Restoring Kingdom Builders

My wife and I currently live in Phoenix, Arizona.

When we arrived here two years ago, we had no idea how to find a church home.

So we went to the Willow Creek Association’s website, made a list of the churches in the WCA, and proceeded to visit them, one by one.

It was not an encouraging process.

Six months later, on July 4th weekend, we visited Christ’s Church of the Valley in northern Phoenix – at least a 20-minute drive from our home.

Except for a brief six-week interlude, we’ve been going there ever since.

Let me share with you eight qualities (among many) that cause believers to feel good about their church:

First, the greetings are sincere.  As we walk from our car to the worship center, parking attendants tell us with a smile, “The service is going to be great.”  Several hundred feet from the entrance, greeters smile, wave and say hello.  It’s not uncommon for us to be greeted ten times before we enter the lobby – and the greeters are stationed so we don’t have to guess where the worship center is located.

Second, the music is awesome.  The church has three worship leaders, they’re all terrific, and they work together well on stage.  We sing three worship songs – including a hymn sometimes – and enjoy hearing at least one performance song every week.

And the music is often surprising.  Last Sunday, after everyone left the stage, a lone guitar player lingered, and then sang and played a blues song about Jesus’ birth called “Baby Boy.”  The style was totally unexpected, but it worked.

Third, the atmosphere is relaxed.  You can dress the way you want.  You can bring water or coffee into the service.  Few people talk, though, because they want to hear what’s happening on stage.  The only time I’ve encountered the church police is when I tried to photograph something on stage using a flash.  (I was arrested but got out on bail.)

Fourth, the stage is creatively presented.  The last series was on the life of Joseph.  When you entered the worship center, the letters JOSEPH were spread across the back of the stage in a desert motif and stood at least six feet tall.

During the current series, “The Other ‘F’ Word” (family), there are four monitors placed on stage at varying heights.  Last week, each monitor displayed falling snow.  Really cool effect to set the mood.

Fifth, the messages are contemporary.  Don Wilson is our pastor, and although he’s not nationally known, he’s by far the best preacher I’ve heard in the Phoenix area.  His messages are biblically-grounded, well-researched, application-oriented, and delivered in a no-nonsense style.  When he talks about couples living together, or sex outside marriage, or other hot-button issues, he gives it to us straight, but in love.

Sixth, the messages include a testimony.  Most of the time, someone from the church is interviewed about the theme of the morning.  A few weeks ago, we heard a testimony from a former NFL player who is in an accountability group with Dallas Cowboy’s quarterback Tony Romo.  Last Sunday, a staff member was interviewed inside his home about the way he manages his family – and he and his wife shared some great ideas!

Seventh, the performance songs are moving.  I loved the Sunday last spring where the service began with U2’s “Until the End of the World.”  Several weeks ago, the song “100 Years” was done – a song I knew nothing about.  But it was so great I bought two versions on iTunes.  (It’s by Five for Fighting.)  The church has its pulse on where people are at both spiritually and culturally.

Finally, the church is consistently innovative.  Six or so years ago, Christmas fell on a Sunday, and some prominent evangelical churches closed their doors so their people could celebrate Christmas Day with family.  Both secular and Christian critics lambasted those churches, even though some of them held multiple Christmas Eve services.

Since Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, I wondered what CCV would do.  Pastor Don told us last Sunday.

The church doors will be open this Sunday from 9-11 am.  The staff will be present (in revolving shifts?).  A film about The Nativity will be constantly playing, and worshipers are invited to come and take communion.  You can bring your family to church, worship the Lord for a few minutes, and then go back home.

Brilliant.

I love so much about CCV.  It’s not heaven on earth, but it must be close, becaue I see so many CCV stickers on the back of cars all over Phoenix.

The church is having ten Christmas Eve services on its campus this year (six on its other campus), and you need tickets to guarantee you have a seat.  Based on last year’s crowd, we’ll be arriving early.

Two Sundays ago, I brought a long-time friend (the first person I ever led to Christ) to church, and he LOVED it – especially after he enjoyed scrambled eggs, bacon, and French toast after the service for free.  (All guests and their families receive a complimentary meal.)

A growing church really has to answer only one simple question:

Do you feel good enough about your church to invite family, friends, and co-workers?

If the answer is “yes,” your church is growing – and most likely, so are you.