Although we can only seat a maximum of twenty, any more than this would cause us to lose our personal identity. As distinct from the nature of some churches, we all know one another, and when someone new comes in, we welcome them and encourage them to feel at home the very first week! But we offer an additional evening service once a month in an effort to catch those who can't make it in the morning. We have about twenty-five regulars, but with five to seven absent each week for one reason or another, we usually have close to our optimum number. If we do grow, we'll eventually seek to start another group in Cronulla, where some of us live -depending not on any merits of ours, but on the Lord's will!
But numbers are not as important as spiritual growth! This morning we had a testimony from one who became a Christian the first week he attended! And next week, another will be sharing how, if he misses a week with us, he feels flat for the rest of the week! Unlike most other churches, we not only have a preponderance of males, the males outnumber females about five to one! Come on girls! You just won't find this kind of ratio at other churches!
Another difference is that we don't pass around a collection plate because we value people far more than their money! Those who wish to do so still make donations, but the important thing is that we've managed to give some $5000 to missionaries and those in need during the past twelve months! And we don't offer any pastor's stipend because the church is a voluntary offering to our Lord!
And I suspect that we're way ahead of our time! As older traditional churches are on the decline, and our secular society is making a definite effort to discourage people from becoming followers of Jesus, it is likely in fifty years or less, that Biblical churches could become underground meetings held in private homes! The day of the robed priest and elaborate ritual is likely to disappear in the next generation, and only evangelicals and charismatics will survive the pressures.
Today we had the most beautiful birthday cake and there was a sense of celebration and victory in Jesus!
We trust Him to bless our meetings as long as He wills, and I'd like to congratulate our members on their faithfulness to Him! Ken
