I am writing this to address a matter that God has placed on my heart. I believe that I would unfaithful to God's call in my life to ignore this. He has spoken a word to me about this as clearly as He ever has in my life.
As some of you know, I had a great time at the Prevailing Church Conference at Willow Creek Church recently (October 23-27). I found the sessions and discussions with other clergy quite energizing. I saw so many opportunities for us in what was presented. One idea that really hit home for me was the idea making Sunday morning worship more seeker-friendly and offering a dedicated time of worship for believers -- a Believers' Service. After discussing this idea with some people here at Mebane UMC I think the best time for this worship for believers will be on Sunday evening.
Our target for this will be January 5, 2003. Our youth will continue to gather at about the same time they have (Brandon will reveal more late). Perhaps we will have a common meal time (say 6:00 pm) and then offer a believers' service and KICS (Kids in Christ's Service) at the same time (say 6:30 pm).
Since this will be a teaching service it will replace my evening Bible Study time (the current Ray Vander Laan study will be over by this time). I hope that others will continue to be interested in and organize small group studies, but I feel a need to concentrate my energies in this new service.
This teaching service for believers will be done in the context of worship and praise and I am hoping that many of you will be led to take part in it. The service should be no more than 90 minutes each week and I want about 30 minutes of that time to be praise and worship. Your involvement in that service will make a tremendous difference.
This will enable us to focus on seekers and new Christians in the morning services. Seekers are people who are open to hearing God's Word, but who haven't yet made a faith decision for Christ.
I invite you to learn more about this by visiting the web site at...
Please pray about this. Let us ride the wave of God's work in building His Kingdom.
Grace and Peace,
Alan P. Swartz