10 Questions Unchurched Are Not Asking About Your Church

This caught my attention this morning so I wanted to share it with you.  I just reprinted it exactly as it was written.  Please don’t be offended at me if there is something on this list that you dislike.  I think we should be “seeker friendly” and all, however, how about let’s just “Give them Jesus”!  He’s the one that is going to make all the difference in the world anyhow.  Jesus! In our services, outreach programs, youth programs, Sunday School, on the bus routes, music department, in the warm handshake of welcome, etc., “I Give You Jesus”! In all of His power & glory! That is what will change a visitor’s heart and make them want to come back to our churches.

Editor’s Note: Sometimes we spend too much time asking—and answering—the wrong questions. In this post Perry Noble helps us get back into the shoes of the unchurched. Here are ten things unchurched people are probably not asking about your church:

1. “What do you do to disciple people?”  (This question is usually asked by people who want to “microwave” spiritually, not understand that they themselves actually became mature in the “crock pot.”)

2. “Who is speaking this weekend?”  (They usually don’t care about the WHO…it’s the WHAT that matters to them.)

3. “Are you reformed in your theology?”  (Most of them have no idea what in the heck this means!)

4. “Is your church spirit-filled?”

5. “What version of the Bible do you use?”  (Many unchurched people don’t even really know there are different versions!)

6. “What denomination are you affiliated with?”

7. “How many different activities can I sign my family up for in order to add to the insane schedule that we already have?”

8. “Does your pastor teach exegetically through the Scriptures?”

9. “Are there lots of crosses and pictures of Jesus in your church?”

10. “Are you guys pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, or partial trib?”

Author: Perry Noble

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All I Want for Christmas…

This is a picture of Nathan, Danelle and I singing, “Your Presence” at our Christmas Concert.  The words caught my attention as soon as I heard the song.

“In the busy Christmas noise, All the light, the bells, the toys,  I have found You are the only source of comfort and joy.

Lord, I want Your presence for Christmas.  I want Your presence for Christmas.  I long to hear Your spirit speaking peace to my heart.  Of all the gifts I may receive, there’s only one I really need.  And it’s Your presence, Your presence for Christmas.

When this Holiday is through and the year is fresh and new, what will linger are the moments spent, my Lord just worshiping You.

Breathe on me.  Breathe on me.  I want Your presence, Your presence for Christmas. “

I was thinking about this and how true it is.  In all the hustle and bustle of the season if the Lord is not present for our Christmas, it is not at all important.  This train of thought brought me to this, wouldn’t it be awesome if Jesus decided to return for us on Christmas 2010?  How awesome would that Christmas gift be?  Wow!  However, He decides to wait, I still want His presence to be present at my Christmas.

Have a very Merry Christmas everybody!  Be blessed in the New Year!

You can hear the song, sung by Sisters here:  http://youtu.be/E2dK_adVYzQ

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Too Funny!

Nathan and I are in Eminence, Kentucky preaching a 10 year Pastoral Anniversary for Robert and Sherri Eades.  Rob was in our church in Texarkana.  He was 12 years old when we went there and grew up, became a great musician/singer/songwriter and then the Lord called him to preach.  He met Sherri at a General Conference and the rest is history.  They have done a great work here in Eminence and the Lord will continue to bless them. 

Here’s the funny part.  As I mentioned before, Rob is a great musician and songwriter.  I have always loved to sing one of his songs, “I Put my Trust in The Lord”.   So…I had already planned on singing that song tonight.  Well…..Bro. Sean Griffis (MC for tonight’s service) had Rob and Sherri sing too and when they started singing I recognized the song and began to sing along, back in my pew.  Something kept niggling at the back of my mind about the song they were singing…”I just feel it won’t be long now, ’til we see the King of kings….”  I finally leaned over to Sis. Terri Griffis and said, “I think I wrote this song”.  About that time, my husband looks at me from the platform and mouthed, “Didn’t you write this song”?  They kept singing,”……and I will Praise Him through eternity”.  Song over.  People were praising the Lord and Rob looks at me from the keyboard and said, “That’s YOUR song”.  LOL  I got so tickled thinking,  it’s pretty bad when you write a song and can’t even remember.  Well, I finally remembered that I did write that song and was blessed by the way Rob and Sherri sang it.  Put a couple of new twists (jazz moves) in it too.  Made me smile.  Then, I get up and ask Rob to play for me and he said, “Do I know the song”?  I said, “I think you might” and began to sing his song and he and Nathan joined in with me, “I put my trust in the Lord to see me through.  He’s never let me down, even though I thought He would.  And no matter how dark the night, I knew the Son would bring the light. I put my trust in the Lord to see me through”. 

