Unbeliever # 4

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Unbeliever #4

This guy's interview made me smile because this is where I use to be a few months ago. I was very bitter towards God and the people who tried to push Him on me. Yes, I went through this stage when I was in Master's...talk about a trajedy! So I hear where he's coming from. Here are the results! Enjoy!!!!! I did!
What do you think is the greatest need in your area? The greatest need in my area is a reality check in general. I think Marlton, NJ has got to be one of the most backwards suburban towns in the U.S., where everyone's focused on materialistic fulfillment. It
would be nice if people around here could just live and greatfully take whatever comes their way, without turning it into some competition for attention or into some gay new trend everyone else must subscribe to.
Are you currently attending a church?
Absolutely not
Why do you think most people don't attend church?
I think most people choose not to attend church because they believe
saying they're a christian works just fine. "Yea, I'm a christian
brah," he says and then snorts a line. For me, there is a multitude of
reasons behind it, but the main reason is I do not believe in God or
that Jesus was his son, so there really isn't too much a reason for me
to go. Other than that, after spending nearly a decade of my life
growing up in church, I have found so many other reasons not to go
including: drama in the youth group, drama in the adult congregation,
blatant and abundant hypocrisy, the bottomless offering-baskets,
ideals that are Right- no matter WHAT! It says it right there in the
bible!, and plenty more. Basically, I find church to be a mess of
issues that can be easily avoided by...Just not going.
If you were looking for a church to attend, what kind of things would you look for?
I would look for a church that encourages questioning and skepticism
of their beliefs. And one that had a leader that could at least
attempt to prove his bleiefs rather than throwing down the "It's A
Religion: Don't Go There" card. (But, who am I kidding?) I mean, these
guys majored in this crap but they can't back it up with anything else
but the fact that questioning religion's taboo? Come on.
What advice can you give pastors who really want to be helpful to people?
I would give the pastor this advice: step down off the pulpit and
talk to your congregation like people, because even though they don't
realize their being jaded into everything you're saying, you should as
a pastor. Get to know them, try and answer their questions, debate
with them, hear what they're saying. I think doing that will teach
people how to think for themsleves again, at least in church, and
maybe eventually that will spread into the community and so on. What
I'm saying is, I'd tell the pastor to challenge his religion, and to
encourage his flock to do the same, because the ones that know how to
think for themselves are already gone, and he shouldn't want to lose
anymore. I think getting people to think for themselves again is the
most helpful thing anyone could do.

I know this is a really long blog, but I thought you would appreciate his remarks and I didn't want you to miss out on any! These are the teens I love to interact and connect with. Those who have been hurt and are quite bitter. I love challenges and they bring me such joy!

New Believer #4

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New Believer #4

As it turned out, this was the most interesting interview yet. This man has been shot, stabbed, hit by cars, and in a terrible accident. He knew after still living through it all that God has a purpose for him. While in jail, he knew there had to be more for him. He was interested in finding out. He went to Freedom House and when asked what the best part of coming to Christ, his reply was freedom of what he's going to do tomorrow. He doesn't have to worry anymore. There is a peace for him. His hardest challenge is listening to someone who is younger than him. In the House, he has to follow a 21 year old and he doesn't always agree with him. The guys in the House and Freedom Valley has helped him. When he saw that he wasn't being judged for the things he had done and people actually went out of their way to build a relationship with him, he was touched. He noticed that people led by example here and didn't just give orders. This spoke volumes to him. He has never seen this shown before. He is a nice guy and I have watched him take action and fight for his freedom. One thing I wish I saw more from him is a smile. He has so much for him and I wish he could see it.

