Church In the Acres sits on Wilbraham Road in the Sixteen Acres neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts, where it has been a fixture of the community since the late 1950s. An American Baptist congregation affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA, the church offers two Sunday morning worship services in the same sanctuary, Christian education for every age on Sundays and Fridays, and a tithing program that channels ten percent of every offering into local, national, and international mission work. Pastor Chris Lister, the church's seventh settled pastor, leads a congregation that traces its roots to twenty-seven worshippers who gathered in a public school on the first Sunday of December 1957.
From a Schoolhouse on Twelve Acres to a Sanctuary Under a Steeple
The story of Church In the Acres begins with First Baptist Church of Springfield. In 1957, members of that downtown church who lived in the Sixteen Acres area were dismissed to form a new congregation closer to home. They held their first service on Sunday, December 1, 1957, in the Sixteen Acres public school, with twenty-seven worshippers in attendance. Rev. Alfred H. Boutwell served as interim pastor and saw the small group grow to 117 members while plans for a permanent building took shape.
On March 1, 1959, Rev. Charles L. McEachern became the church's first permanent minister. Six months later, on September 27, 1959, the congregation walked out of the school building and into its newly constructed home. By 1965, Church In the Acres had 287 active members and 203 pupils in the church school. Over the next three decades the church would call six more settled pastors, each leaving a mark on the congregation.
Rev. Wilmer M. Potter served from 1967 to 1971 and grew active membership to 375 by 1969, with more than 200 non-members using the building each week. Rev. E. Gage Hotaling followed from 1972 to 1984, a period the church remembers for increasing activities and strong loyalty. Rev. David C. O'Brien, who served from 1985 to 1998, led the construction of a $900,000 expansion completed in 1992. The approximately 8,000 square foot addition added a permanent sanctuary, offices, a library, and supporting spaces to the building that worshippers still use today.
After interim pastorates by Rev. Dr. William Hayden and Rev. Harold J. Martin, the church called Rev. Daniel J. Nicewonger as its fifth pastor in 1999. He served until 2008 and oversaw a season of expanded ministry and spiritual growth. A second worship service was added on January 11, 2004, planned and led by a praise and worship team. Rev. Gregory S. Dyson joined the staff as Minister of Christian Education on November 8, 2004, and later moved into the role of interim pastor before becoming the church's sixth settled pastor on February 8, 2009, serving until August 2012.
Rev. Steve Thompson bridged the gap as interim pastor from November 2012 through April 2014. Shiloh Bradshaw then served as Bridge Pastor from July 2014 until January 2016 before returning to full time seminary training. Judy Jones stepped in as interim minister on March 1, 2016. On June 12, 2016 the congregation voted to call Rev. Christopher Lister, and he began his service as the seventh settled pastor on July 1, 2016.
Two Sunday Mornings, One Sermon
Sunday is the heart of the week at Church In the Acres, and the church offers two distinct worship experiences that share the same sermon.
The Traditional Service runs from 9:30 to 10:45 AM in the sanctuary. It is designed for those who prefer a more structured worship experience, with hymns sung to organ and piano, occasional choir anthems, and handbell music. The Contemporary Service follows from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in the same sanctuary. It has a more casual feel, with praise and worship music played mostly on acoustic guitar and lyrics displayed on video monitors. Both services deliver the same message from Pastor Chris, so worshippers can choose the musical style that fits them best without missing the teaching.
Between the two services, from about 10:45 to 11:30 AM, an Adult Bible Study meets in the Friendship Room library every Sunday except the first Sunday of the month. The current group is examining the book of Lamentations with Dr. Ben Chenault. A recorded series on Christian Apologetics with Dr. Charles Bennett is offered for those who want to study the reasoned defense of the Christian faith, working through 1 Peter 3:15 and the Greek roots of the word apology as a defense rather than an apology.
Children and Youth at Church In the Acres
Church In the Acres takes seriously the call to teach the next generation. Children's programming is woven directly into the Sunday morning services so that parents do not have to choose between worship and their kids.
Kid's Club runs during the sermon portion of both Sunday morning services. Partway through the service, children from kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to gather and head to the Friendship Room next to the sanctuary, where they participate in crafts and activities while learning about Jesus at their own level. The program is designed for younger children and runs alongside the adult sermon.
Youth Group meets on Friday evenings at 6:30 in Walker Hall. The program is divided into two age brackets. Junior Youth Group covers sixth through eighth grade, while Senior Youth Group covers ninth through twelfth grade. The church describes these Friday nights as unpredictable, with team building, problem solving, and more than a little mess in the mix.
For adults who want to dig deeper, the church runs a Christian Apologetics study with Dr. Charles Bennett that walks through twenty-one sessions of a recorded series. The premise is simple and drawn from 1 Peter 3:15: believers are called to be ready to give a reasoned defense of the Christian faith to those who disagree.
