Bigger?

So here is the question that I would like to pose to all of the Christians in the Pleasure Boat Sinker audience.  Is bigger better and if so when?

Amanda Anderson works for one of the biggest churches in the PennDel Ministry Network.  Christian Life Assembly, affectionately known as CLA, is one of the great churches in the greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area.  This mega-church began with a small group of Spirit-filled believers, who had a real passion for reaching people for Jesus Christ in Central Pennsylvania.  Today, CLA’s attendance runs into the thousands; the two big holidays, Christmas and Easter, seem to be continually breaking the previous year’s records.

Quality and excellence permeates from everything CLA does.  Whether it is the elaborate Christmas and Easter productions, Patriotic Celebrations, or just the “regular” Sunday morning worship experience, CLA strives to exceed the typical expectations one might have for a church.  All guests are met at the doors by warm friendly faces, first time guests are directed to the welcome desk where they are given an information bag containing various information concerning the church.  Also, in the bag, guests will receive a coupon to receive a free beverage from the “coffee-shop.”

Amanda’s role at CLA is one of coordination and assimilation; she coordinates various marketing aspects of the church, and works to facilitate the assimilation of new attendees into the current body of believers.  On the marketing side of the coin, Christian Life puts our quite a spread of literature and, for lack of a better term, propaganda.  Beautiful, full-color pamphlets describe the small group programs, which one can become involved.  The weekly bulletin, a staple many expect to receive in a typical American church, is packed with information, which is geared mostly toward the first time guest.  Reoccurring “tag lines” and formats are predominate in the CLA literature; a marketing tactic that helps drive home the message to the intended audience.  Amanda explained that part of the assimilation process CLA uses is to help the new person “get plugged in”; this plugging in happens through the small group process and/or through serving.  A person will be offered the opportunity to serve after only three consecutive weeks of attendance.

Christian Life Assembly is an amazing church.  The people truly have a heart for God, and a heart for the lost.  Those two loves drive the big productions, the excellence, the marketing, and the small groups.  One might ask whether a person can become truly discipled in such a setting, whether the busyness of excellence allows one opportunities to truly become more like Jesus, or just more busy.  Perhaps the question is not about whether bigger is better, but if busier is better.  Discipleship does happen at Christian Life Assembly, it may not always be a deliberate, well executed, well documented program, but people’s lives are being changed and growing in Christ.