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CU Medallion [60043]
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I have seen quite the uptick
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Mar 17, 2024, 9:34 AM
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in attendance and in people joining our church. We have a new assistant pastor that is awesome, so that helps, but we had 11 families join last week and have another full new member class starting. It’s great to see.
Anyone else seeing this?
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Heisman Winner [119741]
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We just inducted 8 new families***
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Mar 17, 2024, 12:01 PM
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Legend [17918]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
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Mar 17, 2024, 2:46 PM
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Great news! We have had 4 new families and one baptism of a 60+ year old. 
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Legend [16733]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
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Mar 17, 2024, 3:09 PM
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They all moved here from the north
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CU Medallion [60043]
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Why are you the way you are?
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Mar 17, 2024, 3:13 PM
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You have become insufferable.
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Oculus Spirit [93674]
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Is anyone getting saved?***
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Mar 17, 2024, 3:47 PM
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CU Medallion [60043]
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In your version of screaming with hands raised
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Mar 17, 2024, 7:29 PM
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in a 3ft pool?
No.
In their hearts, I hope so. But that is their journey.
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Oculus Spirit [93674]
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No, my version is a simple profession of faith.
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Mar 18, 2024, 4:46 AM
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When asked about this I often tell the parable of the three couples who got married in the same ceremony. When asked if they felt married after the event the first couple were rejoicing and proclaimed they knew they felt married.
The second couple was a little less excited and the third said they didn't feel any different at all.
Yet, the license was legal, the names written down and the vows made. Whether one feels married or not those requirements are met and all three were equally married.
I just asked a question. I've seen many people join the churches I've attended. That's an event but not equal in joy to seeing a lost sinner repent and show honor to God for his salvation.
I just asked an innocent question, did anyone get saved?
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Commissioner [980]
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Orange Blooded [2156]
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Re: Is anyone getting saved?***
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Mar 18, 2024, 7:18 AM
[ in reply to Is anyone getting saved?*** ] |
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Couple years ago my wife had us attending one of these "new age" churches (as the older folks like to call them).
At the end of every service as the band played they would roll out this big metal tub full of water and invite people to come down and get baptized.
No profession of faith or anything like that. Just come on down and get dipped in the holy water. For someone raised in a very conservative baptist church it was quite the scene.
Reminded me of the church from Four Christmases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36_gnvvPrj8
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Oculus Spirit [93674]
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I wasn't suggesting that's what happened or that no one was saved during the...
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Mar 18, 2024, 8:16 AM
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service. I delight at the news of hearing that someone got saved.
Everything in this world is a frame of reference for something in the spiritual world. A baby being born causes joy. Perhaps if you think of a brother or sister being born you might be able to comprehend the joy in my heart of one being born in God's Spirit. That's what 'getting saved,' means.
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Hall of Famer [24477]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
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Mar 17, 2024, 3:57 PM
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Interesting. Where is your church located? How would you describe it? The reason I ask is your question about what others are seeing.
Church attendance is declining, as we know. However, the number of people who are followers of Jesus, as opposed to mere church goers, is probably remaining constant, a worldwide thing (Barna, etc). The Spirit is everywhere. The population move from rural to urban continues.
So, maybe churches grow for two reasons. First, churches in downtown areas seem to be growing due to demographic shift. Second, regardless of location, churches that do not present a denominational profile, and that are gospel oriented, seem to be growing.
The one we attend is both, though the amount of growth seems to be due to location. Where you live, and knowing only that, I would guess the reason for yours is the latter. Is that your sense? Those are simply observations. Yes, would be interesting to hear what others are seeing, and why.
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CU Medallion [60043]
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United Methodist and not the freaky kind
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Mar 17, 2024, 7:27 PM
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that allow all this crazy nonsense we are seeing with Methodist churches.
Very traditional with a splash of the “new” music and a small band.
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Hall of Famer [24477]
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Re: United Methodist and not the freaky kind
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Mar 17, 2024, 7:36 PM
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Sounds good. But you td'd that? For what?
