Long Beach Neighborhood Spotlight
Hope for 2022 - Church Community Building with Pastor Eric Marsh
2021 ended with a special gathering. It’s called the Christmas Taco Tuesday Extravaganza, and if that title doesn’t get you excited, the turnout of 145 pastors and leaders from 45 different churches and organizations around Long Beach should. From a Baptist Church to a not yet planted Latino Church, all walks, styles, and denominations sat around the table and shared some tacos. The heart of the event is to create a space where church leaders from different denominations can share a table, break bread (or tacos), and talk. It’s no secret that churches don’t often collaborate with one another, let alone get to know each other. But something different is happening in Long Beach. In fact, people are flying in to see for themselves what Long Beach is doing in hopes to replicate it at home.
Pastor Eric Marsh has been a pastor in Long Beach for over 25 years. He is Director of The Long Beach Church Collective, the organization responsible for the Christmas Taco Tuesday Extravaganza, and typically he remains behind the scenes. But Pastor Eric Marsh, an instigator and coordinator of multi-denominational church gatherings, has a unique perspective. He discovered one of the reasons churches don’t get along very well because they just don’t know each other. But if you give them the right space to connect, to get to know one another, partnerships form and churches begin to work with one another.
This was Long Beach Church Collective’s 5th annual taco lunch and it’s largest one yet. Their mission is to help church leaders be healthier and help them trust one another and work together, and from the looks of things it’s working.
Q: You mentioned you know all the Pastors in Long beach; do you all get along?
Pastor Eric: It has become normative in Long Beach that we all get along. For the Christmas Taco Tuesday Extravaganza, people flew in from out of state to observe what we do. If you poll any pastor in Long Beach and ask them, they’d say there is something special happening here, something that is based in trust. For the most part, we sincerely like one another.
Q: Why is LB Church Collective’s approach working?
Pastor Eric: One of our foundational values is you can’t trust anybody you don’t know. Studies out of HBR show that one of reasons companies work together is because executives meet each other, decide they like each other, and want to work on something together. I found the same thing is true with churches.
Q: How do you get people to connect at these gatherings?
Pastor Eric: Taco Tuesday lunch is one of a dozen ways in which we get them to bump into each other. We also cast vision to remind them of their first love – when they started as a pastor, they had big dreams of what Jesus might do in their city or neighborhood. We remind them of those dreams. When they get to the taco lunch, they get a card, and in order to be entered in for swag they have to do five things: eat a taco, thank a volunteer, say hi to four people if they’re an extrovert (two if they’re an introvert), meet someone who’s there for the first time, and tell somebody who’s been a blessing to them in 2021 that they’re grateful for them. And after we finished the lunch, a hundred people hung around for another 35-40 minutes. They didn’t want to leave.
“So great to connect with the Pastors all around LBC! We love each other and are there for each other, during and after Covid, especially. I love the work that the Long Beach Church is doing to pastor the pastors!”
Q: What does 2022 hold in store for Long Beach Church Collective’s mission?
Pastor Eric: One of the things we’re going to do this next year is figure out what is the best way to help pastors get help. If the numbers are true, we have upwards of 40% of pastors considering leaving the profession. Whether it’s counseling, or spiritual direction, or groups of pastors meeting together, we will be focusing in 2022 on helping pastors.
Q: What encouragement would you give a Pastor who is struggling right now?
Pastor Eric: You don’t have to do it alone. There are Pastors, there are Christian leaders, around you who really do want to serve with you, alongside you, and not take over your organization. There are Christian counselors in every part of L.A. who want to serve those who are on the front lines. One of the things I’ve learned in 25 years is that those who end up burning out often never asked for help or they asked for help too late. There are organizations throughout greater-LA, Orange County, and all over the Inland Empire who are willing to help. The city is full of pastors, women and men who have retired and would love to help you. Find out who these people are and let them help you.
“Thanks for having us! Appreciated the chance to connect with so many people I’ve been meaning to reach out to, and meet new friends.”
The Long Beach Church Collective is an amazing source for plugging into community, whether you’re a pastor looking for support in your ministry or a leadership team looking to link arms with your neighborhood churches, LB Church Collective offers unique events and an incredible support network. So, reach out, connect, and experience what the art of gathering can do for accelerating kingdom work. There is hope for you in 2022.