In some areas particularly in that area it is very expensive to build and the Pastor who built the building has become very ill. The new guy might not have the confidence to do that. I don't know the new guy.
I understand and agree about undertaking a building program. What I don't understand and agree with is not utilizing the existing facility with more services to allow for growth.
__________________ "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"
CC1 - do you think churches should have daughter works?
Absolutely and this church does in some surrounding communities which I commend it for. That does not in any way effect how baffled I am that any church blessed to be full would allow that situation to remain static for a decade.
__________________ "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"
God needs a break after working in one service. Two-back-to-back-service churches are obviously dead and dry.
LOL!!! That is the best explanation I have heard thus far.
__________________ "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"
Typical 3 stepper success story. Around 350 people and has been that for a decade!
Why don't you call and ask the pastor instead of asking the forum? If they are like a lot of churches I know, there is a continuing flow of families moving away and new people replacing them, which explains the head count.
I also know of several Baptist, AOG, Church of Christ and Catholic Churches around my area that have had the same number of people for over 20 years.
Why don't you call and ask the pastor instead of asking the forum? If they are like a lot of churches I know, there is a continuing flow of families moving away and new people replacing them, which explains the head count.
I also know of several Baptist, AOG, Church of Christ and Catholic Churches around my area that have had the same number of people for over 20 years.
There are reasons I can't go into here that make that something I can't do. The family I know that used to go there moved to another state a few years ago or I would ask them what the thinking is.
__________________ "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"
350 is all that the pastor/pastoral team can handle?
Very few pastors of any sort can effectively grow churches past this point.
There are some notable exceptions, even in the Apostolic ranks.
__________________
If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under - Ronald Reagan
I recently visited a medium size (approx. 350 people) UPC church that I last visited about 9 years ago. Nine years ago when I visited the church was very full, probably at about 95% of capacity so effectively full.
I knew somebody that was a member of that church so when i saw him a few days later I mentioned to him that his church needed to build a new building or add additional services since they were so full. He told me that they had only been in their current building about 3 years so they were not able to build again this soon.
Fast forward 9 years to 2015 and I visited this church again and found out that this church is still full BUT has never build a new facilty NOR added any services!!!
This astounds me. I am curious what you folks that are still UPC or old time Pentecost of some brand say about this. Is this common?
Since 9 years ago this church has moved from having a Sunday morning and Sunday night service to one very long service on Sunday afternoons. They have Sunday School at 1 pm then worship service begins at 2 pm and lets out 3:30 - 4:00 pm (potentially 3 hours of church - which it was and maybe a little more the Sunday I visited recently).
For the life of me I can't understand why this church has not moved to add at least one more Sunday service to split the congregation to allow room for growth. This is a well organized church with intelligent leadership, a good music program, and seemingly well organized. I am must baffled.
I know of a church about 2 hrs away that was experiencing great revival 400+ every service. It was standing room only, good church, strong in every way, Prayer,worship, revival, seperation, evangelism, and doctrine. after a couple of years they decided to build and after the church was built the spirit of revival was gone, the church today is beautiful with about a 1200 seat auditorium, with about 3-400. Now they are letting down in order to try and fill it again.
Not sure what happened?
__________________
Im just doing my best, untill I learn to do better. Thank God I'm not what I used to be!
our situation is a bit different. completed a beautiful buidling about 2 years ago, got a new pastor a year ago after the other guy retired...
we have grown by from less than 120 a service 3 years ago to over 200. we seat at max 350.
We are already talking about what we do when we get to 65% capasity. our long range plans include busting out walls, adding services, changing to chairs, finishing out unfinished areas of the building.
we wont be doing what this church is doing. So I wouldnt say this is a "UPCI" thing so much as a thing related to the addresss of the church you visited.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
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