A congregation that continues to grow after 165 years must know something about inspiring people to attend church.
“There is no substitute for face-to-face interaction,” said Mike Sypult, pastor of Friendship Church in Springdale. “We’ve tried to create a mindset of always having our arms open to encourage people to come. Our name is Friendship. We have a big name to live up to.”
That face-to-face interaction is one of the key elements of the National Back To Church Sunday campaign, which Friendship is participating in for the second year.
“The personal touch is the most effective means for churches to reach out to their communities,” said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, in a recent press release. LifeWay Research is a supporting partner of National Back To Church Sunday. “Good news is best delivered by good messengers.”
National Back To Church Sunday is an annual interdenominational eff ort to invite friends and neighbors back to church. This year’s event is Sept. 16.
Friendship, a Baptist church that formed in 1847 as a small country church, saw a 15 to 20 percent increase in attendance during Back To Church Sunday last year, Sypult said. The average increase for each participating church in 2011 was 26 percent, according to backtochurch.com.
Last year, more than 7,600 churches participated in National Back To Church Sunday. As ofFriday morning, 12,266 churches had signed up for this year. About 20 are in Northwest Arkansas.
The Neighborhood Church in Bentonville, a church plant that began worship services on Easter weekend, is taking part in the invitation initiative. Pastor Joe Liles said attendance at the church, a member of the Evangelical are welcome on the first and third Wednesday beginning Sept. 19 at 901 W. Cleveland St. The event is free.
The inaugural Think Tank will be a four-part series exploring “The Great Story,” a documentary film by Unitarian minister Michael Dowd. Dowd has traveled the country with his wife, Connie Barlow, spreading the 14 billion-year epic of cosmos, Earth, life and humanity told in meaningful and inspiring ways.
During each session, participants will watch an hourlong video and then reflect on what they have heard and learned.
“The Great Story” Think Tank will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept.
19, Oct. 3 and 17, and Nov. 7.
Information: [email protected] or 521-8422.
Sunday’s program at Unitarian Universalists of Benton County in Rogers, 501 S. 40th St. will be a small group discussion. Coffee and social time begins at 10:30 a.m. and the program beings at 11 a.m. Sunday school for children potty-trained through age 15 is available.
The program for Sept. 16 is a topic forum with speaker and discussion.
Information: www.uuofbc.
com.
Round Up Sunday is from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Word of Life Fellowship in Bentonville, 808 S.W. 14th St.
Activities include horseback riding, stick horse rodeo, barrel racing, pole bending, flag racing and a beard-carving contest.
Lunch will be provided.
Please bring lawn chairs, stick horses and wear Westernstyle clothing.
A service at the church will be at 10 a.m.
Information: 426-9600 or [email protected].
Bella Vista Baptist Church, 50 E. Lancashire Blvd., will begin Beth Moore’s “James: Mercy Triumphs,” a Bible study for women, on Tuesday. The morning class meets from 9 to 11 a.m. and the evening class meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Information: 855-3748 or bvbaptist.com.
Bella Vista Christian Church, 103 Riordan Road, will begin a new season of Mothers Of Preschoolers. The first session is from 9 to 11 a.m.Thursday at the church. All moms and her pre-kindergarten children are welcome.
A potluck luncheon and a program titled “Recipes for Healthy Aging” by the Schmieding Center will be at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in the church fellowship hall. The event is hosted by the senior ministry. All are welcome.
Information: 855-1616 or bellavistachristian.com.
United Lutheran Church in Bella Vista, 100 Cooper Road, will recognize Stephen ministers at both services Sept. 16. The ministers also will take part in the services.
Tim Ensley of the Benton County Sunshine School will speak at the Women of ELCA salad supper at 6 p.m. Sept. 17.
Mary Circle and W-ELCA board will be hostesses.
Information: 855-1325 or unitedlutheranbv.org.
Village Bible Evangelical Free Church in Bella Vista, 210 Town Center S.E., will offer two Sunday services starting Sept. 23. The first service will be at 8:30 a.m. Sunday school for all ages is at 10 a.m. The second service will be at 11 a.m.
An infant nursery and children’s church is available at the second service. The same music and message will be presented at both services.
Information: 876-5764 or villagebibleefc.org.
First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista, 20 Boyce Drive, will begin a sixweek class, “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions,” on Sept. 25. The class, which will be facilitated by Kandi Mount and Steve Dykes, Mercy chaplains and certified leaders of the course, will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 30.
Classes are open to caregivers and those suffering from chronic illness.
Workbooks are $15 and may be purchased in the church office.
Class size is limited to 15.
Participants must attend all six classes, barring emergencies.
Information: 855-1158 or lovelearnlead.com.
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Religion, Pages 6 on 09/08/2012