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04-01-2016, 04:36 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Some of you have followed my posts over the past few years about the phenomenal growth of the independent Spirit filled church I am a part of. We are not traditional Pentecostal and in the world of AFF discussions would certainly be "one stepper's" although we baptize in Jesus name and it is emphasized heavily.
Three years ago we moved to a new building from a sanctuary in a old downtown grocery store that seated about 150 people to a location that seated about 650 people. Our new building was a leased 100+ year old brick factory that is a very cool building with the perfect vibe to reach the unchurched who are turned off or not interested in traditional churches.
We leased one side of this building and it housed the 650 seat sanctuary, Sunday School rooms, nursery, and loft meeting room that will seat about 125 people for youth services / events. The rear of the building is leased by a micro brewery and a bread company. A year later we leased 4,000 sq feet on the other side of the building for offices and more meeting rooms for small groups, etc.
When we made that move our 150 seats at the old location had become full as the church had grown from a literal handful of people to around 400 people in four years (we had three Sunday services to accommodate them).
Easter Sunday three years ago (2013) we moved in the new building and had 713 people that Sunday. After Easter attendance dropped to around just over six hundred as a norm then started steadily growing. The largest attendance we had before moving was 450 one Sunday.
When we moved in the new building with our 650 seats we kept the same three Sunday services and felt like we were set to handle growth for some years to come. People kept coming though and after a year or so we realized we were quickly running out of room. The initial solution was to go from 3 weekend services to 4 which we did. Two Saturday services (5 pm and 7 pm) and two Sunday morning services (9 am & 11 am). This bought us a little time but this past year we realized that we were once again out of room as we have been averaging around 2,000 folks each weekend.
After prayer and careful consideration we pulled the trigger on leasing and building out the larger half of the building on the side where our offices and meeting rooms are. Saving money (we paid cash for the build out and the church owes no money to anybody) and developing building plans then getting them approved took some months before actual construction began but around the first of the year work began.
The new additional footage houses a new 1200 seat sanctuary, 200 seat chapel, fellowship hall, new nursery (the old one will become a Sunday School space for special needs children), and additional rooms and offices.
Remembering how our first Sunday at this new location three years ago saw us having 713 folks on Easter Sunday when the largest attendance we had prior was around 450 made me curious as to how this Easter Sunday, our first in the new 1200 seat space, would be.
We are keeping the same four weekend services and Easter Weekend we had 3,370 people at church! God has really blessed this church in a supernatural way. It will be interesting to see if any / many of the almost 1,400 additional folks to the number we usually have will come back or stick.
Our Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor wrote a book last year about the birth and growth of the church up to that point. Here is a link to the print and kindle edition of that book at Amazon. Below that I will also post a link to the church website.
http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Purs...=Corey+Trimble
www.experiencecc.com
__________________
"I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
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04-01-2016, 06:12 PM
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Registered Member
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Central Texas
Posts: 2,801
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Finally! Letting down standards worked for someone!
J/k, glad for the growth.
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04-01-2016, 07:43 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Feb 2007
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
I forgot to mention that in addition to not owing a dime to anybody the new sanctuary, chapel, fellowship hall, offices, etc were all done by church members other than the plumbing and electric.
On a work Saturday a few days before our first service the idea was for the volunteers to assemble 650 seats from 9am - 2 pm. We had so many people show up they had the 650 seats assembled in just 2 1/2 hours!
We would like to buy the building which is priced at about $4 million dollars but the pastor doesn't want to do it until we can pay cash for it. He is determined not to ever let a payment on debt hang over his head and effect any decision making or subjects of sermons, etc.
__________________
"I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
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04-01-2016, 07:46 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,848
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Quote:
Originally Posted by seguidordejesus
Finally! Letting down standards worked for someone!
J/k, glad for the growth. |
LOL!!! The funny thing is we teach the bible through chapter by chapter, verse by verse and don't skip any of the "tough" parts. So while not in the way of a traditional Pentecostal church we focus on discipleship and following Christ not on just coming on Sunday and listening to some good music and hearing a nice little positive thinking sermon.
