What we learned at Discovery

Most people know that Michael and I struggled for quite some time, looking for a church to call home.
We have attended Journey for a little over one month. We knew very early on that we felt at home there, and wanted to stay.
Last night, we went to "Discovery" to learn more about the ways of the church, and how to "finalize" membership and etc.
It's quite different from my southern baptist upbringing, in some ways, and very much the same in others.
Because I know I have a couple friends contemplating coming, I try to outline quite a bit of what goes on there to "coerce" them into checking it out, so here goes.....
Some of the "high points" were this:
The church lacks one major component of your typical southern baptist church....BUSINESS MEETINGS. That's right. At Journey, you don't hear, all in favor say aye, those opposed, same sign. Never.
It's "run" by elders.
Ok, if you are like me, you are thinking, what constitutes an "elder."
Well, in a nutshell...an elder is:
someone that has been a member for at least one year, someone that is disciplined, and willing to be a person that other members can go to for guidance, or even with church conflicts. These people take the place of "business meetings.
There are LOTS of qualifications outlined in the paperwork we were given. I won't go into great detail on that, but just leave it at, they are christians trying hard to be the best leaders they can be.
Next.........
you don't have to be "re-baptized" if you have been baptized before.
(sprinkle sprinkle on your head as a baby doesn't count!)

Next......
When your children accept Christ, it is completely acceptable for a father to baptize his own children. (no moms, only dads, which I totally agree with)
I think that sets the bar very high for father's, and that this concept is amazing.

Next.....
Once you become a member, you are NOT a member for life. You ARE a member for one year. At the beginning of the year, you will retake the "test" which is a spiritual gift inventory. (if you want more details on that, you have to ask!)

Next....
NOTHING is set in stone at Journey. Church is on Sunday mornings. Everything else, can and will be moved around on the schedule. If something doesn't "work" and people aren't moving forward on their journey with Christ, things will be changed up.

There's tons more I could talk about for quite some time, but won't, unless you want more info.

We will have another discovery group before agreeing to follow the church covenant. At that point you sign it, and they ask for 3 months worth of tithes in advance, and you have to buy 5 of the journey tshirts and a bumper sticker that is to be prominently displayed.

HAHAHAHA did anyone believe that? JUST KIDDING :) Journey is ALL about being behind the scenes, doing the work for NO credit, the complete opposite of that goofball statement.

Journey is a community serving church. Period.

Seriously, if you want to know more about our continuing growth at Journey, please email me, or give me a call. I certainly don't know everything about the way it is run, but if you have a question, I can get you an answer!