The AVERAGE AGE is WHAT? This must be in Asia or Africa.... right?

[Stan]

Just sayin'

[Naomi]

[Tom Wetmore]

That looks familiar! The church I have been attending for about 3 years. I was maybe 10 rows back from the position of the camera.

And he is good! He is also a very good violinist. I have some pictures of him at the piano from another venue that I could post. Graduated from Spencerville Academy last year.

Yes, the average age is as David Newman said. He should know. Recently retired as senior pastor after 10 years. More than doubled membership in that time. It is a vibrant and active church. Leads the conference in baptisms. Very diverse membership. Number in attendance each week is equal to membership. But at least half in attendance are not members. Many like myself are from other area Adventist Churches, but a significant number are not even Adventist.

Check us out at http://www.lookingforachurch.org . Listen live on Sabbaths and go to archived sermons for a spiritual feast!

[cricket]

Blue jeans and tennis shoes. I'd like to go to an Adventist Church like that.

[Planey]

Median is not the same as average.

Just my pedantic mathematician brain kicking in...

OK, resume the actual topic now.

Graeme

[Tom Wetmore]

Blue jeans and tennis shoes. I'd like to go to an Adventist Church like that.

Very much a come as you are church. Last week, one of the ushers helping people find seats was comfortably dressed in shorts and T-shirt... And not unusual for people in suit and tie. Everyone welcome, just be there.

[Gail]

That's my kid's church, too. Tom, I can't believe you haven't bumped into him... Unless he doesn't attend church anymore.

[Johann]

Very much a come as you are church. Last week, one of the ushers helping people find seats was comfortably dressed in shorts and T-shirt... And not unusual for people in suit and tie. Everyone welcome, just be there.

I once went to hear the founder of Hartland, and I recall him telling of a former pastor coming to church in shorts - somewhere in Australia. Just the fact that they did allow him to enter the church, he said was a sign they no longer had any principles in that church. One reason he had to start his own reform institute.

No wonder a "reformation" was needed!

[Neil D]

Very much a come as you are church. Last week, one of the ushers helping people find seats was comfortably dressed in shorts and T-shirt... And not unusual for people in suit and tie. Everyone welcome, just be there.

A couple of months ago, I got to see that church....

It was the first time I saw flags being waved in the church...large flags...it was cool to watch as the flags were waved in thankfulness and praise....I saw two TV cameras taping the service....I saw various ethnic groups come together and hug one another...and lots of smiles....Even an old codger like myself was welcomed into the service....I got to meet some really neat people....

I remember a song that says

Come, come as you are to worship....

Come, come as you to meet your God

Come, come as you are to worship

Come, come as you are to meet your God

come....

and it was good to see that people came...and worshiped...together...I think there is a psalms that reflects the same sentiment [but you go look it up]....

[Neil D]

I once went to hear the founder of Hartland, and I recall him telling of a former pastor coming to church in shorts - somewhere in Australia. Just the fact that they did allow him to enter the church, he said was a sign they no longer had any principles in that church. One reason he had to start his own reform institute.

No wonder a "reformation" was needed!

Church in shorts "somewhere in australia......

About 6 years ago, in June, I went to the southern Hemisphere, and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand...since it is a bit further southern than Sidney from the equator, the climate was more in line with a crisp November day...with ice on the grass in the morning, and pretty cool in the evening...After about a week there, I went to Sidney....I beleive that is in the Southeastern part of Aussy-land...and it felt warm, like a spring day of April....Two weeks later, we went to Cains and it was even more warmer there, so much so, that we went scuba diving.....

Based upon my experience, them Aussies were rather climate intellegent people, trusting the members to make correct dress decisions..including allowing people in church with shorts...If they were dressed as many of my peers here in the states, I would imagine a few more heat stroke victims would be showing up in the Austrailian Sanitarium....And that casts some doubt on the sanity of the founder of the Hartland Institute....

[Tom Wetmore]

Having traveled and lived in very hot and humid tropical countries, it seemed to me to be strangely disturbing product of our missionary efforts to not just bring the people of those lands the gospel of Western "civilization" but that it also seemed force a Western style of dress, as if that had some religious significance. I have experienced the most inappropriately required Sabbath attire of dark suit and tie under such conditions. Makes little sense to me. Fortunately, good common sense is now beginning to take over... At least in some areas.

[Johann]

Just sayin'

Newman

Competitors?

[Johann]

Club Adventist vs. Adventist Today

Similarities?

[Windsor]

Please do elaborate, Johann.

[BobRyan]

They did not have an average age of 26 when I attended New Hope.

But now that I have left - it is at 26.

Timothy Atolagbe will know exactly what I mean because that was back in the days when Clifford Goldstein was there. ... oh no wait! He is "still there"??

in Christ,

Bob

[BobRyan]

That looks familiar! The church I have been attending for about 3 years. I was maybe 10 rows back from the position of the camera.

You attend New Hope??