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♪ (Choir) Everybody ought to praise him. ♪
(narrator) The Reverend Kim Orr stands out at the 18,000 member
Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.
Orr is the first cross-racial appointment for this
predominantly African-American congregation,
a bold move by senior pastor, The Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell.
(Kim Orr) You want to look like what you want to become.
And so if the concept is to bring in a larger percentage of
non African-American members, then you have to begin to mirror
that in your leadership.
(Kirbyjon Caldwell) I think the kingdom consists of persons
of all ages, nations and races.
So to have a church that's homogeneous is arguably
not reflective of the kingdom.
(narrator) Caldwell encourages Sunday school
seven days a week for all ages.
He gives Orr credit for her academic strengths.
(Kirbyjon Caldwell) The first few times I met her she was
always telling me about a book that she was reading,
and lo and behold I'd go buy the book, I'd read it.
It blessed me, too.
I mean, this woman is smart.
She can recommend books that bless me.
(narrator) Orr holds two Masters degrees and has a passion
for sharing the scripture.
(Kim Orr) This is Jesus' way of condensing down the core
of Jewish prayers and inserting himself
as the fulfillment of those prayers.
They're very appreciative of a higher level of
academic rigor in the teaching.
Greek like us, reads left to right.
(narrator) She created a "Prayer and the Arts" class
that mixes theology with simple art, and often, music.
♪ (Kim Orr) Mama take this badge off me... ♪
(Kim Orr) My major goal with that class was to help everyone
see that all humans are created in the image of a creating God.
Therefore, whether you think you are or not, you are creative.
(narrator) One of the largest United Methodist churches
in the U.S., Windsor Village facilitates 75 ministries
aimed at making church relevant every day.
(class) laughing
(Kim Orr) So, you have to be prepared to come
before the Lord.
(narrator) Orr believes the secret to church growth is
in doing rather than philosophizing.
(Kim Orr) For me a vital congregation is really all
about meeting the needs, first and foremost,
the needs of the community through a biblical lens.
You really have to believe when Jesus said "Go love your
neighbor," that you were really meant to do that, not
just intellectually process and think about it,
but actually put some feet to that.
That is one of the things that makes this place
so terribly vital.
♪ (congregation) singing ♪