Faith is, in Methodist-speak, a small membership church. This strikes me as a sort of anomaly in the city, where most churches tend to be much larger than this congregation. Churches our size (about 90 on a Sunday) have worth in today's world, and have a personality that'll be just right for some folks. An article written by Dr. Lewis Parks, associate professor of theology, ministry and congregati
onal development at Wesley Theological Seminary, notes that we are especially able to provide a welcome to...
People seeking surrogate families. They are separated from their families of origin by work, or school, or military. They are estranged or divorced from those once dear. They are looking for brothers and sisters... aunts and grandfathers.... They hunger for family-like gatherings. People seeking an alternative to the anonymity of the work place and public square.... when it comes to worship and spiritual growth, they want a setting where they know and are known by name. They want to be more like performers in worship and less like an audience. People weary of self-absorption and in search of a corporate story into which they can jump. One of the healthiest answers is to find a community or institution that is more than the sum of its individual members, and give oneself over to it. Many of the seekers are looking for a story bigger than themselves but small enough that they might contribute to the advancement of the plot. People who have a score to settle with God but want to settle it in a safe environment. As they have it out with God, they have a strong preference for an intimate setting... They want to be able to feel their way into new vistas of faith and know that those who see the collateral tears read them sympathetically. People who are looking for a place to give back for the blessings they have received. Life has been good to them and they've reached a fork in the road. Behold the small church where the budget is nearly always barebones and there is a dependance upon the presence of patrons and the energy of volunteer labor. I expect that there are not many folks who'd find all 5 points applicable. We at Faith Church offer relationships to Christ, and to one another. We're a small church with a large campus; there's room here in our hearts and pews for you. Contact us for more information, or come to one of the events listed in the schedule and the calendar.
