[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]Two Services\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”5″ ][cs_element_row _id=”6″ ][cs_element_column _id=”7″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”8″ ][cs_content_seo]FAQs\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”9″ ][cs_element_column _id=”10″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”11″ ][cs_content_seo]How did the Leadership Team get to this decision?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”12″ ][cs_content_seo]For months we have been praying and laboring over next steps to allow greater capacity for us to fulfill our mission of leading people to See the Way | Know the Truth | Live the Life. We looked at every two-service model you can think of. We looked at what other churches have done, what helped them be successful, the use of overflow rooms and just about every other option that is out there. The important thing to remember is that as a leadership team we have peace from God that this is our next step. Nothing, even our own comforts, is as important as reaching more people with the gospel. \n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”13″ ][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”14″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”15″ ][cs_content_seo]Why are we doing this?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”16″ ][cs_content_seo]Friends is a special place. It isn’t that other churches are bad, we just believe that what we have at Friends is special. When people come to Friends, we routinely hear that it is “the friendliest church that we have ever been to” and “it is nice to hear someone preach the Bible without apology.” We realize that the demand for Bible preaching/teaching churches that also love people and continue to stand on truth will become scarcer. We want to create capacity for that now and continue to fulfill the great commission that Christ mentions in Matthew 28:19 (Go ye therefore, and teach all nations)\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”17″ ][cs_element_column _id=”18″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”19″ ][cs_content_seo]Will this change who we are?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”20″ ][cs_content_seo]No, as a leadership team we are being purposeful to create opportunities for the whole church family to gather as one. But we are also relying on you to be the same friendly and outgoing person that you are. Because you are one of the things that make Friends what it is. We want you to be purposeful in being a part of our Men’s or Ladies’ ministries, Youth Ministry or Children’s Ministries. Being involved in a Life Class and being faithful on Wednesday evenings as well. \n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”21″ ][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”22″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”23″ ][cs_content_seo]What about the Loaves & Fishes Program? \n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”24″ ][cs_content_seo]We are full steam ahead with the plans for the Family Life Center. We are nearing the completion of Step 2 and we will be excited to reveal that in the coming months. Two services will allow us to get to Step 3 (Building the FLC) quicker. We know that the Family Life Center is critically important to our mission and this move will only complement that.  You can still give or setup recurring giving by going to friendsbaptist.church/lunch\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”25″ ][cs_element_column _id=”26″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”27″ ][cs_content_seo]Will the services be different?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”28″ ][cs_content_seo]No, the services will be exactly the same. This was one of our mandates from the very beginning. We know that we couldn’t maintain our culture if we had different services. \n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”29″ ][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”30″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”31″ ][cs_content_seo]Will there be a choir for both services?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”32″ ][cs_content_seo]Yes, we believe that the choir is an important part of our worship and we are asking them to sing in both services.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”33″ ][cs_element_column _id=”34″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”35″ ][cs_content_seo]When will we start two services?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”36″ ][cs_content_seo]The first Sunday in January 2024. (January 7, 2024)\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”37″ ][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”38″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”39″ ][cs_content_seo]What about Friends Junction?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”40″ ][cs_content_seo]The train will leave the station for all children in both services just like it does now.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”41″ ][cs_element_column _id=”42″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”43″ ][cs_content_seo]What are the new service times?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”44″ ][cs_content_seo]The 1st Service will be 8:30 and the 2nd Service will be 10:30.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”45″ ][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”46″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”47″ ][cs_content_seo]will the preaching change?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”48″ ][cs_content_seo]Absolutely not, we will continue to stand on the word of God, unapologetically. \n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”49″ ][cs_element_column _id=”50″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”51″ ][cs_content_seo]Why are Life Classes (Sunday School) moving to Sunday Evening at 5 PM?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id=”52″ ][cs_element_text _id=”53″ ][cs_content_seo]We realize many churches have decided to move to small groups that meet in homes. However, we believe it is important for all ages to receive as much Bible teaching as we can give them. We want to offer a structure that allows every age to learn. We want parents to have the ability to focus on their class and studies while also allowing children to have age based classes as well. We aren’t okay sacrificing the one for the other or vice versa.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”54″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”55″ ][cs_content_seo]What if I don’t like this?\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”56″ ][cs_content_seo]We know this may not be a decision that everyone is excited about. If that is how you feel, we want you to know how we arrived at the decision to move forward with two services. We encourage you to pray, ask yourself why you don’t like it, and remember the why behind our leadership team’s decision. It is for the furtherance of the gospel. Our prayer is that you will see how vital you are and this decision is to fulfilling our mission. If you still want to talk further, reach out to the church office to set up some time to talk to one of our pastoral staff members.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”57″ ][cs_element_row _id=”58″ ][cs_element_column _id=”59″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”60″ ][cs_content_seo]HAVE A QUESTION\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”61″ ][cs_element_column _id=”62″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”63″ ][cs_content_seo]You may have a question that we haven’t answered yet, please let us know.  We may add it to the FAQ.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id=”64″ ][cs_content_seo]\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]