Church for us had been a predictable order of service which could actually be timed (to the minute) when we would stand and repeat the same words. But Fellowship didn't sound predictable at all.
One day our little kids came home from playing with neighbors, asking "can we go to the Orahood's church?" That was Fellowship. We heard of a class that met in Steve and Shay Freeman's house where you could find out more about Fellowship and what they believed. Finding the Freeman's house on a dark night was way more proactive than just showing up on Sunday morning. But we wanted to know more and we began to feel like this was the tip of something big. Here's what we discovered:
MODUS OPERANDI
Fellowship met in Pulaski Academy's gym, and then later in a movie theatre. It was fun to be exiting the movies while people with popcorn were arriving. We began to understand more clearly that a church was not a building. The pastors were paid, but everyone else volunteered. Teams of men pitched in to pack/unpack trailer loads of furniture and curriculum into a rented space every week. All that effort floored us.
Pulpit leadership as a plural responsibility? All we had ever seen was a "senior pastor/associate pastor" hierarchy. Fellowship's concept came from a desire for the balance and safety of mutual submission to the Spirit.
COMMUNITY
There was a friendly and engaging reception the minute you stepped into the building. In fact, it felt like everyone was on the greeter committee. In those smaller days, there was an early time for donuts/coffee in the back. Often there was a sharing service where people stood with a mic and told how the Lord was answering prayer or how they had applied the teaching in their lives. All these things built community and we liked that feeling.
NITTY GRITTY
Home groups were another new thing to us. We found when you've been in one another's homes and have "done life" together, it helps you belong to one another. Often people have said "Oh, I don't like a large, impersonal church and I would never feel a part." That would be true if not for small groups.
Of course, church is just like anything else...you get out what you put in. If you push past a Sunday drop-in and make yourself go into homes, your circle of friends expands. Jesus is the thing you have in common and He is greater than any differences.
Can we "amen" that the worship style and music are huge? We were made to worship and worship is the vehicle which takes us to God.
Perhaps you have known of churches who have split over the hymnal vs. praise music conundrum. This is just my opinion, but I think music is the biggest dividing wall in the church hour. People call it the "segregated" hour, but I don't think the separation is over skin color, but rather music style.
The Lord made us all differently and some worship seamlessly with Southern gospel, some with hymns, others with praise, and others with the more soulful sound of black churches. Surely the Lord is less concerned with the "how" and more concerned with the "want to".
There are people of every stripe at Fellowship....and the worship team is always trying new things. One Sunday they might have a hymn which morphs into a praise chorus. Another day they were just as likely to have a string quartet as a banjo ensemble. We used to say the music at Fellowship was like Arkansas weather...you just wait.
LEADERSHIP
Our church experience went from a fifteen minute sermon (with an added Bible verse)...to a forty minute line-by-line expository teaching that made the Bible come alive. Mike and I love these three fine men who taught together for over 25 years...Robert Lewis, Bill Wellons, and Bill Parkinson.
There's just something to be said for the person who brings you closer to the Lord, marries your kids, and buries your parents.
There's just something to be said for the person who brings you closer to the Lord, marries your kids, and buries your parents.
 |
| Robert and Sherard Lewis and family |
 |
| Bill and Carolyn Wellons and family |
 |
| Bill and Ann Parkinson and family |
Later Dan Jarrett and Tim Lundy were added to the teaching team. What amazing Bible teachers! Dan stole my heart when he met with our son for early morning discipleship times. Mike loves Tim because they worked together closely on FBC's new building.
 |
| Dan and Kathy Jarrett (and their five children) now serve at ChangePoint Church in Anchorage, Alaska. |
 |
| Tim and Lea Lundy who now serve at Venture Christian Church in Los Gatos, California. |
Mike and I were spiritual babies "raised" at Fellowship Bible Church for over thirty years. Fellowship was where all the pieces of the life puzzle fit together for us, bringing heaven to earth. Now we WANTED to go to church rather than feel guilty if we DIDN'T go to church. My life today depends on this communion, so I guess now I'm Ms. Gung-Ho, too!
P.S. All the glory goes to God for His good plans for us and for His impeccable timing. And I'm also proud of my husband. Mike counts one of God's best gifts to him as his post-retirement, ten-year job at Fellowship as their liason between the church and their constant construction. The new building construction (see pics below...with three venues, each designed for a particular worship style) was completed in May of 2009. Then our move to Fayetteville was two months later.
 |
| Main Worship Venue |
 |
| The Warehouse |
 |
| The Chapel |
No comments:
Post a Comment