New Believer #3

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New Believer #3


I chose to interview another girl from youth group. She has been coming to Freedom Valley for a year and a half, but she wanted nothing to do with the church or Jesus until 3 months ago. I asked her, "What changed your mind? What caused you to stop and reconsider?" She said that as she regularly came to church, she would watch people and wonder, What would it be like to feel and witness God's love? What is it like to put my arms in the air and dance for him? One day she got to the point where she didn't want to question anymore, but actually experience it. She wept and asked Jesus to come into her heart. "It was the best feeling in the world," she says. "I don't have to wonder anymore!" She says she can see huge differences in the way she acts and treats people, especially in her public school. "Everything I do is for him. I try to help people. I pray and read the Bible now and learning more about God. He has made my life complete!" She mentioned that it is really hard going to school and being Christ-like. Everyone knew her before she made the commitment and so it's hard to go to a place everyday where people expect you to act a certain way. She told me, "It's like they are just waiting for me to fall and mess up. Showing that I changed is so difficult. There were many times I came home and cried because I felt like I let God down. It's very hard for me, but I won't give up on God. I have faith in myself now. I know I can do this...I can conquer this mountain!"
I have watched this girl blossom. I was there when she decided to make the decision to really go after God. I was there at her baptismal and I couldn't help but cry when I got her responses for the interview questions. She has been such a joy to disciple! I absolutely love her.

Town Hall For Hope

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Guest Speaker: Dave Ramsey himself....clap, clap, clap! Whooooo!



I don't know much about financial stuff. To be honest, math was my weakest subject and so what Dave Ramsey spoke about was a little over my head. I did grasp some things though; I'm not totally stupid with money. What Dave is doing is nothing short of amazing. He is definitely instilling hope to America and igniting fire in us to fight for ourselves. We don't have to live in debt. We can live debt free. It is possible. It is very easy to lose hope right now because of the economy and it only seems like it's getting worse...but you know what...we can live in peace. We don't have to constantly be worrying and fretting. I love the fact that Dave Ramsey unashamedly speaks of God in his sessions. I believe this is what America needs. To know that we can be in control of our money and that God is the ultimate answer in becoming rich.

Church rater # 3

The Church What Church did you visit? New Life Assembly of God What city or town is this Church located? Grantville What date and service did you attend? 4-12-09; morning (10:30 service)

Evaluating How would you rate this church? Please provide ratings based on your own experience. Yes, I realize this is subjective and your '1′ might be someone else's '5′. That's ok. It's your rating and I really want your opinion. Rate the following from 1 to 5. 1 is not effective, 5 is very effective! Overall: 3 Friendliness 5 Singing 2 Preaching 3 First Impressions Outside: Was the building easy to find? Kind of; it was on a hill on a main road Was it difficult to find parking? No, not at all How about the interior or exterior signage- what would you do differently? It was on the side of the road; very noticeable. It was boring though. I would create a way to make it eye appealing and catching What did the appearance, style, or construction of the building communicate to you? It looked nice; they were adding an addition so obviously there is growth and expansion taking place Before the service: Did anyone approach you and speak to you before the service got underway? yes If someone did speak to you, how did you feel about that? They were very friendly; I loved it; made me feel welcomed and care about Can you share their names? Linda, Ruth, Cathy General observations: As you observed the people "doing their church thing", what went through your mind? Seriously....I thought “Oh man do I miss Freedom Valley.” But on the other hand, you didn't get lost. It was a small church and so you really felt like family. They were very loving and kind-hearted. Were you able to understand why they do what they do? Yeah, they truly love the Lord Do they seem sincere? yes What do you think about the overall presentation of the service? (the liturgy, program or flow of the service) it ran smoothly Bulletin and communications: Is there anything in the church bulletin that you find confusing or offensive? It's really cluttered and no color. I honestly didn't want to look at it. It made my eyes go crazy If this were your "business", how would you improve the communication part of it- the bulletin especially? Make it look eye appealing, organize it better Were announcements clear, and interesting (did you want to sign up for anything)? nope Children's Ministry Does this church appear kid-friendly? Not at all Did you bring any children with you to the service? No, I don't have children If so, ask them about their experience. What did they tell you? Music and Prayer How would you describe the music? Dull and boring, they really couldn't sing or keep rhythm at all Did you enjoy any of it? no Did you feel like you connected with God during any part of it? no How was it different from what you are used to? Freedom Valley: free, spirited, into God, joy of the Lord, feel the love of God New Life: felt like I was in a funeral service, “Did someone just die?” Would you enjoy worshiping like that often? no What did you think of the prayers that were offered in the service? I actually just asked myself, “Was there prayer?...oh yeah.” So I don't remember As you listened to the prayers, what did you learn about how that church might think of people, or of God? It was the normal older AG feeling. Not too passionate The Speaker's Presentation

Did the Pastor or speaker seem likable?

Ummm...sorta...I guess

Is he/she a person you might enjoy having coffee with? Why?

