The Village Church

In 1978, Lakeland Baptist Church helped found the First Baptist Church at Highland Village. In 2002, Matt Chandler became the minister of that Church and it soon became known as The Village Church. The Village Church is governed by a group of male elders. The main Pastor is still Matt Chandler, but other pastors do sermons when he is unavailable.The Village has campuses all over the Dallas Metro Area - Plano, Flower Mound, Denton, North Dallas, and Fort Worth. Every Campus has a local Pastor, but the same weekly sermon is videobroadcasted to all 5 campuses. 

I visited The Village Church Dallas Northway's 5pm Service. The sanctuary filled up almost completely with young and vibrant groups of ladies and gentlemen. I was by far one of the more 'seasoned' attendees. A congregation member made announcements and then led the group in a prayer. There was energetic amplified musical worship intermingled with prayers. Then there was a video sermon entitled, A Beautiful Design, by head Pastor Matt Chandler. It was a sermon about men and women. He first discussed how Biology may make you male or female, but it is character that makes a man or woman.

He spoke of couples in Marriages. How the first few years the Lord cuts back the thorns and thistles as on a rose bush to get the flowers to bloom. He encouraged those in marriages to roll up your sleeves and do the work to reap the rewards. He furthered stated that work is not a one time event, it is ongoing in a relationship destined for or part of a marriage. In this particular sermon, he spoke of the role of Men in Marriage. Subsequent sermons would cover Women's roles. He charged Men with setting the Spiritual Climate of the home. He challenged the men to step up and step into God's design for them. When they do, they will flourish, the family will flourish, and in turn the entire community will benefit. 

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. ~ Genesis 2:15

He told the singles in the crowd to not be discontent during your time as single and that it gives you the opportunity to be undivided in your service to the Lord. 

As we have been deemed perfect by God, it gives us the freedom to keep striving for perfection even when we continue to stumble, fall, and fail. 

What God has called all of us to do will be near impossible he said, but the rewards will be well worth it. In the end, success belongs to the Lord. 

After the sermon, young men passed out the communion sacraments to congregants in their seats. The communion is an open one available to anyone who has been transformed by Jesus. After everyone had theirs in hand, we all said a prayer over it and took communion. 

I found The Village to be Very Similar to Mars Hill in atmosphere and structure, except not all sermons are taught by the same minister. So I was not surprised to find in my research, that in August Pastor Chandler became president of Acts 29 - a church planting organization that was founded by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill.

THANK YOU Village Church of Dallas Northway for offering a great place of Worship for Young People!

The Potter's House

Pentecostal churches have a unique history in that they were the first interracial churches in the United States. In the early 1900's, one of the biggest churches that contributed to the spreading of the Pentecostal faith, the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angelos; held services that were ethnically diverse. The denomination, Potter's House Christian Fellowship, is a church that was founded by Pastor Wayman Mitchell and split from the Foursquare Pentecostal church in the late '60's. It experienced a large surge of growth during the Jesus People Movement. The unique denomination now has over 2,000 congregations worldwide. 

They believe "The Holy Spirit is God, the Lord and giver of life, who was active in the Old Testament, and given to the Church in fullness at Pentecost."

GOD'S FIRE NEVER BURNS OUT

The name of the church came from a biblical reference: 
The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, “Go to the potter’s house. There I will give you my message” ~ Jeremiah 18:1-2

Pentecostal religions have several distinct traditions - Glossolalia or speaking in tongues, Baptism with the Holy Spirit (salvation), and Revivals.  Glossolalia is believed to be a person being filled with the Holy Spirit, there are generally three types:

1. Tongues as a Sign to Nonbelievers - Acts 2:11
2. Tongues for the Strengthening of the Church - Requires Interpretation - 1 Corinthians 14:5
3. Tongues as a Private Prayer Language - Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 14:4 

I attended the Albuquerque Potter's House Christian Center 6pm Sunday Service. In jeans and a sweater, I was underdressed. Almost all of the women wore dresses and the men wore dress shirts, slacks, and a tie or even suits. 

The service opened up with lively group singing and prayers. During the prayers, the pastor and people in the audience spoke in tongues at times. 


Pastor Lee Wilson gave the sermon. He spoke of believers being a light in the World ~ the smallest of lights can illuminate the darkest of places. He called upon us to not allow things of the material world to come between us and God. He preached that to have a powerful relationship with God, all we have to do is ask. He shared that the true Freedom of life is allowing the Power of God to work, uncontrollably in our lives. 

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.  ~ John 8:36

After the sermon, most of the congregation went up front and knelt down to pray and receive God's blessings. 

Many people came up and greeted me before and after service, they seemed like a very close group of believers. 

They also have live music and entertainment on Saturday nights. 

THANK YOU Albuquerque Potter's House for sharing your form of worship with me. 

Note: This denomination is not associated with the Mega Church The Potter's House in Dallas or Denver.