Don’t be deceived by the term “Bible Belt of America.” An area deep in religious history, America’s traditionally conservative Southern region has evolved into states, districts, cities, and neighborhoods desperate for a relevant and clear presentation of the truth.

Just ask Allen Greer, pastor of Parkway Place Church in Little Rock, Ark. The demographics surrounding Parkway Place helped convince Greer when he became pastor 10 years ago that the 30-year-old Southern Baptist church would have to transition to a more effective model of ministry and purpose if it was to make an impact.

“Within three miles of our church, there are more than 5,600 families, and 45 percent are without Christ,” Greer said.

Prior to coming to Parkway Place, Greer and his wife, Nancy, had experienced “success in ministry, but we were missing the significance ministry brings.” After being introduced to the book The Purpose Driven Church, Greer said it “revolutionized the way I saw church, and God used the next two years to settle his purpose driven model in my heart.”

At Parkway Place, Greer found a very traditional Baptist church, but one primed for change. The church worked hard to understand the new approach, but welcomed the Purpose Driven model of ministry.

“I had a clear vision about what God called me and equipped me to do,” Greer said. “They were ready for the transition even before I came, and God had prepared my heart to lead the transition toward being purpose driven.”

While not all transition is easy “I constantly reminded the church that ‘we can’t stay where we are and go with God,’” Greer said. “However, as we began to make changes over time and the church began to experience ‘wins’ and the people began to experience a healthy church, other changes became easier and easier.”

Greer said Parkway Place follows an Acts 2 model that was built around God’s mission and purposes; a very simple model of “doing church” that is biblically functioning, Holy Spirit empowered, and God-honoring. Having people on the same page makes everything easier, he added.

“Our ‘Discovering Membership 101’ class introduces new people to the Purpose Driven principles,” he said. “This has been a great asset that has allowed people to be on the same page before joining.”

Greer also said small groups are the key to building relationships and doing life together at Parkway Place. Groups must be balanced in the five purposes or “they become holy huddles and stop being healthy,” he said. “Our small groups provide a place for us to grow smaller and in relationship with each other as we grow larger as a church.”

In addition to following the base approach using 101 to 401, Parkway Place utilizes Sunday morning Bible study groups for in-depth study, and community groups in small size groups for building fellowship and incorporating all five purposes while doing life together.

Greer has attended 10 Purpose Driven Church conferences and always takes other leaders in the church with him.

“One of the smartest things I ever did when I came to Parkway Place Church was to bring seven of the top influencers and leaders at Parkway Place Church to a Purpose Driven Church conference,” Greer said. “The conference shared the Purpose Driven vision in a way that would have taken me years. Each evening after the conference and for weeks to come, I was able to take the experience we had together and share my heart and how the principles could be lived out at Parkway Place Church.”

The evangelism strategy used at Parkway Place is a simple one: “Invite.” Throughout the year, the church is constantly conducting community outreach events called, “Events with a Purpose.”

“Because of these events, along with a healthy, Purpose Driven model of ministry and members who are constantly building bridges in the lives of people every day, God has added to those being saved,” Greer said. “Twenty-five percent of our growth has come through salvation decisions.”

Parkway Place was a pilot church with the 40 Days of Purpose campaign and the 40 Days of Community campaign and is working toward launching 40 Days of P.E.A.C.E. “The 40 Day campaigns have become a huge part of our DNA as a church,” Greer said. “It has brought spiritual growth to our family.”

The Parkway Place family walks out that spiritual growth by continuing to reach out to the community around them. In a low-income, inner-city area of North Little Rock plagued by drugs, gangs, and crime, Parkway Place established a ministry to provide hope and purpose to residents.

“In the middle of what may appear hopeless, God has given us a heart for the children and families in the area,” Greer said. “Our mission is ‘to share the love of Christ in a physically tangible way – no strings attached.’” The church’s work has led to more than 300 children under age 18 – living in a four-block area – being involved in the ministry.

At Parkway Place Church, ministry is intentionally purpose driven and is constantly evaluated for effectiveness and relevancy. It’s a church that is not satisfied to remain; after all, there’s a big Bible Belt that needs to be effectively reached.

All 2006 Church Health Award winner information is correct as of Jan. 1, 2006.