This was the second Sunday of visiting local churches was quite a contrast and a joy to visit two pastors whom I consider my friends. I attended the 8:30AM service of Joel Devinney’s church – Grace Baptist of Millersville. Joel has been one of the most faithful pastors to our monthly prayer meeting since coming to the county. Grace is his first church out of seminary and he has done a tremendous job building a church up that needed an infusion of new life and direction. Pastor Sam Whicker is his youth and outreach pastor – again a solid guy and always a joy to be with. As they have encouraged NewSong – it was my privilege to encourage them today.
As for the facility, Grace was one of those Conservative Baptist Asso. plants in the late 50’s – early 60’s –which were mostly cookie cutter churches – simple two-story rectangular shape. They all had the same simple design that was very functional for worship and learning. I felt I had been in this church a 100 times in my lifetime – funny! The morning service was what I would call “meat and potato” – substance without frills. I was encouraged to start the service with a DA Carson song, “Shout to the Lord with Joy.” I have that song book of doctrinally sound praise choruses. The worship was led by a lay person with piano accompaniment. They sang a few songs in a row and then had a LBC student share about an upcoming missions trip. A few more songs followed and then Joel preached. One thing I noticed – they did not take an offering! A matter of fact, I looked around and could not find an offering box and no one instructed me where to give. They missed out on a couple of bucks!
Joel preached on 1 Timothy 5 and “Honoring Honorable Women.” It was a solid message. First, I was thrilled that he used the Bible – that is becoming more and more novel! Secondly, he did a good job explaining a text which normally and exclusively is spoken about widows, and made an excellent illustration on how all women should strive to be honorable – like widows are supposed to be. I couldn’t help but think that this would be a great passage to preach at Keswick next year for the Colony reunion. When he finished and they sang the last song, the congregation sat back down and were asked to be silent and reflect on the morning. Once the piano began to play, people got up and left. One more thing about Grace -- a number of people said hello. In my experience, this is a missing dynamic in most churches. Joel and Sam are building a solid ministry where if people want grow, they can!!! Way to go guys.
My second church visit was to Pastor Lou Butcher and the saints of Brightside Baptist. Brightside is a primarily Africa-American church located three blocks away from NewSong. They built the church about 4 years ago and have a community outreach center attached to the building, giving it a dynamic presence in Lancaster. Pastor Lou is a quiet, somewhat unassuming powerhouse of a man, who has lead the church for some 25 years. As soon as I entered the church, a young lady welcomes me and asked me to write down my personal data in a guest registry. I found my seat in their beautiful 800-seat sanctuary decorated in a purple and mauve color scheme. I was a little bit early and they had four “study groups” spread out in the auditorium. They were all studying the same information on stewardship.
The service begins, or I thought it was starting at 10:20AM with a praise and worship team inviting the church to join them in singing. People were still coming in, talking in the lobby, fellowshipping outside – it seems like the praise and worship time was a preliminary to the main event – I thought it was tremendous. I wished it was in the middle of the service so more could enjoy it. As they sang a number of songs, the choir proceeded in, those participating in the service took their seats on the platform and the rest of the congregation found seats. At 10:35AM, a woman who served as MC for the morning got the official service going by introducing different elements. Responsive reading, a number of different types of prayer, scripture reading and the first of two offerings being taken. About 15 minutes into the service, Pastor Lou came to the platform and then the men’s chorus sang a few selections. Brightside loves to sing!! My friend, Deacon Carter busted out “He’s So Wonderful.” Holy mackerel!!!! Then came a discipleship moment, again a woman shared how she was growing in her giving and challenged all attenders to tithe to the Lord. The church was completing a series on “Positioned to Prosper” in its Sunday school classes and getting ready for a capital stewardship campaign.
Here is something – in a day when supposedly visitors want anonymity – it is not so at Brightside. A man comes to the pulpit in the middle of the service to welcome and acknowledge visitors. They have you stand up and put your name on the video screen! Once Lou saw I was present, he publicly acknowledge his fellow pastor and was overly kind talking about our relationship. What a class act! I have observed on a number of occasions how Brightside honors visiting pastors – very touching! The choir did a few numbers and they had a solo. In all, 70% of the service was made up of incredible, soulful, exalting music! By the way, they took the real offering later in the service. When they take that offering the congregation marches forward to the front of the church in a processional to place their tithes and offering in the designed basket. One basket for the general offering and another for the capital campaign! That’s away to get God’s people to give.
The message of the day was by – you guessed it – a woman. I was personally disappointed that my friend Pastor Butcher was not preaching! Her message was “When Knowledge Comes” – taken from the idea of when Adam and Eve took of the fruit from the tree of good and evil – they gain knowledge of sin and know they need salvation. She contended that all of our human knowledge falls short of the simple knowledge of salvation. The service ended with a altar call and a call for membership. Culturally distinct is the key phrase but certainly glorifying unto the Lord. Thanks Pastor Lou for your generation of outreach and service – you are building a legacy
My hat is off to these two churches and their faithful shepherds! They were very different in style and presentation -- but both love the Lord Jesus and attempt in their culturals to effectively grow up the saints into the fullness of maturity.