Location of your church

At a Pastors Conference in Ocala Fl there was a Black Pastor who preached on "Staying in Ephesis". He told how they planted a church in the middle of the roughest area and after 7 years every shady establishment within a several mile radius had shut down and the church was flourishing.

There was a time when shady establishments were relegated to the out skirts of town. Nowadays they make them all as plush as they can and they will park next to an elementary school if they so choose.

Let's not let them relegate our churches to where they once were.

 

My church is two blocks from a liquor store. We can't complain about 'em, since we've only been there 3 years, and they've been there since 1930. I'd hardly call them a "shady" business, though. Theyr'e not doing anything wrong, legally or morally.

 

Saturneptune and I serve the same church. I guess our job is to be salt and light in that area.

Already, some of our members are talking about the place across the interstate being a mighty convenient place for a Sunday after-church meal. They grin when they say it, so I'm assuming they're kidding.

Which raises a serious question. Should we stay away from there, or go in as a witnessing opportunity?

 

[Southern Baptist] Church Adopts Hooters (Associated Baptist Press)

 

Hold services out in the parking lot. Expose yourself to the clientele of the businesses being established around you.

 

Nashville has zoning restrictions that state how close liquor stores and other "vice" establishments can be to schools and churches. I guess the strangest situation that has occurred concerned a church building that was purchased and turned into an adult bookstore, but there were no other churches or even many businesses nearby.

Tim Reynolds

 

Here's your opportunity to be salt and light to the world.

Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

 

I have to chuckle at the neo-monasticism of many US churches.

We meet upstairs in the Naas GAA - a local community centre and historically the focus of true Irish life and culture.

There is a bar downstairs and we have to deal with that every week.

What better place to have a church with a glowing testimony in our community? The people their treat us like royalty and do all they can to work with us and not disturb us during church and Bible study.

If you knew the GAA (Gallic Athletic Association) and their history it would be clear that this is an astounding work of God to put us here.

Praise God for the chance to minister where we do!

 

So why does the early church come into play here? Are you convinced that they met in homes for similar reasons you have stated here?

 

My church is residential----no businesses within 3 miles---just north of Birmingham

 

Jesus dined with sinners, going to where they were. I can't say I'd be the one to volunteer to go to an establishment that people view as "seedy", but if you're going to witness, scripture appears to not condemn it.

 

So you want to question the motives and the character of all people who who go to a church auditorium?

Show me in scripture where traditional church buildings are condemned? The fact that they met in houses in no way sets up a mandate for such.

I see no problems with meeting in homes,tents or auditoriums but that is just geography.

 

I believe Jesus worshiped in the temple, not a house! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.................:tonofbricks:

 

The early believers also met in sewers,caverns and anywhere they could find privacy and protection. We can't compare our facilities with the first century. We must consider our own cultural setting.

Where two or three are gathered.....there am I in the midst...........That is the essence of church setting. If this be in a home or in a back garden, so be it. Just be sure Jesus is exalted in the centre.

When the founder of the Salvation Army was criticized for distributing gospel papers and accepting monies from pub attendants, he responded by saying, "The Devil has had it long enough.."

In Napanee, Ontario, there was a woman who owned a barn and she converted it to a meeting place. She started with a Sunday School and ended up with a local church.

Cheers,

Jim