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Re: Niche Churches
I think our church is a "niche" church. It appeals to those who either had a bad experience with traditional church or who just are not interested in it, etc.
Here are the things that I think make us niche (there are more but this is a start)
* Very casual worship. Pastor preaches in jeans & casual shirt. Barefoot or sandals in summer.
* Non traditional building. Our currently leased building and the one we are moving to in two weeks both do not look like churches. Interior is clean and nice but very simple. Seating is metal folding chairs,
* We go through entire books of the Bible in a row. Generally one chapter each Sunday. This is only broken up by "Vision" services several times a year where the pastor gives his vision for the church.
* Pastor very strongly teaches biblical truths including hard issues for many modern young people like homosexuality, pre marital sex, the occult, etc but does not do clothesline preaching. Members are discipled through small group ministries, etc but all are welcome to come to church without there being a "schedule" or pressure about how soon they should be where in their walk with God.
* Contemporary worship service appeals geneally to younger demographic
There is a lot more but I am tired and can't think straight! Suffice it to say that many of the things I listed above means that our church appeals to young people who might not normally go to church. We have also seen, over the past year or so, this demographic broaden from a lot of college aged member to young family's with 30ish parents and young children.
There is no "show" at our church. Everything is very down to earth. No hype or glitz. Our worship leaders do not cheer lead the congregation, etc.
To me it is interesting that this church combines two things you normally do not see combined. There are many small house churches or groups whose method of discipleship / preaching is to go through the bible systematically each Sunday but usually they are small and do not have a developed music program. We have 3 completely seperate praise & worship bands / singers who rotate Sunday's. When it is their t urn it is a long day as they arrive for practice at 8 am (after having first practiced the previous Wednesday or Thursday night) then do the 9am, 11 am, and 6 pm services.
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"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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