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| 2327: His House,
Mayfield, Kentucky, USA |
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Mystery
Worshipper: Nick.
The church:
His House,
Mayfield, Kentucky, USA.
Denomination:
Independent.
The building:
Services are held in a converted horse barn, but you can only
tell from the outside. Inside there is a very nice sanctuary,
complete with cafe.
The church:
Their website states that they exist "to lead people to
become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ." They offer
activities for young children and teenagers as well as adults.
They sponsor a Mercy Team that caters to the needs of those
recovering from illness or bereavement, as well as a van pool
to provide transportation to and from church for anyone needing
it. Their website offers videos and interactive links for those
who wish to learn more about their faith.
The neighborhood:
Mayfield is a small city in the westernmost tip of Kentucky.
An interesting legend surrounds its name: it seems that a certain
gambling man was kidnapped but managed to carve his name, Mayfield,
into a tree while his abductors weren't looking. He later drowned
while trying to escape. The creek in which he met his fate,
as well as the town that sprang up beside it, were both given
the name Mayfield. Today, Mayfield strives to attract tourists,
boasting of several Civil War memorials plus a homespun atmosphere
of country lanes, one-lane bridges, wandering creeks and lush
pastures.
The cast:
Chad Lamb, lead pastor; Dustin McClain, student minister; Jace
Hill; creative media director.
The date & time:
January 22, 2012, 10.15am.
What was the name of the service?
Morning Worship.
How full was the building?
The building was totally and completely packed.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
I was greeted warmly and was handed a bulletin as soon as I
stepped in the door. Upon hearing it was my first time, several
people welcomed me. The pastor came through and shook hands
and welcomed several others and me right before the service
started.
Was your pew comfortable?
The pews were several very comfortable chairs side by side.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Everyone was talking and happy to see each other, discussing
events of the previous week.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Good morning, His House. Let's stand up and tell each
other good morning."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
No hymnals; the songs were on the screens. The Message
was the version of the Bible that was used.
What musical instruments
were played?
Keyboard, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums.
Did anything distract
you?
I couldn't see around the head of the tall gentleman in front
of me.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or
what?
Worship was very exuberant. Everyone was singing along with
the band and raising their hands and just excited to be there.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
31 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
9 – The pastor was very enthusiastic about his message.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
The sermon was on the first Beatitude, or "Be Attitudes,"
as they call them. Being humble. He mentioned several members
of the congregation as examples of humility.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
The song worship and just the overall atmosphere of love and caring.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
The pastor was pretty loud at times. Because the service was so packed, we were kind of crammed into our pews.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
Several people who had spoken to me before the service came and asked me if I liked it and whether or not I would be coming back. Several others said hello to me.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
The coffee was delicious, steaming hot and strong. Donuts were
excellent too.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
9 – I liked everything about this place: the welcome, the
enthusiasm, the high-spirited worship.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
Absolutely, 100 per cent.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The overall atmosphere of love. |
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