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CU Medallion [60043]
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Judgmental attitude that you seem
Mar 17, 2024, 7:48 PM
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share with all Baptist/Pentecostal types.
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Hall of Famer [24477]
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Re: Judgmental attitude that you seem
Mar 17, 2024, 7:55 PM
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Fair enough. When have I been judgmental with you?
Was it when I said church attendance is declining?
Was it when I said denominations are declining?
Was it when I said downtown areas are growing?
Was it when I said the independent churches are growing?
Those are documented demographic shifts. I noted them to ask a question that expanded on your question, which I began by saying was interesting. That is judgmental?
Message was edited by: CUintulsa®
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110%er [6474]
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Re: Judgmental attitude that you seem
Mar 17, 2024, 9:07 PM
[ in reply to Judgmental attitude that you seem ] |
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Jesus was judgmental. We are to love the sinner, but we are not to tolerate the sin. I would rather be ab"judgmental" Baptist than be tolerant of blatent sin like the UMC. Not many UMC churches left around here. Most of them pulled out when UMC officially condoned abomination.
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All-In [47750]
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Not really, mostly because I don't go to your church.
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Mar 17, 2024, 4:41 PM
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But God Bless 'em!
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110%er [6474]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
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Mar 17, 2024, 7:23 PM
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We baptized a lot this year and have had several families join. Why you need a "membership class"? I have always seen them as odd. I have been a member of several churches and never had nor needed a class on membership.
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Commissioner [980]
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lol, this thread is a perfect example of church culture***
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Mar 17, 2024, 7:46 PM
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Hall of Famer [24477]
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Cant say as I disagree.
Mar 17, 2024, 7:54 PM
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Which is why one has to know who he's following.
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Starter [376]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
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Mar 18, 2024, 11:08 AM
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Jesus said, "Come to me". Does it really matter as to the "why" they walked in the door? When it comes to church, people need to feel that at least the door is open to them. If you fail at that, what's the point? Once in the door, they can determine why they walked through it. We went to several churches in our area before deciding on the one which we now attend. The determining factor? For me it was how welcoming everyone was (and is). Several made a point to introduce themselves (something the other churches did not do), welcomed us, hope that we'd be back. We went back. And stayed.
I believe the reasons people come to church can be endless. Those vary from person to person and from day to to day. I'm not there to be entertained for an hour. Nor am I there to be put to sleep or to have someone else watch my children for an hour. The church "family" that I have found is just that. We are there for one another. We lift each other. We are there for each other, for the celebrations and the griefs we all face. Is it perfect? Not by a long shot. Do we fight amongst ourselves? Sure, just like most families.
We have had an influx of families in our church as well. We have also had people leave the church for reasons I'll never understand. Usually when politics enter the picture. Politics both inside and outside the church itself. As an example, A couple that had been members for a long time left because our church didn't come out the Covid restrictions fast enough. Not really a deal breaker for me. The governing body of the church had become a little too liberal for some. Again, not really why I'm there.
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110%er [6474]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
Mar 20, 2024, 5:50 PM
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I don't see the COVID restrictions on Church as political issue. I see it as a doctrinal issue. Forsaking the gathering together is sin.
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Commissioner [980]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
Mar 20, 2024, 10:12 PM
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Looks like religion can literally kill you
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110%er [6474]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
Mar 21, 2024, 8:23 AM
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COVID was so deadly. Turns out it was about as deadly as the flu to a person with no comorbidities.
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Commissioner [980]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
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Mar 21, 2024, 11:11 AM
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That’s quite the caveat you have to put there to make your point make sense. Again, sounds a lot like how religion works
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Starter [376]
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Re: I have seen quite the uptick
Mar 21, 2024, 8:27 AM
[ in reply to Re: I have seen quite the uptick ] |
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It's not. At least it wasn't until someone made it one. That was more to my point. Spouting political doctrine from the pulpit or the congregation, if it is interpreted that way could draw people into church or drive people away. I've heard sermons that sounded more like the democratic party platform, tying it to scripture. The same from sermons that leaned more to the right. Right or Left, the pulpit isn't the place for it.
They didn't forsake the gathering. They just went to a more conservative one.
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