Chesterfield Church Celebrates Move in Music Video

Two local pastors used their humor and web-savvy skills to make a music video announcing their church's move Sunday to L'Anse Creuse North.

To spread the word about VOX Church's switch to the high school from in Chesterfield Township, the Rev. Jonathan Seller, 26 of St. Clair, and the Rev. Matt Woodburn, 30 of Chesterfield, created "On The Move Playa'" and posted it on YouTube.

"Anytime you start something new, it creates momentum in your organization," Seller said. "I think when pastors can use self-deprecating humor, it's always a good thing."

He said pastors don't just have their noses stuck in the Bible with the inability to relate to others.

"I think the perception is just a little weird, so we like to make fun of it and get at the heart of it."

Serious in Ministry

But don't let their silly dance moves and sideways baseball caps fool you. Sellers and Woodburn are serious in their devotion.

Many of the videos on the church's website show a different side of the young pastors who lead worship, prayer and participate in the musical side of the service.

Some might recognize the church, which has a slogan of "Gather. Grow. Go" for its other marketing initiatives. VOX is responsible for a billboard along I-94 in the Chesterfield area last spring that stated "God Hates Religion Too" in effort to spread its non-denominational message.

Pastoral Backgrounds

The pastors have roots in Colonial Woods Missionary Church of Port Huron, which helped finance VOX. The new church is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month.

Woodburn earned his undergraduate degree in Christian ministries at Bethel College in Indiana. He then obtained a master's degree in the same major from Bethel College while serving as a student ministries pastor in Ohio.

His longtime friend Seller, who's originally from Brigden, Ontario, studied theology at Moody Bible Institute. He earned a master's of ministry at Bethel College while working at Colonial Woods Missionary Church as a worship leader and college pastor. He is also a gifted musician.

After starting the church in a member's basement, the portable VOX Church then rented the Chesterfield Township elementary school for service. With regular attendance soaring to approximately 200 worshippers each week, the church decided to move to the high school for more space and, as the video states, better parking.

VOX Church will hold service at 10-11:30 a.m. Sundays at L'Anse Creuse High School North at 23700 21 Mile in Macomb Township. The church's phone number is 586-996-6695.