Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I am not starting this thread to be controversial or confrontational. I am certainly not saying that every church should be like the church I attend.

I have always felt that churches have different "personalities" and that is a good thing. One church may appeal to an older demographic based on the music (think traditional and Southern Gospel here) while another appeals to a much younger generation (think louder and contemporary).

That is just one example of how churches can be different and reach a different segment of people. There are other factors including just being a traditional church building, dress expectations ,etc that can make people not want to visit or be a part of a church.

A lot of the younger generation are moving away from traditional concepts of church in both dress and look of the building in an effort to reach those who are turned off by traditional church. My church is one of these.

I am pasting a link below to an article in our local newspaper about our church and it's community outreach project for October. We do something different each month.

The article also talks about our church quite a bit, has a picture of our sanctuary (we have 3 services in there each Sunday), and a picture of our pastor.

Our pastor is a former UPC Youth Pastor who started this church about 3 1/2 years ago with a handful of people. We now run between 350-410 over our three Sunday services. The church is not a wealthy church though because it has a lot of college students and lower income folks in it.

I just thought it would be interesting to share with a lot of traditional Pentecostals a kind of church they may not have seen before (and many will be horrified at! LOL)

http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...=2012310190046

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

This is one church that my husband and I could attend. It certainly is very untraditional.
But both of us would fit in that church well as we are oddballs in the traditional sense of pentecostalism.

Why would I like to attend this church? Well, it seems that because there is no emphasis on a monetary return for themselves, but it seems to fall in line with this scripture:



Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

(James 2:18)

That scripture intertwines with this man's statement:

“We do these things almost as an obligation to the community. ... There’s no (monetary) return on it. We do it because we believe that’s what Christians are supposed to do,” Trimble says.


I can be a part of a church that has $9 chairs and support beams instead of padded pews and chandeliers, who feeds the homeless and ministers outside of the bars. :nod

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

One thing I really appreciate you my pastor is his work ethic. When he started this church he was working two jobs to support both his family and the church plant. It was only about a year ago that he became full time with the church. When he counsels people to work hard he is speaking from experience!

As far as the $9 metal folding chairs go I feel a burden to raise money for some padded chairs! I am way too old to sit in a metal chair for more than five minutes!

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

One clarification I would like to make is that in the article it is mentioned that my pastor does not have a degree from a seminary. That is true but he is an educated person with a Bachelor's degree in English. He taught school at one time.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

The Holy Spirit can and does teach people...straight from the Bible and while in prayer.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Looks like an anything goes type of church.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Not at all. The Bible is taught very strongly.

You're got to be kiding.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

LOL!!! You know they are not. One of the reasons I hesitated posting this article was that I knew there will be a barrage of ridiculous posts by people who think "anything goes" if you don't preach the OP laundry list of do's and don'ts.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

atmosphere reminds of my church. Started 17 yrs ago with a a hand full of people ion rented halls, set up and tear down after each service.

Today we are in 65,000 sg ft of paid for building with two sunday services that total 1200

A sunday night service for high school and college age replete with their style of loud music.

Sounds like this guy is on the right track

check us out at www.calvaryqc.org

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I only have one question. Do they teach Acts 2:38 as THE plan of salvation or A plan of salvation?

The do's and don'ts I'd care little about.

You're not going to attend either way.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

We teach the entire Bible not just Acts 2:38. We teach what on AFF is known as One Stepper doctrine so if you are asking do we teach 3 step salvation doctrine the question is no.

We do baptize in Jesus name and believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, the gifts of the Spirit, etc.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Anything goes type of church?

Come on.

I know people whose hearts are searching for God, but won't step foot in a traditional pentecostal church because they are ashamed of their clothes being old. Some of the women only have pants in their closet. Why can't these people go somewhere that they know they won't be ridiculed or pressured to buy new clothes that fit the pentecostal dress code? Why can't they be able to feel genuine love without having to look 'holy'?

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Sounds like a great thing your church has going CC1! Wonderful to hear about the outside-their-doors ministry too!

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

For those who might be reading this thread but have not clicked on the link to read the article and look at the pics what KBTW is referring to are some of the outreach activities we do.

