Emma McRoberts- Church Visit 2

Church name: Mission Church

Church address:

251 Butterfield Dr, Bloomingdale, IL 60108 (630) 442-0101

Date attended: 3/2/14

Church category: Different socioeconomic

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

This is a new church. It is young and starting up and has an immense energy about it. There are several college students that attend and the congregation is almost entirely young people. While the church is not located in a low socioeconomic neighborhood, the church itself is low on funds and because of this, is in a gymnasium in a Middle School. When I walked in, I was surprised and almost confused as to how this environment would affect worship. I have never visited a church where it wasn't the primary purpose of the building it was in. It was peculiar to see posters of the past middle school years musicals and basketball championship trophies on the walls. However, this temporary church almost made the environment more passionate and on fire for God. There is something about fighting for existence that brings people together.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

I really liked learning from such a young pastor. At my home churches, the pastors are elderly men. While this is great because they have  years of knowledge, it is also difficult to completely relate. When this pastor spoke of the ways he has ministered in his community, it seemed very applicable to something I could incorporate to my life. The actual worship was also really great. It was well known songs that are sung by pop Christian artists. Almost all of the songs I had felt like we had sung in shape at school. The sermon took place on a simple stage and was minimalistic, calling attention to what was happening. Another cool thing was the community the church had. When the service was over, no one left the building. Almost all of the people mingled outside the gymnasium. I have been to a lot of churches but I have never seen that much mingling.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

I really do like some sort of formality in worship services and this church lacked formality. Because of the temporary placement of the church, there was little that could be done aesthetically to this place of worship. While I understand that this is a petty complaint, it was still strange not to see any permanent Christian fixture in the vicinity. No paintings of Christ, no stained glass windows. no steeple. Because I have never been to a new, low-budget, starting church, I had not realized that this also meant that the offering was a much bigger deal than it is at established and comfortable churches. When the offering went around, the pastor gave a plea to all those attending to tithe to the church. It felt more pressured than I had experienced in any other setting.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

The service was on how God calls us to be uncomfortable. The pastor spoke about how he moved to a low income apartment complex and how him and his wife visited every member of the complex and brought them cookies. He commented on that God does not always call us to the easiest situations but the needed situations. This would not have been illuminated for me in the same manner at my home church. For one, it was a testament to the church to urge its members to uncomfortability When I think of the pastors and the church starters, they are true examples of living this uncomfortability out. They have given up so much to be able to start this church that they feel led to. The message also struck me because of the apartment story the pastor told us. Because of the young pastor, I am able to take his situation and immediately apply it to myself. Soon I will be moving out of Wheaton and living in a most likely cheap apartment. His story of bringing cookies to all the residence is an easily applicable tactic in terms of sharing the gospel.