Probably not; he seemed intimidating and stuck in his own ways; not someone I could carry a good conversation with

Did he/she seem engaged/sincere/condescending?

Yeah, but also seemed really busy and so you felt like you were absorbing his precious time

Were you motivated to do or think anything differently because of the talk?

Not really

What could they have done to make it more enjoyable or useful?

Don't be so monotonous.

Please erase any of the following descriptors that did not apply to the talk: Boring, Relevant, Gloomy, Slow

The Message

What was the main idea of the message?

Joseph...I think...

What action did the speaker want you to take or consider taking?

I don't remember an action

Did the talk itself (the subject matter) hold your attention?

No, I wanted to sleep or draw on paper to keep me awake

Did any part of the talk stand out to you in a positive or negative way?

I just really like the story of Joseph

What is the one thing the speaker could do that would improve his/her presentation?

Base it on our generation, add some humor

Do you think that you particularly will remember anything that was taught?

Considering that the only thing I can really remember is Joseph...I guess not

Do you understand God or people better because of it?

no

Did it make you feel like you wanted to preach someday yourself ?

Yes, I want to do a better job than that

P.S. This is my church back home. So I have a few years of bitterness stored up because of it.

Unbeliever # 3

http://rachelbarnhart.blogspot.com/
Unbeliever #3


Heather, Rae Rae, and I decided that we wanted to interview some people right off the street in order to see what people who we have no connections with responded. We went to the Gettysburg outlets in search of a victim (giggle). We approached a group of teens, 3 to be exact, and asked them our questions....here is the results.
When asked what the greatest need in there area was, tourists and maintenance improvement (like the roads, sidewalks, etc). Two did not currently attend church, but the other one did. That was exciting to hear. The reason for the two not attending church is because it's too early in the morning or because they are lazy. You could tell that the one teen has been hurt in the past or has been preached at. You could sense a bitterness when asked the question "if you could attend a church what would it be?" His answer: Not as much "God's watching and throwing lightning bolts at you whenever you mess up" kinda thing. He believes that the Bible should be taught as how to live a moral life and not how to get to heaven. The girl said she wanted a church that is upbeat. One that reminds her of her childhood years when she did attend. She wants one that has exciting worship and not boring hymnals. All of them agreed that pastors should put their life experience into their sermons and not be monotonous. It was a good experience all around. They were a good group and seemed pretty interested in our questions. We had fun with them.

David Kennard

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Guest Speaker: David Kennard

David Kennard surprised me on how he pastors his church. I never ever considered pastoring a church without preaching. It just seemed unbiblical and unrealistic. It's pretty much unheard of. It definitely opened my mind to it. In addition to that, I love the fact that he has a church in a mall. What a great outreaching tool. I think it breaks down some expectations of church that people put on it. Shoppers can walk right in and not feel too terribly uncomfortable or like an outcast. It meets the people where they are and that is important and rare. One thing that you hit on in discussion and worries me is that they are not growing as much as they should be. That creates questions and concerns, but other than that I think David has done an amazing job. He wears a lot of hats and has it all pretty much organized. He makes it a priority to connect with his congregation and it thrills me to hear that they joke around with him when he has to preach. It sounds like he has some fun relationships with them and I love to hear that!

Guest Speaker: Jason Lamar

Jason is just an amazing guy all around. He is very humble and passionate and I can't help but get stirred up and more passionate for the youth when I'm around him. There is something so real that he brings to the table when he speaks. He doesn't try to fluff things up and he doesn't over-complicate things. I've seen evangelists get all preachy, pushy, and over-spiritual (like they spoke in terms that only people who were raised up in a church environment could understand). Jason doesn't do this. He is very simple in his speech and is able to reach the youth in a way that relates to them. I absolutely love the way he instills his 777 (follow-up technique) to the churches who are working with him. Follow up has always been a big thing to me. It shows the people you are reaching that you care and that you aren't just fooling around. It's very critical because you want to make sure that they get connected and don't get lost in all the emotion. A lot of times Satan will try to steal them right after this experience and so it's important to be there for them and really get them connected into the family. Jason has a good system going for him and I've been on several 7 Projects myself. It is an amazing ministry!!!

