Dunlop: ministry is aid, opening doors

LAKEVILLE — The Rev. Larry Dunlap is full of surprises. 

For instance, as a communications major at Baker University in Kansas, he developed a radio character inspired by Don Imus’ Billy Sol Hargus, a fictional radio evangelist.

Dunlap’s “Jesse Christopher†was the result of Dunlap wondering, “What would Jesus do if He came back today?â€

“For starters,†said Dunlap, “He probably wouldn’t be called Jesus.â€

Not as outrageous as the Imus parody, Dunlap’s Jesse Christopher advertised “Save a Soul Soda,†with the slogan, “One Swig and You’re Good for Eternity.â€

Dunlap is the minister for both the Sharon and Lakeville United Methodist Churches, what he calls a “two-point charge.†He stepped in for the Rev. Carl Fransen, who retired last year from the Sharon congregation; and the Rev. Bill Barnes, who retired from the Lakeville church.

“The bishop sent me here because I have experience as the minister of two churches,†Dunlap said.  His last assignment was on Long Island, handling duties at churches in Westhampton and East Quogue. He also hosted a radio program, “Rock of Jesus,†on WRIV-AM, mixing contemporary pop and Christian music.

And he has Northwest Corner roots: His father, Wayne, was the Methodist pastor in North Canaan in the early 1960s.

Dunlap is particularly concerned with keeping young people involved in church. 

“In the South and Midwest, Sunday school runs year-round. In the Northeast, we follow the school calendar, and kids get the idea that once they’ve graduated they don’t have to go to church anymore.â€

The United Methodist Church is running a nationwide program called “10,000 Doors.†The Web site asks: “What if church wasn’t just a building, but thousands of doors, each of them opening up to a different concept or experience of church — and a journey that could actually change the world. Would you come?â€

Dunlap elaborated. “It’s about rethinking church, as not just something done on Sunday morning, but ministry every day, to the homeless, the poor, the addicted. It’s need-oriented evangelism.â€

In his Long Island ministry, the church housed 20 to 25 homeless people every Sunday night. “Young people came and helped, they found that there were things they could do for people. It’s more effective than sitting in a pew, and eventually, I hope, they will find that faith is more caught than taught. They will learn more by doing and seeing.â€

For more information on the 10,000 Doors mission see 10thousanddoors.org. The mission also has a Facebook group page.

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