Davis and I have always attended traditional Baptist churches. We both grew up in very similar church settings and so did our kids. We now attend First Baptist Church in our city and it's just what you'd expect in its appearance. The downtown church is red brick with large white columns and beautiful dental molding. A steeple shoots upward from the high pitched roof and is topped with an illuminated cross for all of the city to see.

The life of Jesus is depicted in the beautiful stained glass windows that wrap around the sanctuary. The sunlight beaming in makes the vibrant colors just come alive on Sunday mornings. Deep red carpet runs under the beautiful wooden pews, where the Baptist hymnals rest in their designated spots next to the offering envelopes and pencils. The pews are filled with familiar faces, but new ones, too. The resonant sound of the pipe organ and grand piano playing church classics like "A Mighty Fortress is our God", "God of our Fathers", and "Holy, Holy, Holy" fill the sanctuary, but some new is mixed in with the old to cover all of the musical preferences.

The choir sings in the loft behind the pulpit and our robes have stoles, which match the shade of red in the carpeting. The wooden offering plates are passed by the ushers during the offertory. There is always a fresh flower arrangement adorning the communion table, which is usually placed there in memory or honor of someone. The baptistry is situated above the choir loft with another stained glass picture of Jesus with outstretched arms above it. I'm not real sure, but I think the pulpit and chairs that sit on the platform may have come over on the Mayflower. They are beautiful, old relics. Each sermon is concluded with an invitation hymn- a chance to share any decisions with the pastor or the church and you know "Just As I Am" and "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" are the Baptists' hymns of choice for this segment of the service.
We have a young, new pastor, who we're just crazy about. He preaches the Word of God, shares the gospel, and encourages us to live out our faith outside the church walls; telling others about Jesus by our words and deeds. When I leave there, I have truly worshipped through the music, teaching, and fellowship; all in styles that speak the most clearly to my heart and soul.

We went to spend a couple of days with Blair and John Samuel, last weekend, and had a great visit. They've lived in their city for a little over 18 months now and they spent a while visiting different churches before they landed where they are now. They started their visiting process with the churches that were similar to the traditional churches they'd both grown up in, but they kept being drawn back to this one church, because of the compelling sermons and large number of people in their age group. It was one of those contemporary churches you see now. From the outside, they could very well be mistaken for a municipal building, a spa, or a plastic surgery medical complex with their more vague names like Venture or Summit or CrossPoint.
We'd never been to their church with them, so we were sure to pack our "church" clothes, even though they assured us we could wear just about anything and it would be fine. The five of us arrived there along with hundreds of others. There were volunteers directing traffic and parking to help utilize the parking area in the most efficient way possible for the large crowd gathering. They live near the beach and so a lot of people looked as if they would likely be heading straight to some body of water as soon as church was out as they were wearing their flip flops and shorts. We walked in and the first thing we saw was a coffee shop type set-up. I'm not talking about a couple of silver coffee urns with a stack of Styrofoam cups and bowl of sweetener packets like at our church. No, this layout could've rivaled any Starbucks with all of the coffee choices and coffee embellishments.

We were welcomed by many people as we made our way through the crowd and took our seats in the gray chairs lined up within the gray walls with the gray carpeting. There were spotlights shining down into the dark room from the industrial-type exposed ceiling. There were three large screens surrounding the stage. Being a former flower person, I tried to imagine how in the world you'd decorate such a space for a wedding. The seats started to fill up to almost capacity of 1,000, each one with their coffee cup with lid and cardboard sleeve. With so many people and so many worship service times and campus options, there were very few people, who seemed to know each other, but everyone was so very friendly. There are mission opportunities and small groups that meet in homes during the week for that more personal connection. I'm so happy that Blair and John Samuel are hosting the youngest married group, each week.

The service started with the worship band taking the stage. The leader in his skinny jeans started us off in one of those contemporary choruses that repeats itself a lot and the large screens showed the lyrics with beautiful graphics in the background. There was no organ or piano, but 8 people in the band with all types of guitars, keyboards, and drums. The lyrics weren't written in the 19th century, but maybe like the 19th of last month. They weren't familiar, but were worshipful and full of truth just the same. It didn't take long to notice that what my soul gets from the pipe organ and Baptist hymnal, these people were receiving from this style of worship and it was a wonderful sight.  
It was time for the offering and the screens displayed the multiple ways you could give online or electronically, but the connection team did pass some black buckets through the crowd in case you wanted to do it the old-fashioned way. There was no invitation given at the end, but the screens displayed directions for registering decisions by way of technology with the promise that someone would be in contact to follow up with you. They announced there would be baptisms in the service, the following Sunday, which got me looking all around to find the baptistry....to no avail. Blair filled me in on the portable baptistry. 

The pastor came out from the back of the stage. He was a busy fellow. This was his third service of the day and he still had 2 to go between their two campuses. He wasn't donning a suit, but looked very hip in his V-neck tee, plaid jacket, and jeans. He opened his Bible and, while nothing else around me was, at all, familiar to the services we usually attend, his words were straight from the same word of God and he challenged all of us there to get serious about the most difficult commands of Jesus. While the service took a very different road to get there, the destination was the same as our traditional church services- to worship and save and encourage and grow.  

We're all very different. Goodness knows, we are. So, whether you prefer sanctuaries or worship centers. Suits or skinny jeans. Church bells or drum sets. Screens or hymnals. Pews or theater seating. Chandeliers or track lighting. A music minister or a worship leader. Deacons, ushers, elders, or a connection team. Only one thing matters. Whatever Bible-based worship style you prefer, just
"Don't stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:25

Worship is our number one reason to go to church, but we also need encouragement from each other. Our need to feel like we're not alone on this increasingly crazed planet is growing. The world is ramping up its efforts to make us feel like there is something bad wrong with our thinking as Christians. It wants to make us feel isolated, unwelcomed, and intimidated. So, whether you prefer "How Great Thou Art" in pumps or "How Great is Our God" in Chacos, it doesn't matter. Not one little bit. Just set aside time, each week, to surround yourself and your family with other Christians to worship God. He certainly deserves it and we certainly need it.

And just a final note for those, who don't have a church, and are planning on visiting. As a visitor, you might be asked to raise your hand or remain seated while members stand to greet you or fill out a connection card and drop it in the offering plate or visit the "New Here" tab on the church's website or text a number to register your visit or meet someone from the staff in the welcome area, after the service, to claim your complimentary coffee gift card. We, Christians, agree on most things, but how to greet our visitors is not one of them. So, just go with whatever. We have good intentions. Bless our hearts.

We'll talk soon!