Derick said,
"To be honest with you, I personally believe this is a result of our
reformed theology... "

Jerry says,
Do what???????  You've got to be kidding!!!!!!  ....

.... Do I hear "Twillight Zone" theme music, or what ??????

Jerry




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Derick R. Dickens" <Derick@...>
To: <pastorsforum@...>
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2006 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Don't Need As Much Church


>I am a part of a church now that, for the first time I have ever seen,
> does not experience a major summer slump.  Of course, we do have people
> take vacations and are out of town, but when they are in town they attend
> church.
>
> Having said that, our Sunday Night is packed out and barely a seat
> remaining...
>
> I agree with you that the Lord's Day is important, afterall, it is called
> "The Lord's Day."  WHen I hear what that one person told you, that we
> don't need church like they used to... I cringe.  It is not that I need
> church but that God is so wonderful I don't want to miss church.  Yes, I
> do need it.. but it is God I am after.
>
> When reflecting what our church does to encourage strong attendance, here
> are some of my thoughts.
>
> 1.  We teach that the Lord's Day is the Lord's Day.  THis is the day when
> we rest from our work and get to experience the greatness of God.
>
> 2.  We teach that church attendance is not optional for Christians.  If
> you love God you love to come to church.
>
> 3.  We do not let secular persuits interfere with the Lord's Day.  THis is
> the first church I belong to where people don't talk about the "football
> game", NASCAR, or things like that.  If it occurs on Sunday, it is
> unimportant.  Our church does not really care about those things.  THey
> care about it being the Lord's Day.  WE don't participate in sports nor
> does our church have "Birthday parties" or other things like that.  Again,
> this is the "Lord's Day" not anyone else's.
>
> 4.  We don't believe that we have to get somewhere after church but
> believe that church is the entire purpose of our day.  Oftentimes I get to
> church at 9:15 and barely leave before 1:00.  Why?  Our people come to
> church to enjoy church, not to rush to another appointment.
>
> Of course, this does not change over night.  Yet, our church is a fairly
> good size with four Pastors (probably will add a couple more in the next
> year or two).  Yet, the people love church... they attend regularly, and
> appreciate attendance.
>
> To be honest with you, I personally believe this is a result of our
> reformed theology... but overall we take seriously the Lord's Day.
>
> Derick
>
>> Fellow Ministers:
>>
>> I believe that most of us experience lower attendance in the summer
>> time. As the old saying goes everyone is either down at the mountains or
>> up at the beach. I must admit that I am at a loss of ideas to get people
>> to attend Sunday Evening & Wednesday Evening services. I have tried
>> everything I know and the attendance is just plain pitiful. Sunday
>> Mornings do well, even with the summer slump, but the others is way
>> down.
>>
>> Recently I was sharing this with someone and I was told not to worry
>> about it, people today just don't need as much church as they use too!
>> Is that so? Do you guys believe that? I would really like to know what
>> you think! Not looking for a debate, just a discussion on the importance
>> of church.
>>
>> I know that I am old school in so many ways! I just came back from a
>> week of summer camp with our kids, and  believe me I feel my age. I am
>> sure that the culture that our kids live in today is far removed from
>> what I was raised in. But I have to wonder, is church just not as
>> necessary as it once was? Have we outgrown the worship services? Has TV
>> church, and Radio spots, and the internet made the need for church null
>> and void? Were is the local church headed? Are we moving to a Sunday
>> Morning only, and if we are, in 20 years will we even have that? Is the
>> next step that we do not need God as much as we use too?
>>
>> I must confess, that I feel that this is a wrong concept. It seems to me
>> that the less importance the church plays in society the worse society
>> gets, When I shared this with the individual I was talking too, his
>> reply was that I was just worried about my job, and felt threatened,
>> because if no one came to church then I would no longer be needed. Is my
>> push for people to come to church more of a ego thing? I need the
>> attendance to rise so I can boast about what MY Church is
>> doing...........
>>
>> Please share with me. After 27 years in the ministry I must admit I am
>> perplexed. I am 43, started preaching at 16, I have done this all my
>> life. I am concerned that the attitude about church and church
>> attendance is a symptom of what is happening to America, and that is a
>> move away from God. What do  you think?
>>
>> Kevin Jackson
>> Pastor
>> Gum Swamp FWB Church
>> Greenville, NC
>>
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>>
>> "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in all
>> things, charity."
>>
>
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> "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; and in all 
> things, charity."
>