
Embracing technology
Throughout the years Hamburg Baptist Church has experienced it's array of testing not only by mother nature, but also by the way our world and people live. With our fast paced culture, gadget driven society, and decline in young people's participation in worship, churches now face the task of keeping their congregation growing. And while some churches may shy away from technology, many have decided to embrace it. Hamburg Baptist Church has done just that.
"My kids have an IPhone in one hand, the laptop is open, and they are watching TV. For awhile I found it so annoying until my wife put it in perspective. She said, 'What are you worried about, they are in honors, this is just how kids live today,'" says Mark Salamone, Worship Leader at Hamburg Baptist Church.
However, by investing in projectors, software for presentations, and distributed video, the church does more then just attract young people. They accommodate worshipers who desire to attend church, yet may face difficulties in doing so.
The young family with an active toddler, the elderly gentlemen with physical challenges, or the nursing mother with a squirming infant all can sit comfortably on a cozy floral couch in a living room like setting downstairs as they watch the sermon being transmitted from onto a large screen.
Progressive church
As Worship Leader, Salamone believes that churches go through phases, and in order to be a progressive church, Hamburg Baptist has adopted technology.
"Youth is absent in church today," says Salamone. "Kids are comfortable in an environment with multi-media, sound, and music they can relate to. We have transitioned nicely to the contemporary with a balance. We want to grow more with our youth and yet still take care of the older people," he says.
Salamone, who is in charge of music, has created a pleasing combination of both traditional hymns acoustic piano, and contemporary music. The subtle transition has seamlessly blended the older parishioners with the younger set.
"When you have people like Mark who know how introduce the niceties of technology into our environment, this helps to translate our message to our youth," says Pastor Sharber.
Asked if using technology and contemporary music in churches sends the message God isn't enough to attract youth, Pastor disagrees.
"Why were there new translations of the Bible?" he asks. "When the message comes across as foreign then God comes across as feeling so far way," says Pastor Sharber.
It is not just the youth at Hamburg Baptist Church who are enjoying the changes. Howard Burrell of Vernon is a member of the church who is heartened to see the church incorporate technology and lively music into it's message.
"I am enthused about this church in general," says Burrell. "Most of my life I have lived very outwardly, but here I can just be Howard."
Burrell feels the technology blends in and just adds to the message.
Hamburg Baptist Church also holds a coffee house night on the second Friday of the month. These evening sermons are approached differently, as a fun contemporary evening with appropriate secular music in which several of the senior members have deemed quite good.
"Our Friday Night Coffee House gives young people a chance to experience our church who wouldn't normally come out to this little building on a hill," says Salamone.