Sunday Evening Service–To Be or Not to Be
Someone recently asked me why Harrah Church doesn’t have Sunday evening services. It’s a great question so I thought we should discuss it today. For Harrah Church it was all about schedule & ROI. We were having four services at two campuses. On Sunday mornings I preached 3 times and then again on Sunday evening. I got all the Sunday church I wanted! We also noticed that the only people who attended the Sunday evening services were the very faithful. As the leadership evaluated the return on our investment we quickly agreed that it was not healthy for us to expect people to be in church services twice on Sunday. We canceled the evening service and allowed different groups to utilize the time for Bible studies and meetings. It was a great move and it has dramatically increased the health of Harrah Church. I love having my Sunday evenings free. If I don’t have a meeting you will find me at a local gym playing basketball with guys who don’t attend church anywhere. It provides me an opportunity to get close to some people who need to discover the truth about Christ. I encouraged our people to do the same and many have. I am sure Sunday evening service works great for some churches, but its not conducive for a strong healthy environment at Harrah Church. I want Harrah Church members to break out of the Christian ghetto and get into a lost world. You’ll be amazed at what happens to your faith if you intentionally schedule some time to spend around un-churched people!
(NIV Matthew 9:10-13) While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
You’re doing a great job!
i understand and agree with that decision. i often wondered myself and my parents, who have visited a couple times from ohio, have asked why there was no sunday evening service. i did not know what to tell them, but now i can. it would not hurt my feelings at all to have a night service as i was raised in church on sunday morning, evening and wednesday night and any other time the doors were open. i agree it allows time for other functions to happen with todays busy lives. you have my support, not that you need it, lol. thank you for the info.
I agree Brother Jimmy! Great job!
I also believe that every church grows in a different way and has different needs. Depending on the demographics, strength\weakness, and atmosphere of the church environment. It seems to be a fertile environment for a Christian.
It is great to have all the new tools to share the message of the Church. I am sure the Lord will bless it. Your comments on Sunday night services was well stated. I have enjoyed the privilege of either going to a group program. These new tools do not change the message of the Word, so keep on preaching the truth.
Jimmy looks like you fixed the problem. Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Way to go.
I agree that the move to not have a Sun. evening service has been a good move. I am speaking for those who work behind the scenes. Many do not realize the hours spent by those behind the scenes. They give up a lot of time on Sun. to get the job done and that would mean even more that evening. This allows them time with their small groups, family time, and time to mentally prepare for the coming week. I think it is great that we are able to discuss this topic. There is always more to a decision than meets the eye.
Consider this…I work on Sundays. With no Sunday (or even Saturday) night services, this leaves me with nothing. My family attends without me, and I go when possible. I love Harrah Church, but I wish at least for those like me, which may not be a whole lot of people here in Harrah, a Wed. night service would be great. I know there is a study on Wed., but it’s not the same.