Nick Poole

Guest Speaker: Nick Poole

Even though quite young, he is very well experienced and shows much wisdom in the area of church planting. Nick has helped plant many churches and is continuing to do so in the Pittsburgh area with Allison Park. I absolutely loved the fact then when he answered the questions, he didn't beat around the bush, he didn't go on a rant about what's going on in his church, or what their church is known for, or what has worked for them....he simply gave an answer. To me this says that he was more interested in meeting our needs and questions then his desires and wants. This is big. I noticed that Nick is the first one to do this. All the rest threw out what they were known for, or they would go on a rant and talk about things that didn't at all pertain to the question that was asked. I believe we can learn a lot from this. Nick is a listener. He listened intently to what we were asking and then gave us a direct answer. As Christians, we should do the same. I feel that in some ways, when talking to an unbeliever or just someone who is hurt and is in need of answers, we give them fluff and Christianese. But how about just answering the question...it's that simple. Our problem is that because we are knowledgeable we tend to want to rant and rave, when really all they are interested in is you listening to them and then giving them a straight answer in the end.

Unbeliever # 2

Unbeliever #2

I interviewed a lady at my mom's work. She has 3 kids and one of her sons actually goes to youth group but she doesn't attend the church. I find that interesting. She believes that the greatest need in her area is getting the kids active, especially in the summer because they get bored and into trouble. The topics and issues that interest her the most is every-day life stuff; not just Scripture verses. She would like pastors to be down to earth, real, and funny. The reason why she doesn't attend church is that she is too busy. If she were to look for a church she would pick one that seems to be what she believes is right in her heart. Her advice to pastors is not to be overbearing or pushy; to really be concerned with the people and not just bringing them to church to fill the pews. I'm finding out that people have the wrong idea of church. They think of it as some ritual or some way to clear your conscience throughout the week. I think we need to do a better job in communicating that it is not this way at all.

Brian and Angie Bolt

Guest Speaker: Brian and Angie Bolt



A lot of what they do reminds me of Freedom House, except for the fact that they have a women's home. I believe this is a very effective ministry. Both Brian and Angie are very wise. There is definitely an anointing on these two and you could just sense their gentle hearts and genuiness. They know what they are up against and they fight it with truth. Angie really hit home when she talked about the weight of ministry. This is something I'm currently dealing with, but what she said brought great insight and is helping me to overcome the fear, doubts, and concerns I have. Also, I loved how we touched base on humility. I've seen a lot of leaders and pastors consider themselves to be "holier than thou," prideful, only looking out for themselves. I believe it is very important to be humble and there are so many benefits from it. God has a special place in His heart for the humble. "He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Because Brian and Angie are always examining themselves and keeping themselves in check, they will go far. God has blessed them so much already and will continue to do so.

Church rater # 2

The Church What Church did you visit? Rabbi Ed What city or town is this Church located? It was here in room 2003 What date and service did you attend? It was Friday the 28th of February

Evaluating How would you rate this church? Please provide ratings based on your own experience. Yes, I realize this is subjective and your '1′ might be someone else's '5′. That's ok. It's your rating and I really want your opinion. Rate the following from 1 to 5. 1 is not effective, 5 is very effective! Overall: ____8_______ Friendliness _____8________ Singing _____7_______ Preaching ___6______ First Impressions Outside: Was the building easy to find? yes Was it difficult to find parking? no How about the interior or exterior signage- what would you do differently? its not his church building What did the appearance, style, or construction of the building communicate to you? Freedom Valley Before the service: Did anyone approach you and speak to you before the service got underway? Yes If someone did speak to you, how did you feel about that? It was nice. they were all so sweet Can you share their names? no, I don't remember Did you know them before the visit? no General observations: As you observed the people "doing their church thing", what went through your mind? They're open and friendly and very passionate Were you able to understand why they do what they do? yes, they love God so much Do they seem sincere? Oh my word...yes What do you think about the overall presentation of the service? (the liturgy, program or flow of the service) Amazing! Bulletin and communications: Is there anything in the church bulletin that you find confusing or offensive? no church bulletin If this were your "business", how would you improve the communication part of it- the bulletin especially? Were announcements clear, and interesting (did you want to sign up for anything)? Children's Ministry Does this church appear kid-friendly? There wasn't any kids Did you bring any children with you to the service? no If so, ask them about their experience. What did they tell you? Music and Prayer How would you describe the music? very Jewish, pretty, hebrew Did you enjoy any of it? yes Did you feel like you connected with God during any part of it? yes How was it different from what you are used to? slower, we danced at the end Would you enjoy worshiping like that often? yes What did you think of the prayers that were offered in the service? they were in Hebrew and then he translated it to English, focused on who God is and thanking Him As you listened to the prayers, what did you learn about how that church might think of people, or of God? They are so enthralled by Him, so much passion and love The Speaker's Presentation

