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How much difference can a Dinner Church make? In this episode, you’ll hear from Beckie Adams, a Dinner Church leader in rural New Mexico. Over two years, their “Jesus Table” congregation has grown to the same size as their Sunday morning congregation. But their numerical success has happened in spite of the drugs, alcohol, and poverty that are an inescapable reality in their region. Listen to this podcast to explore the difference one small church in a small town can make.
Beckie Adams felt called to reach out to marginalized populations with a meal and conversation about life for about 15 years. She retired from the secular world in 2021. Although having served as a lay minister in her denomination, she was never ordained nor had any licensure or formal education. After going through the Dinner Church School of Leadership in 2021-2022, she had the framework and details to realize this mission. In January 2023, Neighborhood Dinner @ the Landing was birthed, which Beckie serves as the pastor for this Dinner Church.
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Interview Summary
In this season of the podcast, Verlon Fosner, Director of the Dinner Church Collective is reuniting with leaders that have been trained through various opportunities hosted by the DCC.
Our focus today is on Beckie Adams, a dedicated pastor leading a dinner church in Farmington, New Mexico. Beckie, alongside her husband who pastors a traditional church, has been instrumental in introducing an innovative church model that caters to marginalized communities by combining food, fellowship, and faith in a casual dinner setting. This approach has become a beacon of hope in areas grappling with economic downturns and social challenges.
The Origins of a Community Awakening
Beckie’s journey into dinner church began out of a necessity to reach those who might never step into a traditional church. Her inspiration blossomed at a conference where the concept of dinner church was discussed, aligning perfectly with her vision of ministry through hospitality and community engagement. “That caught my eye immediately, and I had to be there. So I went, and it was like, this is what I’ve been thinking about. This is what I’ve been dreaming about.” This led her to enroll in the Dinner Church School of Leadership, which equipped her with the tools to actualize her dream.
Challenges and Triumphs
Launching a dinner church is no small feat, and Beckie’s path was fraught with personal and logistical hurdles, including family bereavements and health issues. Despite these setbacks, the launch was successful, and the impact was immediate. “We were going to launch around Thanksgiving… but we still had the idea that we wanted to launch it very quickly,” Beckie shares about the resilience needed to overcome challenges.
The dinner church not only filled a spiritual void but also addressed the communal needs of fellowship and support in tough economic times.
Community Impact
The dinner church model has notably transformed the community dynamics in Farmington. Beckie notes, “We have a high percentage of poverty… our unemployment is higher. Our homelessness is pretty extreme.” She further elaborates, “I feel like, there’s a lot of, addiction to alcohol and drugs and, so it’s a little bit different environment.”
The dinner church provides not just a meal and a message but a sanctuary for those facing the harshest realities of life, offering them dignity and a sense of belonging.
Expanding the Vision
As the concept of dinner church gains traction, it challenges traditional notions of what church means. Beckie’s story is a testament to the power of adaptive religious practices in modern society, especially in serving populations that are otherwise disengaged from conventional church settings. “They are going to church, that is their church,” she explains, advocating for a broader understanding of what it means to gather in faith.
The story of Beckie Adams and her dinner church in Farmington is a compelling narrative of resilience, innovation, and deep faith. It highlights the potential of faith communities to adapt and thrive by meeting people where they are, both physically and spiritually. The Dinner Church Collective continues to inspire and equip leaders like Beckie to transform their communities, proving that church can be both a place and an action of love.
Reflection Questions
- What makes the concept of a dinner church appealing to communities facing economic and social challenges?
- How does the dinner church model redefine the traditional understanding of church?
- In what ways can other communities adapt the dinner church model to fit their unique needs?
- How can traditional churches support emerging models like dinner church?
- What long-term impact could dinner churches have on the broader church landscape?
