TruLife Church of Ocala’s BlackJack campus is not your typical Florida church.
On any given Sunday, attendees can hear the sounds of shotguns in the distance during the church service. Even more unusual, some church goers may have brought their own shotgun with them and checked it at the gun rack at the door.
These may be cause for alarm at any other church, but this service is actually held at the Blackjack Sporting Clays shooting facility in Sumterville, Florida. With such a unique location, it’s likely one of the very few churches that invite members and visitors to bring their shotguns with them to the worship service.
“We are hoping to attract unchurched people who are coming to BlackJack to do some shooting,” said Pastor Michael Kirby. “Maybe they wouldn’t want to go to your typical church, but they decide they could go over here under the pavilion and hang out.”
‘Kind of like a golf course’
The idea for this church came from the owners of the shooting facility, who asked Kirby about starting a church plant at the facility.
“This shooting facility is really unique because it’s kind of like a golf course. They have four different courses,” Kirby said. “You rent a golf cart and you drive around and shoot clays at all the different posts. It’s like playing golf but you’re playing with a shotgun.”
It’s a casual kind of church service, as one would expect in this setting. Sunday services are held on a large porch or pavilion that has been enclosed by thick, clear plastic, offering plenty of natural light and wooded views. The enclosure also keeps the cool air coming from the mobile AC units inside.
A large 80-inch television screen and a full sound system are used to play the prerecorded sermon from Kirby most weeks. The plan is to offer the televised sermon three weeks of each month, with Kirby or another pastor from TruLife Church in Ocala preaching live there once a month. James and Michelle Clifton are the campus hosts who coordinate the worship services each week and greet all guests. Taylor Kirby, the pastor’s daughter-in-law, leads worship for the service.
Soft opening
The church held a soft opening a couple of months ago and officially launched on Sunday, Oct. 25, with Kirby preaching, followed by a picnic lunch. The day before, during a national competitive shooting event at the facility, volunteers from TruLife passed out flyers and invited attendees to the service. They also went door to door that Saturday, inviting residents of the surrounding neighborhood.
“We’re not wanting to take people away from their own churches,” Kirby said. “We are wanting to reach those who are unchurched. We’re hoping the people who come to the facility to shoot on Sunday may decide to come and see what this service is all about.”
And while those attending the church service may hear others shooting clays at other parts of the course, he’s already heard from some shooters who say they can hear the worship music coming from the service. He’s hoping that may pique their interest in this church.
“That’s the hope — that maybe they will hear the worship music and it might get them to stop and listen,” Kirby said. “They might not come inside yet, but they’ll be out there worshipping in the middle of the grass.”
‘Super excited’
Before the launch, Kirby visited other churches in the area that are more video-driven and offer televised services at separate campuses to learn from them and get practical tips. While seating capacity currently sits about 40, Kirby said they will be ready to expand as the need arises.
“If God chooses for this church to take off and grow, we will do whatever we need to do to accommodate as it grows,” he said, noting the facility owners are all in.
Members from TruLife came out to assist with the launch and help get things going. “I am super excited about this and our people are super excited about this. I think this is going to be amazing,” Kirby said.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written David Moore and originally published by the Florida Baptist Convention.