 I guess we had a mutual admiration party going on.  It just struck me funny.  If you don’t think so, that’s okay.  Just let me smile.

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Back to School Bash/Kids Crusade

Saturday at 11:00 am.  they began to gather at the neighborhood park.  We never really know how many will show up, but we were once again surprised as between 350-400 people gathered.  The men and ladies of The Pentecostal Church were busy at work getting folks registered, grilling hot dogs, attending the jump house and handing out tickets for the drawings and backpacks to be given away.  Everything was free!  The food, the cold cokes and water, the chips,  the games and all the prizes.  Our guests were treated like royalty!  After a time of fun and games, Bro. Josh Combs from Maryland gathered everyone in and began to have more fun with telling the Gospel Message.  I could see the children began to be touched by the Spirit of God.  I looked around and not only the children but some of the parents were being touched as well.  When Josh asked everyone to pray there was a sweet presence of the Lord that came into the park.  One lady I prayed with was so moved that she was little frightened.  I watched her as tears began to form and she put her hands down quickly.  I asked, “Are you okay”?  She looked at me and said,  “I just feel like crying.  Why”?  I explained to her that it was the sweet presence of God she was feeling and that it was okay.  She began to pray again and this time wept openly before the Lord.  She did not receive the Holy Ghost but she will be taught a Bible Study.  I know she will come to know the Lord.  She will never forget what she felt.  Another lady that brought her family to the park told one of the ladies in our church, this story….”Two years ago when you all had the Back to School Bash, my children didn’t get a backpack.  I told you about it and you took my name and address down.  I didn’t really think anything about it, but then you showed up one day that next week with backpacks for all my kids, filled with school supplies”.  Then she said with tears, “I will never forget your act of kindness”.  One of her boys received the Holy Ghost and 4 of the 15 that was baptized was from her family.  You never know what a small act of kindness will produce.  By the end of the day at our Back To School Bash, 5 were filled with the Holy Ghost and 15 baptized in the precious name of Jesus.

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Sunday, 2:00 PM  began our Kids Crusade!  From the moment the first praise went up to Heaven you could feel the excitement in the air.  The presence of the Lord was so strong in the Praise and Worship part of the service.  EVERYONE became kids today.  The Kids Praise sang and everyone was involved in,  “I’m Gonna Sing, sing, sing.  I’m gonna shout, shout, shout.  I’m gonna sing.  I’m gonna shout and praise the Lord.  When those gates swing open wide, I’m gonna sit down by His side.  I’m gonna sing.  I’m gonna shout and praise the Lord.  I’m gonna snap…I’m gonna clap…jump, bump…..zoom around the room…”.  You get my drift?  Ha!  It was great but it took a lot of energy.  Then they sang, “You are the one that I worship…”  and “Jesus! Everything I need is in that Name”.  How precious to see and hear these children sing praises to God.  Then Bro. Josh Combs again got us all going with songs like, “Jesus, You are my Super Hero”.  Great stuff.  Once again he told the gospel story in kids terms and did a superb job.  When he asked for us to come pray, the altars filled with children, hungry for God.  Even teenagers and adults were touched and reaching out to God for help.  To end all the festivities of the week-end there was a candy rain, with PLENTY of candy showering down to the kids. We had a great Kids Week-End.  Children are precious in the sight of God and I want to always remember that!

The Pentecostal Church put it on top shelf this week-end.  Or as they say now-a-days…”IT WAS OFF THE CHAIN”!

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Great Minds…

We all showed up yesterday at church wearing some version of black and leopard. 🙂  I wonder why that happens sometime?  I guess the old saying would apply…”Great Minds run in the same Channel”.  We thought it was “cute” so we took a picture.          

    

Minuet, Me, Amanda, Mindy, Danelle

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Down Memory Lane

This may seem a little sacrilegious to some folks, but bare with me for a little bit.

