Weekly Devotion: February 13, 2025
Boat Church
The Gospel of Luke records a beautiful preaching moment by Jesus along the shores of Lake Gennesaret (also called the Sea of Galilee). The people in the region were excited to hear from this man from Nazareth who was changing the world. The crowds were so large that Jesus asked Simon (Peter) to let him sit in the boat a “little ways out from shore” at a better angle for everyone to see and hear him. (Luke 5:1-11). All were amazed that day by what they heard from the Savior.
Inspired by this scene, Rev. Hal Brady of Clayton First UMC started a ministry at Lake Rabun 53 years ago called “Boat Church.” This simple ministry idea sought to capture the enthusiasm from this particular scripture passage in the community around Lake Rabun. Rev. Brady found an old pontoon boat, rigged up a primitive sound system and recruited a simple choir consisting of a few youth members and a guitar player. A dozen or so church members volunteered to show up at the shore and in boats that week. No one knew if it would be successful. The boat anchored a little ways out from shore” the first Sunday and 100’s of people gathered to worship. For the past five decades, hundreds of people in the Lake Rabun community gathered on shore, in boats, or in the boat house to experience a simple 30-minute worship service, each Sunday morning at 9am between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Boat Church has become a wonderful tradition for all Christians to come together and worship in the beauty of God’s creation.
Boat Church is also amazing evangelism, a word we may not be very comfortable with today. Evangelism conjures up images of slick salespeople for Jesus or bullhorn shouting street corner preachers. Boat church is a ministry that goes to where the people are and shares Christ’s good news in a place and a way people can hear it. The lake is a casual, camp-like environment where a simple inspiring message about God can be heard more readily.
We have a unique opportunity to do something similar here at Lake Oconee. Church attendance decreases in the Summer because people go on vacation. Many folks go to the lake to fish, swim, and participate in other activities. We have a unique opportunity to reach out to folks who are otherwise not in church on a Sunday morning. Interestingly, several components have come together for this to start. Camp Collinswood, our local United Methodist camp property, graciously volunteered their lakefront facilities for worship services. A church member volunteered their boat to host the worship crew. We have preachers and gifted musicians ready to jump on board. Lastly, I’m waiting on a grant to renovate the bathrooms and buy a sound system.
Come to a Lake Oconee Boat Church information meeting on Sunday March 9th at. 4pm in the Asbury Gathering room to learn more about the nuts and bolts for this new ministry in our church!
Peace,
Rev. Zack Martin
