About Us
We're a local church in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Our Story
Rooted in the model of Acts 2, our gatherings are participatory, not performative. Together, we commit ourselves to study God’s Word.
Shipyard is led by a plurality of equal elders, shepherds under the same Word as everyone in the room. Meet our leaders.
We practice worship, prayer, fellowship, evangelistic outreach and mutual care. Simple, ordinary disciples making disciples, day-by-day. Come and see.
Our Mission
We're called to share the good news. To those outside the faith, come and see. Redemption is waiting.
To fellow believers, filling a room with Sunday spectators isn't our aim. But if you've been waiting on the sidelines, eager to serve and willing to grow, we've been praying the Lord would send you. We'd love to meet.
What Makes Us Different
We just want to be faithful, not merely different to be novel. If you've been to conventional churches, here's what might surprise you.
Participatory gatherings.
Dialogue, not monologue. We read Scripture together, discuss it, ask questions, and encourage one another. This is not a performance. Everyone has a voice.
Tentmaker oversight.
No paid staff. Our leaders make a living on their own, just like Paul did. Every dollar given goes to the mission, not to payroll.
Shared leadership.
Our elders are ordained, equipped to teach, shepherd the flock, and perform pastoral duties as equals. We are stewards of this ministry. No one owns it.
Multiplying through mitosis.
We stay small on purpose. Deep relationships require proximity. When we grow, we do not build a bigger building. We prepare people to launch new groups.
Simple and reproducible.
Teaching. Worship. Prayer. Fellowship. Mutual Care. No fancy equipment. No assembly required. Anyone called to ministry can do this. That's the point.
Common Questions
Is this a real church? +
Yes. A church is not a building or a budget. It is the people of God gathered together. We teach, worship, serve, make disciples, and care for one another. That is what a church does.
What do you believe? +
We hold to historic, orthodox Christianity. The faith once for all delivered to the saints. We affirm the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. You can read what we teach.
What denomination are you? +
We are nondenominational. We are part of the Local Faith network of simple churches.
What happens on a typical Sunday? +
We meet at 10 AM at the Loring Center in Plymouth. We open the Bible and walk through a passage together. We discuss it, ask questions, and pray for one another. It is relaxed, participatory, and real. Kids ages 6 to 12 have their own time in the Word. See our calendar for more.
Can I just show up? +
We would love that. Reach out so we can welcome you and share the details. No pressure, no commitment.
What about kids? +
Kids are welcome and included. We are a family, and families include children. See more about children at Shipyard.
Do I need to believe anything to come? +
No. Come as you are. Ask questions. Wrestle with doubt. We are not looking for perfect people. We are looking for honest ones.
Do I have to join or volunteer for something? +
No. Come and see. Our mission is to make disciples. Serving grows organically from a heart eager to bear fruit. Never from guilt or obligation. It happens when and if you are ready. Some people attend quietly and go home. That is welcome too. No one is drafted here.
Do you record or livestream? +
No, and that is on purpose. We want everyone to feel free to join in, ask questions, and share openly without a camera in the room.
Where does the money go? +
We have no paid staff and minimal overhead. Giving goes to mission work, benevolence, and equipping others to start simple churches. You can learn more on our Give page.
Come be with us.
We would love to meet you. Reach out and we will get you connected.