What is your church about?

Our local newspaper is doing an article on the various churches within this great city of Connellville, Pennsylvania.  (I am not being cynical... this really is a great city just waiting to happen.)

The reporter asked me, via a letter to provide what makes our church unique.  I am not sure we are so unique but I wanted to give her some of the values we embrace.  

There are several emphasis that we embrace:

1.  We believe that Jesus has only one church in a city... different expressions, but one church.  If that is true, then we are not in competition with the other churches... we are part of the other churches and they are part of us.  So if they do well, so do we... if we do well... so do they.  Kinda of removes the whole, our church is better than yours.  Our church is different... our expression of worship is contemporary simply because that is who we are and what we like.  Doesn't make hymns wrong or right... I love hymns... sang them through my whole childhood... but that is not how we worship God at City Church.

2.  We believe that young people are not the church of tomorrow... they are the church of today.  We must think generationally.  We (the older people) have had our day... have had our music... have had our expression of worship.  If a church is going to grow, it must have new life.  That comes from young people.  And to communicate with young people you must be very real... and very relational.

3.  We believe that everyone influences someone... why not influence them positively for the Kingdom of God?  Leading people is not left to only those who stand behind the pulpit, but we take seriously what Jesus said before He ascended to heaven... "go and make disciples of all the nations."   Doesn't really leave anyone out.  So that means that I can reach some, you can reach others... and together, we can reach those who reach everybody else.  Pretty simple, huh?  Does it work, you might ask?  So far it is.  Last year 2007 we have led over three hundred people to make a decision of Jesus being Lord of their life.  Some joined other churches, some are here at City Church, and some are still searching... but it does work.

4.  We also have small groups that meet all over the area.  We currently have over 60 small groups that meet in a thirty mile radius.  Our small groups are the source of reaching so many.  How hard is it for someone who hasn't been to church in years... or even has never been in church to walk through those intimidating doors and sit in a seat without feeling totally foreign and out of place.  Yet that is how we have expected people to come and hear about Jesus.  It is "good news."  So why do we keep it captive in the four walls of our local church?  We just want to take it out where it belongs?  ...to the people that Jesus died for.  We do that in our schools, our jobs, the grocery store, everywhere there are people... the amazing message of Jesus needs shared.