One Day Church

[LynnDel]

A church built in one day! I was rather belatedly reading my Recorder, and read the Maranatha article about one-day churches. A very exciting concept, I think.

One-Day Church

[Joe_in_RP]

Why is it exciting? Would you go to a church that looked very poor? Its a steel structure with local materials for siding and roofing. Its still a poverty church. Some how people think its ok to build poverty churches. Ask the people who will attend. Is it ok with you? They will say no. If some one gives it for free they will take it but I am not sure they will use it. The whole idea seems very flawed to me.

Its a steel frame. they have steel and engineers in these countries. Why did they not build these before. Are those conferences stupid? No, the conference wants to build a respectable church to attract new members. These one day churches are not respectable. The will not survive severe weather. I am sorry, its a bad idea. But politically its not wise to criticize this ASI plan. So I am saying what others can't say. If you are serious about building a church in a third world country, EVERY conference in that country has a plan. They know much better than the people here what is needed. They would never direct you the this one day thing. No one cares if it takes a day or a month. They care what the size is and what it will look like. Just like you. Would you go to a broken down church?

I have been involved in many of these in the Philippines. Nice churches draw more people. Just like America. Just think about it.

[Liz]

There is a steel building church down the street from where I live. It wasn't built in a day, but it looks very similar to the little video. It looks very nice, and it is very sturdy. And the congregation didn't go into debt building it either. The parking lot is always full on Sunday's and Wednesday nights.

And then we have our new huge church fiaso .

[Joe_in_RP]

"The congregation is ready to invite their friends and neighbors to a brand new SDA church. "

Right. Now the Catholics and other protestants have beautiful churches and we have broken down churches. It is because the people here don't know whats going on. If you saw those other churches you would be embarrassed by this plan.

[Lineman]

Joe, why are you calling a new "one day" church "broken down"?

[Amelia]

Video doesn't play for me.

[Joe_in_RP]

Joe, why are you calling a <b>new</b> "one day" church "broken down"?

Because it looks terrible. The plan is incomplete. There is no floor. In most places where these go there is lots of rain. A church without a floor is bad. The design is bad. Its an oversize shed. They expect people to use bamboo or other cheap siding on it. For crying out loud this is a place to worship the creator of the universe?

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: Lineman

Joe, why are you calling a <b>new</b> "one day" church "broken down"?

Because it looks terrible. The plan is incomplete. There is no floor. In most places where these go there is lots of rain. A church without a floor is bad. The design is bad. Its an oversize shed. They expect people to use bamboo or other cheap siding on it. For crying out loud this is a place to worship the creator of the universe?

Guess if the Creator of the Universe wanted them to have more He would give them more.

[LynnDel]

I think it is exciting because you can have a lot of neighborhood churches built for the thousands of new members who are baptized in various parts of the world who have no place to go to bolster their fellowship and growth. It's better than a renovated house; it's better than meeting outside in the dirt; it's better than having no place at all to meet.

I am sure these types of churches are meant for more rural areas in less prosperous countries. I remember seeing congregations meeting under trees. In Ethiopia we would meet in pole "barns" with corrugated roofs, mud walls (if there were walls), and dirt floors. It's probably different now. I don't remember anyone complaining.

The site says the framework is very strong and able to withstand earthquake and storms. Local congregations are able to contribute to the walls and the rest of the structure. They can be made to look very nice with additional work over time, and even nicer when funding is available.

Believers who are more prosperous and live in urban areas would be able to build a church more fitting to their surroundings.

I was on a mission trip last year to Ukraine where we remodeled residences for meeting places. The local believers were thrilled with the results. The newly restyled homes-into-churches did not have the possibility of being as nice looking as these steel structures can be.

[Woody]

LynnDel ... I like what you have said. I've helped build churches overseas also. It is so good to see how happy the people are just to receive something simple. We in North America are so spoiled. We think we have to have grand structures to praise God in. Actually ... just worshipping with others in the privacy of your home is often times more spiritual than in a grand building.

[Lineman]

I remember being so excited to find an Adventist "church" in Vietnam years ago. It did not have walls at all and only had a tin roof, but I was not there for the building. I was just elated to find other Adventists like me.

Worshipping our Creator is not about where we worship, though I understand that we should make it as nice as possible. Maybe this is all that is possible at this time? At least it is obviously better than what they had.

[Ginge]

PTL, I wept as I watched the video. It is a beautiful church, it has a personal touch of curved windows and a steeple. What a change from worshipping outdoors and in the shacks and people's homes. Look at the neighborhood, this church stands out, not as a sore thumb but as a monument to a small group of christians that are obviously very proud of their church and their accomplishment.

I agree with the narrator, these 18 WILL grow to 125 or more. Oh, if we in America were that pro-active in wanting to bring in people to our rich, overpriced, edifaces.

Again I say PTL, I will donate.