Did the Pastor or speaker seem likable?
yes

Is he/she a person you might enjoy having coffee with? Why?
yes, very down to earth, loving and caring, we struck up a conversation right away

Did he/she seem engaged/sincere/condescending?
yes, very much

Were you motivated to do or think anything differently because of the talk?
yes, most definately

What could they have done to make it more enjoyable or useful?
Umm, considering that it was more like a Bible Study and not totally a real church service I would say no.

Please erase any of the following descriptors that did not apply to the talk: Enjoyable, Thought-provoking, Slow, Useful

The Message

What was the main idea of the message?
The Light

What action did the speaker want you to take or consider taking?
it was more like a Bible study so if was more informative and more information than anything

Did the talk itself (the subject matter) hold your attention?
yes

Did any part of the talk stand out to you in a positive or negative way?
positive and yes

What is the one thing the speaker could do that would improve his/her presentation?
We had all the lights turned off and lamps on, so it made me kinda sleepy during his sermon/discussion

Do you think that you particularly will remember anything that was taught?
yes, he spoke about how lambs were raised in Bethlehem to be sacrificed for Yon Kipper. And Jesus was born in Bethlehem to be the ultimate sacrifice.

Do you understand God or people better because of it?
yes

Did it make you feel like you wanted to preach someday yourself ?
yes

Mike Hammer

Guest Speaker: Mike Hammer

At first, I was completely bored by him. He didn't seem to answer any of the questions and he talked a lot about random stuff. I was kind of lost in the middle of it. I didn't quite know what his ministry was about and I was thinking to myself, "He pastors? I can't see how he does it. He can't even adequately explain what his ministry is about." So the first half was really rough for me, but all of a sudden, in the second half, he had me so intrigued with what his ministry was based on. I think, by far, this man knows what a church is about. He is all about connecting. He doesn't just scratch the surface. He gets deep to the inner core of things. He has a ministry called Bridges and it is so brilliant, the most clever thing ever! The fact is, most people can't be real. Most don't want to let people in or tell them what's really bothering them. That would be known as vulnerability, letting your walls down, placing yourself out there, having nothing to hide behind, you could be judged or rejected. Sadly, our culture has taught us that vulnerability is a bad thing; that you have to be strong and you can't let anyone else know you are struggling. I think Mike Hammer is hitting on something powerful. He is helping people find out the true source of their pain, the root of their fear and shame, and the list goes on. What if we did more of this? What if we got so connected with people and built so strong of relationships with unbelievers that we could talk to them about those deep, dark, secret stuff that we all suppress inside of us? I believe that when we find the truth, the cause of it all, then and only then are we able to finally move on and get help. "...Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free..."

New Believer #2

New Believer #2


Alright, get ready for this one....this girl totally blows my mind. She has been saved for a little over a month now and it has been completely amazing to watch her grow more and more every week!

Where she was raised, in Germany, you were to be baptized as a baby, but her parents refused to do that so that she could make her own choice in due time. At the age of 9 she decided that it was time for her. "No one ever forced me. It was my own decision," she said. After some time though, it got less important for her. When she came over here, her host mother went to church but she didn't like it, so she never went after that, just as she did back in Germany. When she received a new host family, she began to go every Sunday with them. "Although I was often found complaining because I had to get up so early on a Sunday morning, I started to like it and it grew more important to me." For Christmas her host family gave her her own Bible. She began to read it and grew closer to God. Her host family here was who helped her make the commitment to follow Christ. "They showed me how much God loves me no matter what I have done before. His love is amazing and it makes me feel safe. That's what I needed." The best part of becoming a Christian for her is the fact that she feels safe. "I know He loves me and will protect me no matter what happens. Reading the Bible helps me a lot with my daily challenges. It helps me to know Christ and He helps me to get over my problems. I'm not afraid of challenges any longer for I know there is a reason and I can get over them and grow from them." Her advice to us is this: "It's important to make the first step to them and offer your them your help. But also leave them on their own with their thoughts sometimes. I think some things about your relationship to God you have to figure out on your own. But it is also important to be sure of a person you can always ask about Christ. It's kind of a mix between building a relationship on one's own and getting help. That was at least my way to do it."

