After a couple of weeks hiatus i was back visiting LAncaster churches this week and specificly, our church plant, NewSong West and the church to whom we purchase their facilities in 2000, Faith Bible Fellowship Church.
NewSong West continues to worship each Sunday at Trinity Reform Church at 9AM. Just as when we planted the church in 2004, they meet in the fellowship hall, but the church is completely different from when we started this ministry. A matter of fact, it was funny on how many people did not know who I was??? The church still has many of the originals and it was great to see them. Pastor Bill Heistand did not preach this week; he had one of the men in the church Steve Musser share the Word and they are doing a series of messages on "Knocking down the Wall" in the church to expand their ministry. I was very encouraged by what I saw -- namely the number of people. There is a wonderful group of people worshipping together and this was a mid-summer Sunday! The service began with announcements by Pastor Bill and then a nice selection of worship music led by Brad Rhine. They have a good rhythm section, but could do with some additional worship singers to fill out the sound. The room is not made to worship -- instead it deaden sound...so you sing and the words drop to the floor. No one's fault -- just the reality of the room. Steve then preached on "Knocking Down the Wall of isolation." The idea of the message is that we live in a isolated world - where we are very independant and lonely -- but as Christians we are to be connected, involved and fellowshiping. There was no real exposition, great ideas but little Bible used to explain the concept. The one encourage I would have to Steve and other preachers that use "fill-in sermon notes" -- make sure it is clear when the listener is supposed to be filling in the blanks. When it is confusing, it distracts from the sermon. Still he did a good job communicating with passion and concern about the topic. I had to leave before the service was completely finished to get to the next service. Nevertheless, it was good to visit with our sister congregation.
The next stop of the morning was Faith Bible Fellowship and Pastor Dave Thomann. I met Dave seven years ago when we were presented with the opportunity to purchase 609 Prospect Street facility. He was so helpful in that process. They moved to there new facility in 2002 -- a wonderful multi-use building on Donnerville Road, right behind Leisure Lanes. FAith has two services, 9am and 10:45am, and i am not sure what the early service was like, yet the one we attended was full. It was a special morning in that they introduced their potential youth pastor. It just so happened that the youth pastor's wife is the sister of Jared and Josh Schnapf, members in our church! Everyone seemed excited with the fact of havinig a youth pastor -- they have been without one since 2002. Probably the surprise of the morning was that Pastor Dave leads the worship. A matter of fact, Faith was the most "pastor-led" service I have ever attended. Every facet of the service, Dave is involved. He plays guitar very well and has a good voice, and most important his presence provides stability. That is the word i wrote down on the bulletin - stability. Faith is a stable church. They have a number of gray heads in the congregation; middle age and young. I did not see a lot of youth and college age - but they probably are there, they have a wonder new youth facility built on the property. There were a number of excellent special numbers and then Dave preached. He is preaching on the "Signs of the Lord's Coming." Today he was looking at the actual events that will give indication of the second coming of Christ. I am not sure if Dave is an ammillenialist or a mid-tribulatist, but he did indicate that he was had a different position. Not sure what that meant? His message was simple and clear, which i really appreciated. the service ended with a worship song.
From both visits -- two observations -- both very friendly and both had good ushering. Those are two unseen but very necessary elements that either makes or breaks a visit. Thanks to Pastor Dave for the kind welcome -- it was a joy to be with your congregation!