Growing Pains

  • Steve Hawthorne, Ryan Baitzel
  • Jan 27, 2008

We've got problems. Big problems.

Those of you coming to Emergence know that God has done some amazing things over the past few years. What once was a gathering of 70 has become 400 almost overnight, it seems. This presents us with a great problem to have: we need space.

We've got to look at this on two levels: long-term and short-term.

In the long-term, we'll need to find a space that can hold Emergence. There is a team in place investigating that as we speak.

In the short-term, we need to present opportunities for new people to come to Emergence. That is why we are excited to announce the launch of a third weekly Emergence service. 

Beginning March 2nd, Emergence will start a 6:30 pm service. This is much more than just a place to put more bodies. We're excited because:

First, it provides a new opportunity to invite your friends. Many people would never set foot in a church on Sunday morning because they are not “religious”. Sunday night may be an entirely different story. Making the sacrifice of rising up early on Sunday may be too much of a stretch for some. Sunday evening gives the Saturday night owls a chance to sleep in, without limiting their options for checking out Emergence.

Next, it provides a resource for people from other churches. Other churches? Yes. If you know people who wouldn’t head to church on Sunday morning, chances are people from all around the area in different churches do, too. A Sunday night launch gives them an opportunity to invite their friends to Emergence as well, knowing that they wouldn’t come to their own church on a Sunday morning. Local pastors may join us as well, giving them a chance to worship and be fed without the responsibility of “working”.

Finally, Sunday night gives those already heading to the Chapel on Sunday nights the opportunity to join in worship with us. There are many people around the Chapel on Sunday nights--many of them to drop off their kids for youth ministry. The new service provides an alternative to driving home just to turn back around for those people.

We are so excited. Please join us on March 2nd and be a part of the next step for Emergence!

-Ryan and Steve