I grew up in a Pentecostal Preacher’s home.  I loved every minute of it.  Really!  When I was young and we would have a revival (extended series of services), we went to church every night of the week.  Then we progressed to having Saturday Nights with no service.  That was great because then we didn’t have to go to church on Saturday Night with curlers in our hair.  No hot rollers back in those days so we had to roll our hair Saturday Night so it would be pretty for Sunday.  Not quite sure why it wasn’t so important to be pretty on Saturday Night. 🙂  Anyway…then we progressed to having Monday and Tuesday Nights off and having Revival services Wednesday through Sunday.  Ahhh..the joys.  Well,  in some of those long services when my friends and I would get a little bored we would make up things with the songs we sang in church.  Here are a couple we use to sing and  then laugh ’til we cried.  My brother and sister was in on it too.  “Now lettuce (let us)  have a little chocolate (talk with) Jesus, Lettuce tell Him all about our bubbles (troubles)….”  and,  “I’ll fry (fly) an egg (away) Oh glory…” .  As I got older we still had fun with songs.  We would mix words up like, “Oh glory je to bejus let the rallelujahs hole….”(Oh Glory be to Jesus, let the Hallelujahs roll).

Other times people thought they heard something different then what was actually being sung.  A friend of ours, Bill Henry, who we (Nathan and I) sang with for many years, wrote hundreds of awesome songs.  One song he wrote, “Running With HEAVEN on My Mind”,  had to have a little word change, because the first time we sang it he had written it to say, “I’m running with WINNIN’ on my mind” and a man in our church was laughing after service because he said it sounded like we were singing,” I’m running with WOMEN on my mind.”  🙂    My mother-in-law said that when she was a little girl she couldn’t ever understand why they would sing a song in church about a cross-eyed bear name Gladly…”Gladly the cross I’d bare…”.  Singing is good for the soul but it can kind of get you trouble sometimes too.  For instance, one time when my Dad resigned from a church, he then asked Mother to sing and she sang, “It Will Take Me a Million Years to Thank the Lord”.  Probably not the best selection for the moment. 🙂

Well, I hope you have enjoyed my little tour down memory lane.  I’m sure if you were raised in a preacher’s home you could tell some of your own stories.  Just thought I’d share a little church humor with you.  Hope you don’t think I’m horrible, but P.K.s  are good at finding ways to have good fun, even in church. 🙂

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Friends Day @ TPC

What a smashing success!  Over 87 visitors.  So many good things happened I don’t even know how to put it in words.  Go here for a good report and some photos.

You can also view photos on my flickr account.  You will find it in the right column under “More Pics To Enjoy”.

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WD Ladies Conference 2009

There are really no words in the English language to describe the Western District UPCI Ladies Conference of 2009.  We had record attendance and record Spirit.  As we entered into the first service, you could already feel the excitement. 

I was asked a few months back to be the Praise and Worship Leader for the conference.  I accepted and knew it would be a big task.  However, with much prayer and practice my team of musicians and singers graced the platform.  When we began to sing our first song, “Glorify His Name”,  I knew all the practices and prayers were going to pay off. 🙂  “Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving.  Enter His courts with praise.  This is the day He has given.  Come on and bless His Name.  From the platform to the door.  From the ceiling all the way down to the floor.  Come on Judah, sing Hallelujah.  Let everything with breath shout to the Lord”.  And from there we sang and worshipped our way into the presence of God.  Then we got to Friday Night and experienced “FREEDOM”  in the Holy Ghost.  WOW!

Debbie Saiz and Donna Linville were extra anointed it seemed.  God just has a way of ministering to so many different needs in one setting.  I am always in awe of how He works. 

I want to give a huge thank you to Laquita Mulling’s and all the ladies team for your incredible work for this conference.  You guys are phenomenal.  It is because of your hard work and working together like you do that we had such a great conference.  I love you all and am looking forward to working with you. 

Major kudos are going out to my praise team today,

Singers: Amanda Silveira, Cassandra Silveira, Teresa Sarria, Tena Valenti, Patricia Hurst, Mindy Ybarra. 

Musicians:  Luis Lenzi (keys), Nathaniel Hurst (drums), Todd Valenti (bass), Kyle Valenti (electric guitar), Omar Iboa (acoustic guitar). 

Thank you all so much for being faithful to extra practices and for your attitude of praise and worship to the King of kings as you played and sang for the conference. You guys are the BEST.  All your praying and fasting paid off.  I love you all.