Every Sunday morning while our first morning service is going on we have a group of church folks who go to a local park and feed 40-75 homeless people breakfast.

Another outreach is called BAR. About every other Saturday a group of our folks (mostly college aged) go outside of bars and offer people coming out coffee to sober them up and hot dogs. It lets people see we care and also is a good opportunity to share Christ with folks

We also do a community outreach each month. This month it was offering free professional portraits photographs for people and families who cannot afford that on their own. We also provided haircuts and free makeovers. This coming month our monthly outreach will be going into a neighborhood near the church and cutting peoples lawns, pulling weeds etc.

Oh, and we do also preach the word of God three services each Sunday! We go through the Bible book by book. Typically one chapter per week.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Lol! Now C, you know me better than that!

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I read the article referenced in your post.

This sounds like a great church.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

CC1, would you get a haircut, a make over, and a photograph and post it here for all of us to see? :happydance Saw your article. Very impressive! Sounds like a great church with a "great pastor!" And blessed to have you there!

Been Thinkin

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Sam, my hair was already cut too short to cut anymore! I could do with a makeover though.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

If y'all aren't screaming hellfire in the microphone I don't want to hear about it...

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

LOL!! No "holy breath" from this preacher. Also no red face, veins popping, and looking and sounding insane. Thank the Lord!

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Don't forget the holy wheeze!

Ha. As I recall, you don't have the holy breath or wheeze, just a bit of cadence, but not too much.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Hmmmm.......I have been deprived as I don't think I know that. I have experienced plenty of "holy breath" and microphone "popping" that is obviously annointing but no holy wheeze.

I am trying to imagine what it is like. Please describe.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

It's just the regular run of the mill wheeze with a tad of holy breath mixed in it.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I am a "3 stepper" who believes strongly in standards of Holiness...however I do feel that we can change up our way of doing things without compromising our principles. I actually feel that especially in urban settings that there needs to be an openness to change and relevancy....again as long as core principles are not abandoned in doing so.

....but tattoos???? seriously???


(I sorta figure he got them before he came to the Lord....seeing his background was that of a cocaine addict)


I would have recommended he cover them up for the interview....because now he is probably going to be associated with kooks like Todd Bentley.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

The holy wheeze ... let me try to describe.

.....!!And God said ..(suck in breath creating a wheeze) ..(read verse then another HW!)

Repeat throughout the sermon! The more annointed then the more HW!

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Would it have helped you more if I would have screamed at you?

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I see. I pretty much lump that in with "Holy Breath" but I see where you could make a distinction. It clearly is another sign of "annointing"!!!

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Why would he cover them up? While I don't like tattoos I don't know why someone would hide them if they have them unless they are profane. If you are around him you would never confuse him with any charismatic nut. He is not like that at all.

If the tattoo bothers you I might as well go ahead and tell you that our female praise and worship singers wear pants / jeans, and virtually nobody dresses up for church. In the winter I sometimes wear a sports jacket and I saw one guy Sunday with one on.

As far as the pastor's background goes he was raised in church until he was 11 years old then his family did not attend church. When he came to the Lord he was in his 20's and as you stated had been a cocaine addict, etc and was really in bad shape health wise.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I love Pastors with a story! Not just someone raised in the Church. I have a stinky background before Christ and it was too many time I heard I would not know anything about that Bruther Mike I was rasied in the church. :foottap

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I think it helps with the kind of ministry this church has because it is geared towards young people and people who are down and out and may have a lot of issues. The pastor can relate to addictions, etc.

The cool thing also is that he is educated and well spoken so can also relate to other people as well. We are seeing our church become more balanced as a lot of young families are now attending along with the college aged.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

im a water/spirit holiness guy and I like it!

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

The real question CCWON is does this guy yell when he preaches?????

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

I like it... Of course I'm kinda crude and have tattoos ;)

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

The holy wheeze is more pronounced in preachers who weigh over 400 pounds as is holy sweating. :heeheehee

Maybe then. Do that now and I'll drown you in the baptistery.

Re: Non Traditional Church Pastord By Ex UPCer
 

Just do it in Jesus Name and you should be Ok. :happydance

Fun is ovah. Back to worhk.