We are very excited about the opportunity to start a new Life Church campus in Camden, NY! We have prayed about opening up this new location for those of our church family who live in the Camden community for quite some time now. And we are VERY excited to see it coming to pass!
We are meeting every Wednesday evening in the Camden Middle School auditorium at 7pm… and all are invited! You can expect an atmosphere of excitement as we gather to worship God together.
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Life Church Camden Campus – Q&A
1. Why would you want to start something new in the Camden area?
Actually, we are not starting something brand new. My wife & I, as well as a large portion of the people who currently attend our church on the outskirts of Rome, have lived in the Camden area all of (or most of) their lives.
We, for example, decided to move to the Camden area almost 22 years ago. We wanted a nice community to call home and a safe place to raise our children, and Camden has been all of that & more to our family. All four of our children were born here, and have gone from Pre-school, right through high school. Our two oldest boys have already graduated. It’s unbelievable how fast time has gone by!
We have personally had the privilege of being involved in our community in many ways over the years such as; Boy Scout leaders, coaching baseball & basketball for many years, volunteering in the schools, serving on the PTG & school improvement committee, being involved in numerous other activities around the village, as well as promoting Camden to the world via the internet. And we couldn’t even begin to list all of the ways that the other Life Church goers from Camden serve our community, because they are all so involved, and have been for even longer than we have. For that we are very grateful, as their service benefits all of us.
Also, for many years we have had bible studies, home groups, and other gatherings right here in Camden. So although the place of our gathering is new, we are all very used to living life together, and are looking forward to sharing that experience with more of our friends.
2. Aren’t there enough churches in the area already?
Enough churches? It is our goal to see as many people as possible find the hope that they need to live out this journey we call life. The more people there are to support them along the way, the better! We are very thankful for the churches in our area, and consider Camden blessed to have such quality ministry. Many communities are not as blessed as we are.
Every week we gather to pray for our area. For many years we have prayed for the different churches in this area to grow & fill to the brim, and we believe it can happen!
3. Well, there are only so many people to go around!
The greater Camden area is filled with thousands & thousands of people, and if only 10% were connected to a church family, the current churches would not even be able to hold them! We’re looking forward to that day!
4. Wouldn’t you be competing with the other churches in the area?
Sometimes people have a misconception that the church is a building. However, “the church” is actually made up of the people, who in turn make up the family of God. Because we are collectively a part of the family of God, we should all have the same goal, which is to become more like Christ, and to help as many people along the way as possible. Where is the competition in that?
Even though we all have the same goal in sight, each location (church) will have a unique style, personality, and atmosphere. The reason being, that each group is made up of people… and we are all uniquely created!
While some groups prefer things to be very traditional, others might like a bit of variety. Some may prefer things quiet and solemn, while others enjoy a higher level of energy in the place. And although we each have the same message to share, we might use very different methods to do that. It doesn’t mean that one group is right & one is wrong, it simply means that everyone can find a place where they belong. A place, if you will, that they can call home.
Also, each church will usually have an area that stands out as being their own unique focus, something they feel is their particular vision or calling. As people become a part of that local church, they become joined to that vision. This is the way that the needs of the community are met. If we all focused on exactly the same things, many needs would go unmet. But, if we each do what we are called to do, many lives can be touched and we can bring about real change.
Did you know that 80% of people that go to church initially went because someone personally invited them? Because of this, churches everywhere are being filled as their members are bringing their friends with them. Again, there’s no competition, as our gathering is a place for our current church members to bring their friends. In any case… we’re not looking to attract church goers, as they already have a home. We want to do our best to help those who have yet to find life & hope.
Even though we don’t know each church leader personally, we do know several and have gone to their special gatherings & events. We truly enjoy the ministry that they provide to our community. And in the recent years, several have expanded by putting on additions, building new buildings, or have even added extra services. When they felt it was time, they just did what they knew God wanted them to do! What they are doing is working & they are all doing their part to help change lives. We simply want to do everything that God is asking us to do… which is our part. Although I can’t speak personally for the other leaders & churches in our area, I’m sure if you asked them, they would say… we are all working together for the same goal!
5. So what is your gathering like anyway?
Well, I would describe us as a bit outside of the box, and we’re definitely not what you would consider a “traditional” church. We come from all types of backgrounds, and our ages span from the young – to the young at heart. We love the performing arts such as drama and dance, and we incorporate things such as video, lights, and upbeat music into our services. Our goal is to bring the scriptures to life, and to try to show how they are relevant to our daily walk. We want people come and enjoy themselves, and leave with a greater purpose than they came with. Our mission is to: Love God, Love People, and Serve Others.