More on Church

I do sometimes wonder if North Point would turn to just appealing to an older audience. They do continue to say they’d rather not have people who attend for years and years without becoming involved or inviting people. They want to make sure they have “open seats” available in opportune times available for visitors. When the new building north of Cumming opened, there was a big push to recruit workers not only for that building, but to replace all the workers in Alpharetta who were moving up there.

Besides to college gathering they have down at the Biltmore, for years they’ve had a Tuesday night Singles service. These gatherings are much more tailored for younger age groups, that 18 – 30 group. I doubt these would appeal much to me.

NP treats “Sunday School” workers very well, and they don’t try and overwork them with extra meetings and time commitments. They consider these expenses worthy investments. One thing I like is how teachers move up each year with the class, so a child has the same teacher for years and years. Will’s teacher stayed involved with the same group of boys, even coming to see Will’s baseball games.

Besides supporting many ministries around the world, NP thinks it important to send out many (+/-50!?) overseas mission trips every year. Besides helping the overseas missions, it is of course an experience that brings each person that goes closer to God.The trips are costly, but they make a point to get those who don’t go involved by contributing financially.

This November for the first time NP partnered with many area ministries to ramp up involvement, to help with the increased needs of the Christmas season. People could donate time, food, clothing, or money. All the ministry time slots were filled, two large truckloads of food were gathered, and over $250,000 was raised as well. They did admit “worry” that such a campaign during the traditional big year-end giving time could make them not make budget, but they did make it. Andy says one of the advantages of NP’s size and generosity is they’re able to move quickly to help needs. Yesterday he did say he felt pretty dumb for calling off Sunday church so early on Saturday, when Sunday turned out to be so pretty and dry.

Yesterday Andy preached part two of his two-part “Just Ask” series. Said that most sermons he preaches can be broken down into three groups:

1. The Law of God
2. The Love of God
3. The Resurrection of Christ

He un-characteristically mentioned how much of the election rhetoric focused on taxes and tax cuts, and little on how decreasing morality plays such a large part in increasing poverty…and how God’s Law, Love, and Resurrection can make a difference. Andy attended a conference to hear a speaker who’d written several books against the mega-church movement. Andy was able to have dinner with the guy, as both had many questions for each other. This began an e-mail correspondence. The guy asked what good it would be if everyone in the USA attended a church like North Point. Good question, said Andy, who discussed it with the NP staff. His answer was that the more people can learn and apply the above truths, the less immorality and poverty we’d have, and the more people would be making wiser decisions…like using God’s money and resources more wisely could’ve had an impact on the current mortgage foreclosure crisis. (Hey! I’m certainly going from memory on this…I should’ve taken notes!)

Personally, while it is refreshing for me and my family to experience such quality, Christ-centered environments, I understand the difference between Andy’s applicable Bible-based messages and the more traditional sermons preached in evangelical churches, more focused on the passage with an application. I may be missing expert Biblical teaching, but I can be involved in an environment God is using to attract those not in relationship with Him. The neighborhood small groups fill most of the Bible Study need, requiring more study and preparation than I ever did for any Sunday School class. Relationship development opportunities are more focused in small groups as well.

The children’s programs are of highest quality as well. They stick to basics here as well, with Bible Study focused on implanting children with three things: God made me, God loves me, and God wants a relationship with me. It is interesting that my children aren’t super crazy about the great programs, for one huge reason: their close friends aren’t there. So this would be a reason why we’d change churches.

These are of course my own ramblings. I loved SPdL for the family atmosphere and Biblical preaching/teaching. You know my experience, becoming involved in college in the youth and choir, developing relationships with families, then after graduation serving in those same ministries I had earlier benefited from. The Singles ministry wasn’t top tier, but the leaders were great and God worked great things there as well. After teaching in the youth department for years with many great people, I was disappointed to join an adult Sunday School class where people were of a different mindset. I suppose most churches are the same way (even North Point) – made up of one group that serves and another group that attends for more social reasons. Now that I’m older I realize everyone’s not in the same station in life; they serve elsewhere, or are overwhelmed with children, finances, or other things…they’re not at a place in life to serve.