Adult Bible Study and the Question of Apologetics
Apologetics, as taught in the Adult Bible Study at Church In the Acres, is not about being sorry. The English word apology comes from a Greek word that means to give a defense. Christian apologetics, then, is presenting a reasonable defense of Christian truth to those who disagree, and the church teaches that it is a necessary aspect of the Christian life.
Dr. Charles Bennett, the instructor, leads a recorded series of twenty-one lessons that walk through the foundational arguments for the Christian faith. The Adult Bible Study between Sunday services complements this with a current walk through the book of Lamentations with Dr. Ben Chenault. Together, these studies offer a structured way for adults to grow in both the scriptures and the reasons behind them.
A Tithing Church with Local, National, and International Reach
Church In the Acres is a tithing church. Ten percent of all tithes and offerings received from the congregation are directed to local, national, and world charities and mission efforts. The remaining funds cover the operating costs of salaries, utilities, and maintenance, along with the broader Great Commission work that the church sees as its primary mission.
The international mission partner is Rick and Anita Gutierrez, family doctors and global servants working through International Ministries in South Africa. They train and equip health builders to combat lifestyle-related diseases such as HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure, heart and artery disease, diabetes, and malaria in homes, schools, places of worship, and marketplaces. The health builders also receive training in fruit tree propagation, gardening, and poultry skills to promote good nutrition and generate income. To meet spiritual needs, the Gutierrezes lead Bible study groups in their communities, and the church prays with them for a disciple-making movement in South Africa.
The church also supports White Cross, an International Ministries initiative that fulfills specific requests for everyday goods and supplies from global servants and partners. White Cross focuses on the small things: toothbrushes, baby supplies, bandages, and vitamins.
At the national level, Church In the Acres participates in four annual offerings administered through American Baptist Churches USA. The America for Christ Offering in February and March supports ministries with marginalized children, mission trips that respond to hurricanes, resources that cultivate Christian leaders, and chaplains who bring comfort to hospitals and nursing homes. One Great Hour of Sharing in May and June funds disaster relief, ministries to displaced persons, and development projects. The World Mission Offering in September and October supports International Ministries' 120 plus global servants and 250 plus global partners. The Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering in November and December, established in 1977, supports ministers, missionaries, and their widowed spouses who have devoted fifteen or more years of service to ABC USA.
Local Mission Partners in Springfield
Beyond its international reach, Church In the Acres maintains active partnerships with several organizations serving the Springfield area.
Christina's House, Incorporated is a Christ-centered ministry with a mission to educate, embrace, and encourage women and their children who are homeless or near homeless through the love of Jesus Christ. The vision is to provide selected mothers and their children with life skills needed to become self-sufficient as they transition from homelessness to permanent and stable environments.
Clearway Clinic, located in Springfield and Worcester, provides free and confidential medical services, support, and resources to women who think they may be pregnant. During a consultation, women receive accurate, unbiased information about their options and the physical and emotional effects of each, both via telehealth and in person.
First Pioneer Valley Dream Center is dedicated to meeting the tangible and intangible needs of the community through free services like a weekly food pantry and a monthly clothing closet. Their motto is to find a need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it.
Young Life's mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. The ministry builds personal relationships with middle school, high school, and college-aged young people, providing fun experiences and walking alongside them in a community of caring adults.
The Springfield Rescue Mission has shared hope and light through the love of Christ for more than 130 years, providing food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, Christian counseling, literacy training, and advocacy to the hungry, homeless, addicted, and less fortunate. Church In the Acres volunteers once a month to provide a hot meal at the Springfield Rescue Mission. Volunteers are needed, and the church encourages anyone interested to contact Joanne in the church office at (413) 782-2577 to get involved.
Christmas Eve Service and the Annual Calendar
The Christmas Eve Service at Church In the Acres is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Pastor Chris frames the season around the idea that Christmas is not about the sparkling lights or jolly men in red suits. It is not about the gifts under the tree, but about THE gift. God gave all people the gift of Jesus, through whom eternal salvation is possible. The service celebrates THE gift through music, story, scripture, and pageantry, and the church invites neighbors to join as a family for an evening of true joy. Past services have been recorded and shared online as a sample of what to expect.
Two annual fundraisers bring the wider community onto the church grounds. The annual Rummage Sale takes over the outdoor parking lot in front of the church if the weather is good, or moves entirely indoors if rain is expected. Tables can be rented for twenty-five dollars, and donations are accepted the week before the event. The annual Craft Fair gathers a curated list of vendors, and both events serve as fundraisers to benefit the church's mission to promote the kingdom of God.
Giving and the Big Y Gift Card Program
Church In the Acres uses Zeffy as its preferred online donation method. With Zeffy, the full donation reaches the church, and donors can adjust the voluntary tip to Zeffy itself or opt to give them nothing. Major credit cards and ACH transfers directly from a bank account are accepted. PayPal is also offered as an alternative, and donations through Facebook use PayPal to process payments, with a small administrative fee deducted. All of these methods are linked from the church's Donate page.
