I have seen a church ALIVE

[Gerald Creasy]

As has been mentioned I am spending a few weeks here in Palm Harbor Florida in the home of my brother.

I have been able to visit two Wed nights and a Sunday morning.

MAN THIS CHURCH IS ALIVE.

Wed night attendance exceeds my church's Sunday morning. And Sunday is packed.

The Majority of people are under 40 and MOST are early 30s or younger. MANY young cpouples.


I have never seen such a domino effect of personal witness bringing new people in. Person one brought in Person Two who brought in Person Three.

Sunday a newbie filled out a whole row with folks he rustled up.

It's ALive!!

The Worship services are amazing....in spite of a couple of "new agey" love poem choices.

The people participate in class discussion and respond to the message in ways I have rarely seen.

AND they hang around after the service. Some dont even move from the pew until a good 20-30 minutes after serevice is over, fellowshiping one with another.

I kinda dread going back to "The Library" Shhhhhhh!!!


And look who is saying this; I don't "gush" about anything without a tint of criticism.

[kurt73]

It sounds like the church has a very good Evangelistic program. Churches was never meant to be a place of holding/stationary, the doors should be a revolving doors, with new people coming in and the saved going out. That is why a lot of church are dead, not growing. No outreach.

[rough_rider]

Maybe their all coming out for the"new agey love poem choices" . J/k Seen Scooter and his congregation on youtube, they are ALIVE for sure.... It's so awesome to hear about churches experiencing revival.

[scooter]

You know that means something.

I'm so glad you got to see for yourself rather than just guess at what it was like.

Thanks for sharing such a positive critique!

[scooter]

It sounds like the church has a very good Evangelistic program..

Response: The best, a reliable witness.

Nothing will ever substitute word of mouth from a credible source.

[MacUser]

Fantastic! I love hearing about an effective ministry that is actually doing it's job. This should be normal, this should be baseline average.

What is the problem and how do we fix that? The message itself isn't the problem so it must be us.

These effective Churches need to be highlighted, studied and promoted as leaders in our movement. Not so that we can beat our chests.. but so we can apply whatever principles will work for us at our local locations.

Then ministry teams armed with this knowledge.. need to be sent forth from the top down in a revival restructuring fashion for those that will listen.

[Pastor Gary]

Gerald, I am seriously delighted that you experienced a real, genuine, alive church. Those of us who attend (or lead) such churches are saddened to think that our churches are the exception, when they should be the norm.

Encouraging services, lingering fellowship, hugs, smiles, new faces, excitement... those should be the normative experience for church-goers.

[Gerald Creasy]

Those of us who attend (or lead) such churches are saddened to think that our churches are the exception, when they should be the norm.

I can honestly say in my 47 years of life I have NEVER seen a church this vibrant.

NEVER.


There was not one self righteous prune face around....unless it was mine.

[Gerald Creasy]

There was not one self righteous prune face around....unless it was mine.

Look I even crack on myself. If y'all think I'm rough on people you oughta see me with my self.

[RamboPreacher]

...
... hugs,.. those should be the normative experience for church-goers.

though if I were visiting, I wouldn't come back. I know I am the exception, but I know many others like me and and I am not a touchy-feely-kind of guy, and if I were to have hugs forced on me (I'll reach out with and for a handshake), i wouldn't be back. hay - just sayin'...

[Pastor Gary]

...
... hugs,.. those should be the normative experience for church-goers.

though if I were visiting, I wouldn't come back. I know I am the exception, but I know many others like me and and I am not a touchy-feely-kind of guy, and if I were to have hugs forced on me (I'll reach out with and for a handshake), i wouldn't be back. hay - just sayin'...

It's a cultural thing: Hawaii is a HUGGY place, and a handshake offered here would be perceived as cold and distant. Adapt the concept to your area, and proceed.

[RamboPreacher]

yup = zactly

[DeWayneTN]

The difference in greetings in different churches is an interesting topic. I've been to some where it was all handshakes, grew up in pretty much all hugs. I prefer hugs to no hugs.

[Pastor Gary]

These effective Churches need to be highlighted, studied and promoted as leaders in our movement. Not so that we can beat our chests.. but so we can apply whatever principles will work for us at our local locations.

Then ministry teams armed with this knowledge.. need to be sent forth from the top down in a revival restructuring fashion for those that will listen.

From your lips to God's ears. (But my phone is not ringing off the hook with invitations. How about you, Scooter?)

[beckrl]

There was not one self righteous prune face around....unless it was mine.

Look I even crack on myself. If y'all think I'm rough on people you oughta see me with my self.

That's a good one.

The Worship services are amazing....in spite of a couple of "new agey" love poem choices.

The people participate in class discussion and respond to the message in ways I have rarely seen.

AND they hang around after the service. Some dont even move from the pew until a good 20-30 minutes after serevice is over, fellowshiping one with another.

I kinda dread going back to "The Library" Shhhhhhh!!!

That is contagious isn't it.