I am excited about a new
opportunity to better reach our community. I have stressed many times over the years
that we are a church that helps people love God, love others, and serve the
world. Everything we do begins with the commission of Jesus to reach the lost
with the Gospel. That is why we desire to be a church that unchurched people
love to attend. And thanks to the support of our church body we are seeing that
happen. Over the last few years we have seen a record number of people
baptized, and over 600 people connected to a LifeGroup on a weekly basis. We
have become one of the largest churches in East Arlington. We even had eight
additions to the church last Sunday! We are baptizing several new believers this Sunday!
However, we are aware that there is a group in our community that will never be reached effectively in our current worship format. Nearly eighty percent of our surrounding community falls within the parameters of the group our current format is designed to reach; young families and those under the age of 55. However, there is another group that we can now effectively target, the 20 percent of our community that is over the age of 55. Because Fort Caroline Baptist has been so diligent in doing whatever it takes to reach the great majority of our community, we are now at a place to reach out to this smaller, yet still very important group. To help us in this endeavor we will be adding a new classic worship experience here at FCBC.
On May 12 (Mother's Day), we will begin to reach into this age group in an effort to win as many to Christ as possible. A large portion of this age group wouldn't necessarily be comfortable in our church in its current worship format. And as we have said so often, "we want to be all things to all people that by all means some may be saved" (see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). This new format will help us in that mission.
The staff and I have prayed for a while about when would be the best time to begin this type of worship setting. We feel that time is now. But we need your help. We are not doing something just to please our people, although we are certain many of the people who have sacrificed so much over the years will be thrilled to be able to worship God in the language of their heart. This must be a truly evangelistic effort. Time is running out and we must do all we can to reach as many as possible with the Good News of Jesus. Will you help us? Will you pray and work towards seeing more people than ever being influenced by the Gospel in a relevant way?
Service Details:
- The classic service will be held every Sunday at 8 a.m. beginning May 12, 2013.
- It will be traditional in its style.
- Hymns that are known and loved will be sung.
- Hymnals will be used rather than video projection for lyrics.
- The hymns will be accompanied by piano and organ.
- There will not be a choir weekly but the Senior Celebration Choir will sing at times throughout the year.
- Special music in the form of solos as well as piano or organ pieces will be used as well.
- The service will last an hour.
- Nothing will be radically different about this service other than the style and selection of music.
- The same sermon will be preached in all three services by me or by the speaker of the day.
- The other two services will be reduced to an hour in length as well. The second service will begin at 9:30. The third service will begin at 10:45.
- LifeGroup schedules will also move to the new schedule.
- Childcare will be offered for the classic worship service for birth to 2-years old. The childcare options for the other two services will remain in place as they are. Childcare options may increase at the classic worship service as the demand dictates.
I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach the lost. I need your help. I am asking for your support as we continue to follow God’s will. No matter which service you attend, I need you to invite the people in your sphere of influence to join you. And remember that we are one congregation with multiple services and styles of worship. Let us remain united in our effort to serve our one Master, Jesus Christ, by fulfilling our one Mission in the world as we share the one Message, the Gospel!
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6, NKJV)
