Samantha and I visited over 15 churches in the Las Vegas Valley and we made several observations. We took the time to talk with the Pastor after service and with the Worship leader at many of the churches. They didn’t seem to have a follow-up program for involving new people in the ministry of the church. Much of the worship was focused entirely on the praise element of the praise and worship experience. Accordingly, the music was loud, fast, repetitive, and sprinkled with musicians doing screeching guitar solos. We were hungry for a more mellow worship experience where a person can be reflective, deeply moved by the presence of God, and experience the ministry and touch of the Holy Spirit in solitude and quietness. We enjoy lively praise music but too many churches have developed a constant diet of standing up, clapping, and repeating choruses over and over ad nauseum. Finally, we found a few good worship experiences and then the Pastor’s sermon was filled with exhortation and condemnation so that the sheep in the congregation left feeling broken, beat up, and bloody.

 

I have been trained in worship by the best, Maranatha Music and John Wimber. These influences have left me with a sensitivity for mellow yet passionate worship and a use of familiar songs that the congregation can readily sing. Older and familiar worship choruses, a sprinkling of hymns, and some appropriate introspective current worship songs is the worship menu for Community of Joy.

 

I have been trained to love the Bible by Chuck Smith, having sat under his teaching for 30 years and attended his Bible College. The emphasis on the “whole word of God” is imperative in these days of loose doctrine and out of context preaching. Many have never made the voyage through the entire Bible to get the whole counsel of God. Community of Joy will have a strong emphasis on preaching the Word through the entire Bible.

 

I have studied the messaging of Norman Vincent Peale, Joel Osteen and other inspirational teachers and have seen the power of the affirming, positive message for depressed, hurting, disillusioned people in the church today. I believe most Biblical truths can be presented in a way that lifts people to want to be more like Jesus. Although only ten inches apart, a pat on the back gets far greater results than a swat on the butt. Too many churches today, knowingly or unknowingly, emphasis the exhortation type preaching and the flock leaves each Sunday feeling beat up and condemned. Community of Joy will have a regular diet of uplifting and positive teaching and preaching. Joy will be the goal for each person’s life.

 

John Wimber and Jack Hayford have been my mentors for understanding the use and operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in an orderly fashion in this present age. God is the same yesterday, today and forever and we invite the Holy Spirit to have the freedom to minister through His gifts in whatever way He desires. No one can understand all of the workings of God, His thoughts are above our thoughts and His ways are above our ways, but we have been given the privilege of extending the work of the Holy Spirit to hurting lives that need a miraculous touch from God. All things will be done with orderliness and sensitivity, but the Holy Spirit shall be fully embraced, invited into the life of the church and given the opportunity to display His mighty works. We will pray for healing, physically and emotionally, and learn to expect results rather than be totally surprised when God acts.

 

Jack Hayford has taught me the importance of growing up in all dimensions of life based on the profound and intellectual instruction of the Bible. It is not enough just to know and accept Jesus as Savior in order to find the abundant life that the Bible speaks of. It is imperative to learn to live life Jesus’ way. Community of Joy will teach the meat of the Word with clarity and with practical help to experience living Jesus’ way.

 

Therefore, Community of Joy will strive to be a real community of people who know each other, love each other, and care for each other. We will fight the battles together for the mind, emotions and will of believers according to God’s principles. Community of Joy will be a group of imperfect people learning to live in unity and to grow up in faith and conduct to be mature Christians and impact the world around them. We will be exposed to simple truths, profound thinking, the stories of the Bible and a Biblical world view that will transform lives in every dimension.

 

All of these 20^th century icons of the faith emphasized the importance of service. If our faith does not produce good works, service to each other, to the community and to the world, we have reason to question the authenticity of faith. We will be a community that learns to give of time, energy and finances in service to other people. Many today are looking for significance. It comes as a result of serving others.

 

So we have our imperatives: Mellow Worship, Bible centered, Inspirational teaching, Service, tending toward unbridled joy, and Christian wholeness in spirit, mind, and body. This type of church is much needed in this Valley. We won’t always hit the perfect mix but the ministry principles and personalities of these men and mentors, will color everything we do in ministry.

 

Samantha and Randy will co-pastor the church. We find no Biblical basis for limiting a woman’s ability to lead in every aspect of church. In many places around the world, women are doing a much better job than men in giving spiritual leadership. Samantha will bring a female perspective to the ministry, in teaching, counseling, and programming that is vital to a healthy well rounded congregation.

 

Add to this foundation the sensitivity to singles, both men and women, that Samantha has ministered to for over 20 years, my emphasis on practical Christianity and personal transparency, our commitment and ability to co-Pastor the church as two trained and ordained ministers, and you have a church that will meet the crying needs of many people. In particular we will be responsive to those that are age 40 and above (Baby Boomers) who desire a worship and teaching experience that is meaningful and deeply satisfying for their continued spiritual walk. We are truly committed to helping the 78 million of this generation, many of whom have been marginalized and abandoned by the 21^st century church, to finish well.