Sam Masteller

Guest Speaker: Sam Masteller


Sam had me thinking. He got my gears to turn and think alot about how to start this youth group out in West York. One thing I absolutely loved about Sam is that he is very big on "follow up." Once a person comes to the Lord, he really begins to get that person involved with the church. They don't forget about the new believers. I feel that is extremely important especially with what we are doing this summer and the following with planting churches. In believing for 1000 salvations, we MUST follow up. We MUST get them plugged in or else they will be running aimlessly or worse yet, never changing at all and then return back to their former life style. How Sam does this is he has small groups, new believer's class, phone calls, and they get them involved by serving at the church. When he mentioned that he loves to put women in children's church to teach the kids Bible stories in order that the women will learn more about it as well, I was shocked. It's brilliant! What they missed as a child, they get to experience while teaching. I love it. Sam did amazing and it was refreshing to hear new ideas and helpful hints.

Wesley Shortridge

Guest Speaker: Wesley Shortridge


Due to the fact that I will be starting a youth group in West York with Rick Roth, I really needed to hear this. The truth is...I'm really nervous in starting this youth group. I feel as though I am being attacked with so many lies and fears. Wesley really challenged me in so many areas, especially in conquering my fear of stepping out. I love the fact that he went straight to the point and didn't beat around the bush. Yeah, there were a few things I didn't agree with, but I chose to look past that fact and take into consideration that we all have our own opinions. However, there is one thing I have a question about. He mentioned that he focuses his sermons on what the people want to hear. And well, last week we heard that Anna and Jonathan focus a lot on the beginning (creation, God's love, etc.). I guess my question is, when does Wes talk about the core of Christianity. If he's constantly focusing on what the people want to hear like money and other stuff, then when do you tell them what they need to hear like God's love and forgiveness? I mean isn't that what changes lives? If it wasn't for God's love and His Word, we wouldn't know how to manage our money. I just wanted to know when he tells them the reason we are followers of Christ.

Jonathan and Anna Kuist

I found myself going home last Thursday night really thinking about what Jonathan and Anna talked about. I was so challenged by them. Their passion and love for the lost inspires me and compels me to search myself and find where my heart truly is. One thing that really stood out to me is the fact that they research the culture before they go there. I was just so impressed by this. They really read up on their stuff in order to reach the people. It shows how dedicated they are and how badly they want to connect with the people. Jonathan said something that really stuck on me..."It's not up to you to make God look good; you just need to do your part and offer it to them and He'll take care of the rest." After he said this, I felt like a load was lifted off of me. I guess a lot of times, I try to take things into my own hands when they are not rightfully mine. It's not up to me to save them. My part is sharing it with them, what they do with the rest is between God and them. I sow the seed and He will make things grow.

Church rater # 1

The Church What Church did you visit? Bethel Assembly of God What city or town is this Church located? Littlestown What date and service did you attend? February 8 2009 Sunday Night Service

