The storeowner adds that Transformation’s actions have inspired her to seek ways to give back to the community. In a December 26 Facebook post, Silhouette wrote, “We’re paying a family’s rent today.” The store asked local families to direct-message them with detailed needs, which would be kept private.
The Community Hasn’t Always Been Welcoming
In August 2019, Transformation Church bought the SpiritBank Event Center, a 35,000-square-foot arena, because weekly attendance had increased to about 5,000 worshipers. Neighbors haven’t been pleased, however, with the loud music emanating from the services. As ChurchLeaders reported in March, residents living nearby filed almost 100 noise complaints against Transformation, leading to 32 citations from the city. The church paid all the fines, which totaled $3,200.
Because the arena’s outer wall is made of tin, bass sounds from worship music were reverberating throughout nearby homes and businesses. One proposed solution was to add a concrete wall, plus space to absorb the noise. According to a statement from the church at the time, they were working on an “amicable resolution” in an effort to “continue to be good neighbors.”
Other community members warmly welcomed Transformation’s expansion, saying it would bring “a very genuine crowd, nice people” to the area and its eating establishments. “We want this church to stay here but turn the volume down,” said an attorney for the city of Bixby.
Transformation Continues to Flourish
In a year-end recap, Transformation reports that “22,711 people gave their life to Jesus” at the church during 2020, adding, “This is the only number that matters!”
The megachurch has experienced exponential growth, with its budget increasing more than 1,000 percent during the last three years. That has forced Pastor Todd, who’s also a bestselling author, to learn to maintain a sustainable leadership pace.
At the 2020 Global Leadership Summit in August, Todd spoke about discovering “the pace of grace.” He said, “Pace directly affects peace, and peace is true prosperity,” adding, “We need you as a (church) leader much longer than you are set up to last right now.”
Obeying God’s instructions to slow down led to numerous blessings, Todd reports. A video of him preaching went viral, Transformation was able to purchase the arena, and he became more available for his family, affectionately known as the Todd Squad. When his son was diagnosed with autism, Todd was physically and emotionally available to lead the family through “the greatest crisis” it’s faced so far.
Slowing down, says Todd, prevents church leaders from missing moments, meaning, and miracles. “The pace of grace is the sweet spot between great results and genuine rest,” he explains, comparing it to striding, which is sustainable for a long time, while running isn’t.
In addition to his popular sermon series “Relationship Goals” (also the title of his book), Todd recently attracted thousands of online listeners to a series called “Forgiveness University.” The church’s provocative 2020 Christmas theme was “F* This Christmas”—with the F standing for “forgive.”