For those who shop at Big Y grocery stores, the church runs a Big Y gift card program that costs the shopper nothing extra. For every hundred dollars purchased through the church, Big Y donates five dollars back. A shopper who pays for a one hundred dollar gift card receives a one hundred dollar gift card, and the church receives the five dollar donation. Gift cards are available in twenty-five, fifty, and one hundred dollar amounts, with larger amounts available by special order. They can be picked up after both Sunday services or purchased at the church office during normal business hours.
Periodically throughout the year, the church hosts additional fundraisers such as tag sales, working for Big E vendors, and Friday night BINGO. The Donate page frames giving around Malachi 3:10 and the call to test God in the matter of tithing, with the assurance that every gift is appreciated and used to promote and grow His kingdom here on earth.
Visiting Church In the Acres
Visitors are welcomed with practical details that make the first visit easier. The parking lot wraps all the way around the church, with plenty of parking close to the door and handicap spaces reserved near the main door. Visitors enter the main sanctuary door located under the steeple.
Dress code is simple: there is none. The church believes that Jesus is more interested in the condition of a visitor's heart than the condition of his or her wardrobe. Wear whatever feels appropriate and come as you are. Children are welcome, and the church embraces the sound of little ones in the service, quoting Mark 9:37 from the New Living Translation: anyone who welcomes a little child like this welcomes Jesus. Kid's Club is available for children from kindergarten through fifth grade so they can learn at their own level.
The church answers several frequently asked questions on its First Time Visitor page. It is a member of American Baptist Churches USA, and American Baptists have always maintained the need for autonomous congregations responsible for articulating their own doctrine, style of worship, and mission. Visitors are not expected to give money. While the Bible does teach believers to give of time, talents, and treasures, the church does not pressure anyone into giving. Political views are not expressed from the pulpit. The church believes that political views should never be expressed as a matter of church doctrine, even as open discussion among members is welcomed. Visitors do not need to bring anything. Bibles are provided in the pews in the New King James Version, though anyone is welcome to bring a Bible they are comfortable with.
The Mission and the Tagline
Church In the Acres summarizes its purpose in three short verbs: Celebrate God's love and grace, Connect with one another, and Care for God's people everywhere. The church's tagline gives that mission a fuller shape: Where Christ is at the Center, the Bible is our Guide, and People Matter. Growing Disciples to Transform the World.
This mission shows up in the structure of the church week: two Sunday services sharing one sermon, Christian education for every age, a tithing program that channels ten percent of every offering into mission work, and active partnerships with organizations serving Springfield and the wider world. The Advent, Lent, and Christmas seasons are marked with special articles from the pastor and the annual Christmas Eve service, while Easter is observed alongside an explanation of how the date is set and why it changes each year.
The Pastor's Voice
Pastor Chris Lister writes a monthly Connection article for the church newsletter and church blog, addressing the rhythm of the Christian calendar and the daily life of the believer. The articles, gathered on the church's blog under the heading Connection Article, range from reflections on Advent and the meaning of the purple liturgical color to lessons drawn from coffee preparation, chimney sweeping, marathons, and the patience of Simeon waiting for the Messiah.
Recurring themes tie the writing together. The Christian life is presented as a daily surrender that is renewed moment by moment, not a one-time decision. A relationship with God requires making time, slowing down, and being still, just as any other friendship does. Suffering and struggle are not denied; the pastor points to Jesus' words in John 16:33 that in this world there will be trouble, but the believer can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world. The mission of the congregation is repeatedly framed around the idea of being blessed to be a blessing, drawing on God's call to Abraham in Genesis 12, where God promises to bless Abraham so that he may be a blessing to all peoples on earth.
The pastor also writes about the church as a movement rather than a museum. Using the image of a movement becoming a museum led by a caretaker, then a mausoleum led by an undertaker, the articles invite the congregation to embrace the risk that the original charter members took in 1957. The tagline at the end of each article remains the same: In the Lord's service till the last fish is caught.
Reaching the Church
The church office at 1383 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, Massachusetts is open Monday from 9 AM to 1 PM, Tuesday through Thursday from 9 AM to 3 PM, and Sunday from 9 AM to 2 PM. The office is closed Friday and Saturday. The main phone number is (413) 782-2577, the fax line is (413) 782-6856, and email reaches the office at info@churchintheacres.org. Worshippers and visitors can also stay connected through text notifications by texting add me to (833) 313-4688, by following the church on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, or by subscribing to the church newsletter from the home page. The Christmas Eve service is held at the church building, and the annual Craft Fair and Rummage Sale open the doors of the church to the wider Sixteen Acres community for a day of shopping, fundraising, and fellowship.