Evaluating How would you rate this church? For me it would be a 5. Please provide ratings based on your own experience. Yes, I realize this is subjective and your '1′ might be someone else's '5′. That's ok. It's your rating and I really want your opinion. Rate the following from 1 to 5. 1 is not effective, 5 is very effective! Overall: ___4_______ Friendliness ______4_______ Singing ______3_____ Preaching ____9 Yeah Johannes!!!_____ First Impressions Outside: Was the building easy to find? yeah, of course I was in a van full of Master's Students. Daniel drove us and he knew where it was. I just sat as he drove us there. Was it difficult to find parking? no...well it depends...are you talking about close to the building parking or just parking because we had to park a little bit away from the building due to all the cars for the leadership event. How about the interior or exterior signage- what would you do differently? It was nice...really clean. The outside looked neat. It didn't look scary or initiminating unless you like small churches. What did the appearance, style, or construction of the building communicate to you? That it is a growing church. They are building an addition. But other than that, it looked like most Assembly of God churches. Before the service: Did anyone approach you and speak to you before the service got underway? No, I didn't have anyone go out of their way to greet me or say anything. If someone did speak to you, how did you feel about that? Can you share their names? Did you know them before the visit? General observations: As you observed the people "doing their church thing", what went through your mind? Some were fake, others were really genuine. It was really neat to look around the room and see everyone from all different denominations worshipping together. Were you able to understand why they do what they do? I'm not sure how to answer this question. What do you mean? Do they seem sincere? Like before, you noticed some really got it. Some understood God's love and His forgiveness and they were just so neat to watch as they worshipped. There was this joy and glow that surrounded them. Others were just doing it for the sake of it. Like it was there Sunday routine..."I have to get in my good deed for the week" kinda thing. What do you think about the overall presentation of the service? (the liturgy, program or flow of the service) The flow I thought was good. Bulletin and communications: Is there anything in the church bulletin that you find confusing or offensive? Well, I never got a bulletin...I don't think they have them on Sunday Night Services. At least, my church back home didn't...only in the morning services. If this were your "business", how would you improve the communication part of it- the bulletin especially? Ummm...perhaps give me a bulletin. : ) Were announcements clear, and interesting (did you want to sign up for anything)? There was one announcement that I saw; it was on the screen from the projector. It had something to do with a Valentines Event. I wasn't interested because I'm not dating anyone right now. Children's Ministry Does this church appear kid-friendly? Most definitely...they have an amazing play house for the kids...like a McDonald's play house. I got to go down the slide. It was amazing! They also have a ball pit....only the coolest thing ever!!!!! I believe that because they are so family oriented that is why their church is growing so much!! Did you bring any children with you to the service? No If so, ask them about their experience. What did they tell you? Music and Prayer How would you describe the music? Not like Freedom Valley's. Slow and traditional. Did you enjoy any of it? Not really. Did you feel like you connected with God during any part of it? A little bit, but I had to really push in. It was hard to get into worship. How was it different from what you are used to? Well...I'm used to lively, freeing, excited about praising God kinda worship. Would you enjoy worshiping like that often? Uggghhh...NO! What did you think of the prayers that were offered in the service? One of the guys from the Swedish team named Peter was the one who prayed during service, so I don't really know As you listened to the prayers, what did you learn about how that church might think of people, or of God? Can't answer this one...Johannes and Peter were the only ones who offered prayers. The Speaker's Presentation

Did the Pastor or speaker seem likable?
Its Johannes...what's not to love? He is such an amazing man!

Is he/she a person you might enjoy having coffee with? Why?
Oh yes!

Did he/she seem engaged/sincere/condescending?
Yes, he was tearing up when he began to describe his past.

Were you motivated to do or think anything differently because of the talk?
Yes, he makes me want to be more caring, more loving, more passionate about the unsaved.

What could they have done to make it more enjoyable or useful?
Nothing

Please erase any of the following descriptors that did not apply to the talk: Enjoyable, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Credible, Useful, Life-changing,

The Message

What was the main idea of the message?
Forgiveness

What action did the speaker want you to take or consider taking?
Honestly...I don't remember. He kind of went from the power of forgiveness to healings

Did the talk itself (the subject matter) hold your attention?
yes

Did any part of the talk stand out to you in a positive or negative way?
Yeah

What is the one thing the speaker could do that would improve his/her presentation?
Well, I wish he had more meat in his sermon. I felt like he was holding back because of all the different denominations...which is ok because I know he wanted to be sensitive to everyone.

Do you think that you particularly will remember anything that was taught?
Yeah, forgiveness is very freeing. And the love of Christ is so overwhelming!!!!

Do you understand God or people better because of it?
Oh man, God's love is just so unfathomable? It is so good. The movie clip he showed was powerful.

Did it make you feel like you wanted to preach someday yourself ?
YES!!!! Especially to the youth!!!

