|
Introducing Couples to Christ
Free Love
“I know we should marry instead of living together,” couples tell Kevin Pigg. “But it’s so expensive.”
With rental fees for many churches running hundreds of dollars, couples can easily shell out $2,000 or more for a frugal wedding with simple decorations—and that’s before spending a dime to document the occasion with photos!
“We wanted to make it easier for these couples to have a nice church wedding without breaking the bank,” says Kevin Pigg, senior minister with Harmony Christian Church in Oklahoma City. “In the process we hoped to also introduce some of them to Christ.”
Pigg and the HCC team accomplish both goals with their “Free Nuptials” service.
Participating couples attend a Friday night and Saturday seminar as well as four additional small-group evening sessions. In return, Harmony Christian’s sound technician, wedding coordinator, janitorial staff, and Pigg himself volunteer their services four weekends each year.
“We pick two Saturdays in the spring and two in the fall, and three time slots on each day,” Pigg says. “In addition to our staff, two professional photographers in the congregation volunteer to take pictures.”
At the final premarital class session, each couple receives a letter asking them to apply for a marriage license; tucked inside each letter is a $5 bill to pay for it.
The final sessions also include a challenge.
“I ask each couple to honor God’s Word by being celibate from that day until the honeymoon and praying together for God’s blessing on their future marriage,” Pigg says. “Scott and Carrie now attend my small group; Carrie returned to her faith and Scott was baptized. Mark and Tricia joined the church after Tricia accepted Christ. Jake and Echo want to start their own small group, and I haven’t even baptized them yet!
“I’m so excited to see God’s blessings on them and to be partnering with God in this ministry.”
www.harmonychristianchurch.org
Signs of Life
Many churches provide sign language interpretation during worship services, but Southport Heights Christian Church (Indianapolis, Indiana) serves its attendees who are deaf in a variety of other ways.
Full-time minister to the deaf James Wines leads “The Deaf Church” at Southport Heights; in addition to signing the main worship services, Wines and others also interpret Sunday school classes, a Wednesday night Bible study, small groups, and even counseling sessions. The church offers a deaf leadership retreat each September and participates in the National Christian Convention of the Deaf.
www.southportheights.org
Be Our Guest
Lincoln Heights Christian Church, Phoenix, Arizona, combined Christmas celebrations with missions education this month. Each Sunday in December the church invited various missionary guests to share their Christmas experiences on the field, and provided coffee and snacks for everyone present. Lincoln Heights scheduled this special “Christmas Around the World” emphasis in place of its usual Sunday morning adult Bible classes.
www.lhccphoenix.com
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS:
Surprising and Successful
‘Your Class Ring Could Save a Life’
Helping Victims of Abuse
A New Way to Raise Funds Via Golf
Teaming Up to Spotlight Homelessness
Helping Students Here and Abroad
Adding a Satellite Campus
‘Close Interaction that Doesn’t Fit a Formula’
‘The Best Link Between the Generations’
A Multicultural Model
Inspired by James 2
Putting Feet on Our Faith
Enriching the Neighborhood
Helping in Hard Times
Rooftop Exploit
A Network of Care
‘Training Rooted in Our Movement’
Accomplishing the Mission
Coming Together
Multiplying Blessings at Christmas
Training and Resources
Musical Partnerships
Online Services
More Than an Event
"An Explicitly Theological Agenda"
A Partnership with the Community
Hmong Worshipers Move into Own Place
Coffee with a Mission
Impacting the Community
Encouraging Entire Families to Attend
‘Festival Evangelism’ to Muslims
Growing Opportunities
Church Design Lauded
Prayers and Exercise
Fun Ways to Make Connections
Getting Away with God
A Model for Future Ministry
Florida Gator on the Go
It Never Hurts to Ask
"A Natural Connection"
Working Together in Kenya
New Ways to Serve
A Natural Connection
Following David’s Example
Doing Double Duty
Turning the Tables on the Teens
A Partnership of Churches
Illinois Hunters Feed the Hungry
Major Move Leads to Better Opportunities
11-18-07 -- Multiple Improvements Planned
11-4-07 -- Multiplying Missional Impact
10-21-07 -- The Church Van with ‘Free Stuff’
10-7-07 -- Emotional Times for Missionary Moms, Dads
9-9-07 -- A Place for Prayer, a Place for All
8-26-07 -- Cookouts, Bibles, and VBS
8-12-07 -- Changing Lives in a Day Or Less
7-29-07 -- Reaching Out to Arabs
7-15-07 -- A Second Site with Curb Appeal
7-1-07 -- Developing a Desire to Dig Deeper
6-17-07 -- Growing Leaders
6-3-07 -- Vacation Ministry School, Anyone?
5-20-07 -- Uniting to Serve
5-6-07 -- Real Struggles, Real Solutions
4-22-07 -- The Ministry of Giving Back
4-8-07 -- Cultivating an Interest in Missions
3-25-07 -- Morning Worship for Teens
3-11-07 -- From Preschoolers to Teens
2-25-07 -- From Christian School to Art Studios
2-11-07 -- A Ministry to Parents
1-28-07 -- Reversing the Sexual Trend for Teens
1-14-07 -- An Airline Industry Ministry
12-31-06 -- Partnership in Nebraska
12-17-06 -- Taking Jesus to the Community
12-3-06 -- Musical and Spiritual Training
11-19-06 -- Missions and Mentoring
11-5-06 -- Help for At-Risk Kids
10-22-06 -- Cardboard Catacomb
10-8-06 -- Community Building
9-24-06 -- 'Grace-Driven' Ministry
9-10-06 -- Introducing Skateboarders to Jesus
8-27-06 -- Reaching Families . . . With VBS!
8-13-06 -- Communicating Ideas About God
7-30-06 -- A Ministry of Clothing
7-16-06 -- Strengthening Marriages
7-2-06 -- Balloon Ministry Blesses Children
6-18-06 -- Church on the Move
6-4-06 -- Bold Moves Paying Off for Everyone
5-21-06 -- New Ministries for Hurting Families
5-7-06 -- Sharing Jesus' Love Through Daily Donations
4-30-06 -- Georgia on My Mind
4-9-06 -- Bringing the Old Testament to Life
3-26-06 -- Experiencing Exciting Adventures
3-12-06 -- Connecting God to a Wider Culture
2-26-06 -- Churches Using Dogs for Outreach
2-12-06 -- A Bike a Child Can Call His Own
1-29-06 -- Comforting Those Who Are Grieving
1-15-06 -- Preschool for Teens
1-1-06 -- Servant Evangelism for All Ages
12-18-05 -- How Will Your Church Celebrate Christmas This Year?
12-4-05 -- The Hot Place for Teens
11-20-05 -- Linking Adults with Young People
11-6-05 -- Stories of Successful Partnerships
10-23-05 -- Serving Specific Groups
10-9-05 -- An "At-Home" Mission Trip
9-25-05 -- At Work in New Orleans
9-11-05 -- An Evening to Remember
8-28-05 -- Up, Up, and Away
8-14-05 -- Growing Despite Limited Space
7-31-05 -- Christians Come Together Along Rio Grande
7-17-05 -- Reaching Into Downtown Savannah
7-3-05 -- Considering God's Call to Service
6-19-05 -- Community Involvement Being Noticed
6-6-05 -- Spring VBS Gets Great Response
5-22-05 -- 'We Call It Cyber-Evangelism'
5-8-05 -- Production Company Evangelizing Through Film
|