Last, but definitely NOT Least:  Danelle Layne Silveira.  I really don’t know how to say thank you.  You was my right arm at this ladies conference.  The anointing that you sang with was unbelievable.  I was blessed to have you by my side at this conference.  I  am proud that you are my daughter.  I thank God that you serve Him with your whole heart, mind and strength.   I love you!

Leading in Worship

Whew!

“FREEDOM”

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Catch Up Post :)

A couple of weeks ago we were blessed to have Shawn and Gwen Dunahoe and their children, Ryan and Riley Paige with us for the weekend.  They are like our “kids”. 🙂  Shawn received the Holy Ghost in our church in Texarkana and then married a beautiful young lady that had been raised in our church.  They are now in full time ministry.  Shawn is an excellent Bible Study teacher and that is what he promotes as he travels around the country with his family.  I know that he puts in about 30–40 hours a week (besides church time) in teaching Bible Studies and training folks to teach.  Shawn and Gwen are a great team.  Anyway,  we enjoyed having them with us just for fun, except for Sunday when Shawn preached. They needed to relax a few days and we did just that.  This was the first time we have been able to see little Riley and she stole our hearts.  What a little doll baby. Ryan is a big 15 year old now and that is hard to believe.  He is a great big brother too. Shawn and Gwen, don’t let it be so long between visits next time. 🙂

Gwen and Riley Paige

Nathan and Riley Paige. Awww…

Ryan, Patricia and Danelle

I can’t believe I didn’t get one picture of Shawn.

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Nathan and I headed out to our Valentine’s Dinner at The Chart House.

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MINISTRY FAIR!

This past Wednesday Night we hosted our first Ministry Fair.  It was very good.  Each Ministry in the church presented their ministry by creating a science like project and set up booths.  We had 15 ministries represented.  I think we missed a couple, but will be sure and get them for next year.  This allowed our people and especially the new folks to know the opportunities to be involved in some way in the Kingdom of God.  We are firm believers in the fact that everyone should be involved some way in the church.  There is something for EVERYONE to do.  I am excited about the growth of The Pentecostal Church numerically and also the growth I see spiritually in our people.  This was a fun filled night with good fellowship and information about our church.  I was not able to get a photo of everything but here is a good sample. 🙂

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Good Things

Yesterday’s service was filled with glory once again.  Shawn and Gwen Dunahoe was with is in service and we had a great time.  Bro. Shawn preached an excellent sermon on “God’s Encore”.  Two ladies were baptized and I know of two people that received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost.  One of the ladies that was baptized has been coming for a few months now.  She is from Beijing and has had some difficulty in following the services because of language.  However,  the love and peace she has felt since coming to our church is overwhelming to her.  She has often said to me through her tears at church, “I don’t know why I cry when I’m here because I am so happy”.  I have tried to explain it to her but I don’t know how to explain “joy, unspeakable” and “peace that passes all understanding”.  🙂  Different things have led up to her baptism yesterday.  David and Teresa Leonardo are teaching her and her husband, Ernie a bible study and of course that has been the most significant blessing.  Then, in our communion and foot washing service, my mother-in-law, Dorothy Hurst knelt down in front of her and began to wash her feet.  She was so moved by this, she could hardly get control of herself.  That is the first time she asked about baptism.  Then, yesterday she told someone that she was ready to be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of her sins.  She came up out of the water speaking in tongues.  A man that goes to our church from Nigeria also speaks Chinese and he was right there with her and said she spoke in a language other than Chinese or English.  Praise God!  It was so awesome. 

The other lady that was baptized is the daughter of a man in our church.  He has been praying for her for several years and she called him yesterday morning and asked for him to come pick her up and that she wanted to be baptized.  It was so sweet.  If you have children away from God, don’t give up.  He hears every prayer.

Tonight (Monday) was ladies prayer/bible study meeting.  Sometimes I teach and sometimes we pray.  Well, tonight was one of those nights I just felt the Holy Ghost leading us to pray and specifically for our Sunday School department.  We had an incredible time in the Holy Ghost praying for every teacher.  I can hardly wait to see what God will do in our Sunday School this year.  I know it will be great! 

God is so good to us!  I hope and pray you all have a truly blessed week.  Let me leave you with this one last thought….Don’t be discouraged about the economy.  We serve a God that owns the cattle of a thousand hills.  He WILL take care of His children.  Once I was young, but now I’m “old” and I have NEVER seen the righteous forsaken, or His seed begging for bread.  Amen! and Amen! 

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