New Believer #1

New Believer #1

I'm finding out more and more that people really are interested in finding the truth. They really do want help in overcoming they're own struggles. In one certain situation, a female young adult knew she didn't want to live in her sin anymore. Being raised in a Catholic Church, she dealt with a lot of condemnation and criticism. Slowly she found herself conforming to the things around her and getting into the wrong crowd. She watched her mom go through a difficult divorce, find Freedom Valley, and get healing. Watching her mom go through this is what brought her to Freedom Valley and then to accept Christ into her life. She stated that her mom's healing process, prayer warriors, and seeing things change in her own life is what brought her to where she is now. Her biggest struggle is the fact that she works and goes to school in a secular environment. "It's hard to stay strong when everyone else is waiting for you to fall," she said. The biggest thing that has helped her to grow is gatherings like SOS, church, and getting connections with people like Wendy Kadish. Her advice for us to help others to grow in their faith is to understand where they are coming from. Don't be judgmental and be aware that people come from all backgrounds. Love on them no matter where they are.

Jan Workman

Guest Speaker: Jan Workman


Wow! This one had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It blows my mind hearing that Jan uses kids to minister to kids. Yeah, it sounds like common sense, but I never took time to think about it. It's incredible to hear that she uses these kids in different teams such as drama, worship, puppets, face painting...etc. I think this concept is crucial and is a good lesson to learn. Once you give a person a job, a place for them to shine and feel a part of, they will want to come and will also invite others to come. Everyone wants to feel needed; be a part of something...even kids do. I believe we underestimate the power of kids. We forget they have an amazing potential to be leaders even at their age. On Sunday morning I actually tried it out with the Explorers class. I played a game, had an object lesson, and then learned how we could apply it to our lives. It was amazing!

Unchurched Friend #1

http://rachelbarnhart.blogspot.com/
Unchurched Friend #1

I have found that it is extremely difficult to ask these questions if you don't have any relationships with unbelievers. I have been in a bubble my whole life. Being raised in church, went to a Christian school, and now Master's Commission, I'm sad to say I have had no relationships or any connections with unbelievers. Doing this assignment was terrible challenging for me. It caused me to face some fears I never realized I had. It also came to my realization that you really should have connections with unbelievers and not just "hi" small talk stuff, but a real relationship with them. You really can't talk to someone about Christ and church without it. I've learned that people are interested in Christians going the extra mile and reaching out to them, rather than them making the first move and coming to church. It makes me wonder how much we could change and impact the world if we truly followed Jesus' example. He went out and made connections; he didn't stay in one spot and he definitely did not wait until people walked into a church building to build relationships! Another thing I discovered is that they are looking for us to be down to earth. No more Christianese terms. Be real, speak English and most importantly: accept them for who they are! Our cultures may have changed throughout the years, but what unchurched people still want is love, acceptance, and realness!!!

Chaplain Will

Guest Speaker: Chaplain Will Olsen
http://rachelbarnhart.blogspot.com/

"The harvest is ripe but the workers are few"...especially when you are in the prison ministry. I am finding that it is extremely hard to help those who don't want help. I believe that is why the prison ministry is so ripe. Most who are in there are completely broken, hungry for answers, and want help. They have tried everything within their own strength to get somewhere and have failed. I feel Will has done an amazing job of reaching and connecting with these people. One thing he didn't mention though was leadership opportunities for them. I mean, we hear stories of those who give their life to Christ, get straightened up, and then get out of prison and start amazing ministries. But what about those who have been sentenced for life in jail? What do they get to do? There needs to be some kind of way they can grow and step up to lead others as well! And get this...they can reach people in ways Will can't. Will is limited in many areas: what he can say, how he approaches people, and what he can give to them. But for those who are in prison, they are able to speak freely to inmates and reach in ways Will won't ever be able to!!!!!

John Wega

Guest Speaker: John Wega (uscegettysburg.org)
Interview by Gerry Stoltzfoos


From infant on up I have been raised in church. And if there's one thing I can point out that I feel churches struggle with the most is: reaching people where they are. I'm caught guilty of this too. It's so easy to talk to unsaved when they already made the first step, overcame some fear, and walked in the doors of the church. But what if we as believers decided to conquer our fear, get out of our comfort zones and leave the church property in order to meet their needs. John is an excellent example of how this can be done. As the tourists come to Gettysburg, he reaches them through history and stories and then funnels it all down to the heroism of Christ. In a place surrounded by so much gore and death, he is providing it with hope and life. Yes, the war brought physical freedom, but what John is doing now is fighting for spiritual freedom!