__________________
"I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
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04-02-2016, 11:38 AM
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Registered Member
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 46
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is a "one stepper "?
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04-02-2016, 03:03 PM
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Unvaxxed Pureblood too
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 41,046
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRK
Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is a "one stepper "?
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Just accept Jesus into your heart? 
__________________
"all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
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04-02-2016, 11:30 PM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,848
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRK
Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is a "one stepper "?
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For a lot of threads and posts on the subject just search the AFF forum using the search feature.
Basicaly "three steppers" are the traditional OP (Oneness Pentecostal) view that salvation is a three step process of 1. Repentance, 2. Water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus, and 3. The baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
"One steppers" are those that believe that ones salvation is secured upon repentance and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. Of course that is really only the beginning and most "one steppers" believe that water baptism is very important and that all Christians should want to do it as it is something Jesus felt was important enough that he himself did it and all Christians should want to identify themselves with the Lord through the act of baptism. We just don't condemn people to hell if they have not done that yet.
My church would be a further deviation from a "one stepper" Oneness Pentecostal church as we do not consider the trinity as being a belief in "3 Gods" as I was taught trinitarians believed and we do not believe any human has a full understanding of the godhead. So we are not considered a "Oneness" church by "Oneness" folks as we don't argue against trinitarian doctrine. We would make the case that we are in fact "Oneness" though since we believe in one God. We also baptize in Jesus name.
If you click on this link and find the "baptism weekend" button you can watch one of our baptism service sermons for more info on our doctrine.
http://experiencecc.com/#/watch
__________________
"I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
Last edited by CC1; 04-02-2016 at 11:34 PM.
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04-03-2016, 06:54 AM
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Unvaxxed Pureblood too
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 41,046
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Quote:
Originally Posted by CC1
For a lot of threads and posts on the subject just search the AFF forum using the search feature.
Basicaly "three steppers" are the traditional OP (Oneness Pentecostal) view that salvation is a three step process of 1. Repentance, 2. Water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus, and 3. The baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
"One steppers" are those that believe that ones salvation is secured upon repentance and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. Of course that is really only the beginning and most "one steppers" believe that water baptism is very important and that all Christians should want to do it as it is something Jesus felt was important enough that he himself did it and all Christians should want to identify themselves with the Lord through the act of baptism. We just don't condemn people to hell if they have not done that yet.
My church would be a further deviation from a "one stepper" Oneness Pentecostal church as we do not consider the trinity as being a belief in "3 Gods" as I was taught trinitarians believed and we do not believe any human has a full understanding of the godhead. So we are not considered a "Oneness" church by "Oneness" folks as we don't argue against trinitarian doctrine. We would make the case that we are in fact "Oneness" though since we believe in one God. We also baptize in Jesus name.
If you click on this link and find the "baptism weekend" button you can watch one of our baptism service sermons for more info on our doctrine.
http://experiencecc.com/#/watch |
Oh, a one stepper is a Baptist.
__________________
"all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
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04-03-2016, 07:17 AM
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Unvaxxed Pureblood too
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 41,046
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Quote:
Originally Posted by CC1
"One steppers" are those that believe that ones salvation is secured upon repentance and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. Of course that is really only the beginning and most "one steppers" believe that water baptism is very important and that all Christians should want to do it as it is something Jesus felt was important enough that he himself did it and all Christians should want to identify themselves with the Lord through the act of baptism.
We just don't condemn people to hell if they have not done that yet.
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So, you are a Two Stepper? 
Ever been driving down the road and hit a patch of black ice?
__________________
"all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
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04-03-2016, 08:15 AM
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Administrator
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,848
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Re: Easter Weekend - First Services New Sanctuary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa
So, you are a Two Stepper?
Ever been driving down the road and hit a patch of black ice? |
Close to it! LOL. Our pastor says that to ask "must you be baptized" is the wrong question. The right questions is "why wouldn't you want to be baptized".
__________________
"I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
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