[A_PoMo]

Originally Posted by Sam

I attended the Springdale Vineyard from November 1992 until the spring of 2006. While there I was on celebration prayer teams (prayed for folks after the service); I was on the prayer team for the Monday Night Growth and Healing (small groups and support groups that met on Monday and some times people wanted prayer afterward); I was on the Home and Hospital Visitation team from about 2000 until I resigned effective 1/1/2008 (but I still do calls as part of this team. Yesterday we prayed for about 15 different people while visiting an area nursing home); I was a POC (Pastor on Call) from 1998 until 2003. (I carried a beeper and was responsible to solve whatever problem came in for one 24 hour period per week and one 48 hour weekend per month); I also did outreach on Saturdays; And, I did some teaching in weekend seminars; I've also done a few funerals for them.

The Springdale Vineyard was the original one and was planted back in 1985. It is the largest one around here as far as I know. I think there are about 25 different Vineyards in this area now as a result of the Springdale Vineyard. Each local congregation is autonomous and unique. There is a Vineyard just south of Mason on Rte. 42. The only time I've been there was before they moved in the building. There were some folks doing outreach in the parking lot outside the building. They were giving away cold drinks (soft drinks and bottled water) and washing cars. As per Vineyard policy, this was all offered free "to show God's love in a practical manner." A couple of us went there and prayed for them then went through the empty building and prayed for the "church" which would meet there. I don't have any idea how large that congregation is now or how well they are doing. They have a web site at:
http://www.masonvineyard.org/index.htm

Each local Vineyard is different. And not everyone will care for the Vineyard. So, I would suggest that people visit around to local churches and see which one seems to "fit" them.

For years I made it no secret while attending the Vineyard that I would rather be part of something "smaller and more Pentecostal." A couple of years ago we started going to the Hamilton Dream Center in Hamilton, OH. There I do outreach on Saturdays and since May of this year I am teaching the midweek adult Bible Study. This is a small church in a bad part of town with very limited finances that emphasizes helping people. Not everyone would like it as a church.

I'll haveto ask my sis which one she's talking about. She said it was 'big' and 'happening' but I don't remember the location.

I'm def going to look around awhile when I get there. My sis and her husband pastor a church in the area, but I'll prob not attend there regularly. I'll visit though.