Church Interview Paper

From the Project Director’s experience, it is common to hear and feel a sense of gratitude and positive pride that Lenexa Baptist Church (LBC) is an excellent church from both leaders and the small group setting participants. Any faults found are minor and pale in comparison to many of the issues a church could face. LBC is a regional church with multiple campus locations strategically selected for maximum impact to reach Kansas City with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To prevent the closing of their church, the administrative council over the years became creative. Originally, the congregation was part of the Presbyterian denomination. As the leaders of the denomination began discussions with the administrative council to close their church and consolidate to another local Presbyterian congregation, the council sought other denominational avenues to prevent

“The Reverend Green Johnson and his wife Rachel were the creative force and inspiration behind the building and stewardship of the new church. Members of the Johnson family were active in the congregation for all 87 years it was in use. We are fortunate that Annie Johnson, one of Green and Rachel’s grandchildren, wrote a history of the church, recording major events, dates of changes made to the building, and names of clergy who preached

From my own personal history concerning this church I have heard my Mother speak about the huge numbers of people that attended this church when it had its peak attendance.

What are the national demographics of your community? Who lives here? What are their hurts? What are their dreams? Where do they spend their time? What is the mission to serve community? What steps is the church taking to fulfill its mission to serve the community? Who have you built relationship with who do you desire to build relationship with? Within the next 3, 5, 10 years where do you

On Monday, I went to the local Crossroads Baptist Church, located at 850 Edwards Ferry Rd NE, Leesburg, VA. This was my first time experience as I am Hindu and my parents never exposed me to any churches. Dr. Kenneth K. Baldwin was the pastor at the time I went. Luckily, I got the chance to speak with him after the service. After our brief conclusion, I realized that he had a great vision for his church and is leading it to success through his passion. I sensed his passion for preaching and religious beliefs as they were evident during the service. Despite this being my first visit to a church, I learned a lot of valuable things about churches and Christianity.

I never thought to be a Christian leader. As a matter of fact, I am a person who did not know about God for 26 years. I was the center of my life, and there was no room for God to enter. Even when I was attending church service, I was trying not to be exposed to other church people. In other words, I was the kind of person who was afraid to walk into a life of faith. However, in the past three years, God has changed me in many ways, and showed me so many miraculous things. And, finally here I am. Being a Christian leader seems the most challenging job in the world. I am working as the chairman of a youth ministry, and walking on the path to be a church leader. When God called me to work for the

In my experience at first progressive Baptist Church I was very much out of my comfort zone because not only did I not feel as welcomed but it was a little awkward because of all the looks I was receiving. I felt I was not dressed as they were and felt as if I didn't fit in and right away I just didn't feel appropriate with my attire. While I was there I actually had people wanting to shake hands and asking me questions about me coming and there was one man who just stared at me and so it was uncomfortable and didn't know how to react. While I was there I started to notice that there is a little difference from the church I go to and the music was way different as well, everyone will talk back with amen or thank you Jesus. The difference

When the bigger names and churches receive attention, there is an emotional, theological, and personal impact on the small church pastor. Emotionally, there should be joy seeing another succeed. If somebody in the same denominational is being successful, it makes sense to be happy for them since they are being successful in presenting a similar message. However, it may be saddening because the small church pastor is attempting to do the same thing, but is failing. Theologically, similarly to emotionally, a small church pastor should be happy because it appears that the masses are hearing their message. A pastor is concerned about having the message preached, and if someone is doing that, he should be joyful about it. However, he may feel called

On September 28, 2016, I met with Brady Voss who is the worship pastor at New Life Church. He took this position in February of this year. Below is the summary of the forty minute interview I was able to have with him.

My photo ethnography is based off my experience at a church in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The name of it is Saint Luke Church of God in Christ. Saint Luke is pastored by Elder Earl Shannon, is located in the beautiful city of Olive Branch, Mississippi. They offer a big selection of ministries designed to meet the needs of families in the Olive Branch area. Saint Luke is also nicknamed, “The Ark of the Community”. Saint Luke has a long history dating back to 1925. In 1925 Charles and Millississ Shannon established Saint Luke Church of God in Christ. Saint Luke started out with just about twelve members. Back then each church service was held in the homes of the members. Saint Luke's first pastor was Elder Bonner. Elder Bonner was succeeded

I was greeted by, and conversed with, different patrons on each of my visits. This is unusual for me because I typically am not approached by strangers, I am not complaining. I was also offered unconsecrated bread by different practitioners on each visit which was the best tasting bread I have had during a church service. The thing that impressed me most, however, was the church member’s commitment to their surrounding community. They welcome anyone to their services, to the coffee hour afterward, to their annual block party, which they host, and to their harvest Sundays, where they collect food from their patrons and feed the local homeless population. The connection with their surrounding neighborhood is strong, but what is truly unique is the connection the congregation has with one another. For example, on the first Sunday I attended after the service was completed I remained in the nave to photograph and watch the community. I talked to one man about his conversion to Orthodoxy as the priest was consoling a young man who seemed distraught. This seemed to change the church from its ritual space to a community space of self or group

6- Did the pastor of the church make wise decisions in selecting the board of trustees, and the deacons for the church?

They recently had celebrated their 20 year anniversary. They still had banners on the wall from the celebration when I attended. I had taken the time to interview some of the members and pastor after the service. The original founder was a young man who had completed the Southern Baptist seminary. Upon completing his degree and ordination he came out to his family and church that he was gay. During that time he had a difficult time, as the Southern Baptist Church, took a hard line against his being a homosexual. He left the Baptist church and moved to South Florida from Arkansas. He discovered that he still loved God and wanted to do ministry. He particularly felt called to work for and in the Gay community. He started the BOC church primarily for the Gay community. His parents who were also staunch Southern Baptist decided their love of God and their child was more important than their church legalism. His vision was a place where regardless of sexual orientation all people would be welcome and

I found my interviewee at my church. My church is pretty diverse we have a small percentage of different ethnic groups. There were, many different individuals that I could have chosen to interview, but I chose Mrs. Bola. Mrs. Bola was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos is the state, Nigeria is the country she is the last born in her family, and she has a sister and three brothers. Both of her parents are also from Nigeria. Mrs. Bola said her country is divided into three major parts. I choose her because I know she is a dynamic, powerful woman and being that I have never had a full, meaningful conversation with her just brief one’s I felt this was my opportunity to do so. I told her about my assignment and I asked her would she mind if I interview