Our Favorite Church: Bellevue Community Church (BCC) in Nashville
We both knew that we wanted church to play a major role in our lives. And we knew that some form of organized religion was important to us.
The problem was we were burnt out on "religion" so to speak.
From the music... to the messages... to the church's down-to-earth pastor (David Foster), there's a lot to be said for the fellowship at BCC! Here's how we found a church in Nashville, and why we're proud to call BCC home.
Our Search For A Church
We didn't want to belong to a church just because we were "supposed" to.
Instead, we were wanting grow our faith while celebrating life and love in the company of others like us. Truth is, when we were visiting different churches over the course of a couple years, we rarely found them filled with people "like us" (...whatever that means).
So, in our search for the "right church", some things became evident from the start:
We wanted to hear good music that we could relate to. We didn't want to just sing hymns out of a book. Stand up. Sit down. Close book. Amen.
We needed to hear real-world messages, rather than just Bible-speak. Much more than just sermons, we wanted the messages to be filled with examples of how what's written in the Bible relates to US, right here ... today!
We preferred (though didn't require) a church that didn't get bent out of shape if people came in casual attire -- cuz we know that God really doesn't mind.
After many months of searching, we finally found all of this (and more!) at Bellevue Community Church.
Most of the other churches we visited were either too "traditional" (aka "boring"), or too charismatic & hand-raising (aka "charismaniacs"). But, BCC was the perfect "fit" for us.
We "officially" became members of Bellevue Community Church on November 2, 2003, and soon after we began getting involved.
Our Involvement With BCC
Here we are as Greeters -- opening doors, helping visitors find seats, handing out bulletins.
With fellow BCC'er Karen Hayes' help with the design, we created a website to kick-off the "Crazy Campaign" -- a capital campaign of sorts to build a place where kids and teens can do more than just learn about God. It will be a place to make friends, develop life long values, and have fun.
We (mostly Jim, with the help of David Neff... and others) completed a habitat-type project for a single mom of 5 kids who's house was damaged by fire.
...We're always looking for fun new ways that we can use our creative energies at BCC!
What is BCC Like?
In the words of our pastor, David Foster: "I would say BCC is a church for people who have given up on religion, but haven't given up on the desire to have a meaningful relationship with God... the message is Bible-based, but the environment is without condemnation, where people can feel wanted and welcomed, but not watched."
We also like how Pastor Dave refers to BCC as an "inter-denominational" church, rather than a "non-denominational" church. Because it includes the diversity of ALL denominational backgrounds, rather than ignoring them. He's got his own website that's pretty cool, too!
---> Here's what we believe...
---> BCC was rated "best place to worship in Nashville".
---> Here's why Lynnette likes BCC.
Here are some of our favorite "messages":
Daniel -
Yep, Dave Foster started a new church here in the Cool Springs / Franklin, TN area.
We shuffled between Bellevue Community Church and The Gathering for awhile. Now, we're back at BCC semi-regularly. There's no denying it's the best place to worship in the Nashville area.
David Perez is just as real, and he's a great pastor who is a joy to listen to.
David Foster has been gone and I'm glad.I'm Daniel a student in the launch program at bcc.My mother tells me(and Ive seen him once or twice)that a new pastor named david perez is there and ready for the job!
Dave and Paula Foster whether you want to accept it or not, you showed many many lost people the way back to CHRIST. This is what God ask us to do and you prevailed. You are awesome! I have only been to the church twice in the past year. It seems to have lost it's passion. I have been attending BCC off and on for the past 15 years. My children have been in many Christmas events, they have been dedicated and Baptized,in the church,that brought me back to Christ. I know you ask us to accept this decision, but my decision will be to find another church in which I can feel I belong again. Please let us know if you will be minstering in the future I would love to attend your services. I am wishing no ill fate on BCC, I also hope they succeed. May God Bless us all and know that you are indeed a man of God and he himself has shown all of us that.
Hey Guys - Lynnette and I can appreciate everyone's concerns and thoughts. Probably the best place to share your thoughts can be found here: http://www.weloveyoudaveandpaula.com/
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone.
Jim & Lynnette
He did build this from scratch and gave all of these men their positions. They were his friends and they stabbed him in the back. People behind him are planning on attending Sunday at 10am service to call for a vote. These 6 men said the church doesnt have the right to choose their preacher. We think they are wrong and it is not their church it is everyone's church. What Christian uses police protection to get their way and keep someone out who they claim they love. These 6 men are so hypocrytical. They stood on that stage and said they love him yet they stabbed him in the back. Hope no one loves me that much.
They wanted him to listen to a man that was not a Christian and Dr Foster stood up for what was right. They wanted Dr Foster to lie and he refused. I hope he stays in Nashville. Anyone who can please come to the 10am sunday service and ask for a vote of the church and for removal of these 6 men. These men do not show a true Christian attitude. They are 6 small men who think they can play God. This seems to be Satan's work and not the work of Christian people.
WHAT GIVES 6 MEN THE RIGHT TO PLAY GOD.THE PASTOR HAS DONE A LOT FOR THE CHURCH AND PEOPLE'S SOUL!!!!!!
YOU6 MEN ARE WRONG!!!!!!
YOU NEED TO BRING THE MINISTER BACK.
WHAT WRONG? ARE YOU NOT RIGHT WITH GOD AND YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS MAN OF GOD SPEAK THE TRUTH???WHAT DON'T YOU FIND ANOTHER CHURCH IF HE IS STEPPING ON YOUD TOES??
How sad. Iwouldn't be surprised to see Dave pack up & leave town. Didnt he um...like you know personally build this thing from faith? I wonder how many elders would have been able to secure that land & financing.
Carlene -
I would say your best way to contact Dr. Foster is through his personal website: http://fosteringhope.com/
we are very upset about what happen to dr. foster and would like to know if you have a way for us to contact him. we are totally behind him 100%. he is a very good pastor. thank you..........
The elders are trying to tell the church who they will and will not have as there leader. IT is a case of a few men having too much power and letting the power go to their head. They will not comment on it because they are hiding as they know what they did was wrong. I heard Dr Foster talk today and he is deeply heart broken . This action is of no fault of DR Foster and I will follow him to any church he goes to. These few men did not realize how many love Dr Foster and thought they could bully him out and bully us into taking it.
Teresa -
We haven't been to BCC in quite awhile, so we don't have any info. We're way out of the BCC loop at this point.
(For the record, here's the article from the Tennessean that Teresa was referring to.)
Having seen the newspaper article in Sundays paper; could you or someone tell us what has happened at the Bellevue Communicy Church. Surely, the founder of this church is not being replaced by someone else........Best Regards
Hi Wayne,
To answer your question, we haven't been to BCC in quite a few weeks, so we don't exactly know what's going on with David Foster...
Are you still going to BCC? What is going on with David Foster. Is he still there?