Eastview's New Addition In The News

[Story copied from http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/local/Normal-Mega-Church-Builds-3-Million-Addition-137860308.html]

NORMAL, Ill -- A mega-church recently got even bigger. We took a look at how the extra space is being used to enhance the church's ministry. Walking in, it's obvious. After a recent $3 million addition, Eastview Christian Church is definitely not your grandfather's church.

"We want to appeal to anyone, regardless of religious background, and make our church warm and friendly. Everyone wants to go to places where there's a water feature, or a fireplace, or there's food, or there's a bookstore, or there's people milling around handing out together, and that's what we've tried to create here with our church," said Mark Warren, Executive Pastor at Eastview Christian Church.

The services are very visual, very complex, and for some, very intense. Parishoners agree that the church only looks big.

"It definitely feels like a family, definitely. Because when I come into this church I may not necessarily look at the size of the church per se, but the fact that there are real people in this church, and that we're here together to worship the Lord," said Kristy O'Connell.

Long time parishoner Dean Johnson says the size of the facility enhances the worship. "The good thing about being able to hang out here and have a good time after church is it creates the perfect environment to talk about the things that happened during the church service," said Johnson, who has been worshiping for 19 years at Eastview.

The focal point of the new atrium is Cafe 19, named for the 19 original founders of the church. The draw of the table was used to bring new people into the fold.

"I think you're likely to go where you're comfortable and where you fit in. And food, everyone loves food, so everyone fits in with food. So it's whatever is comfortable with each person or each group," said Mysty Thomas, Director of Food Services.

The café is designed to draw people closer to the church, just like the kitchen is the spiritual center of the home.

{Awesome job by NBC WEEK News 25 & ABC WHOI News 19 for this coverage of Eastview's expansion... I was thrilled to see for Cafe 19's grand opening weekend on January, 15th the attendance was over 5400!!! WE LOVE OUR CHURCH AND THE WORK IT'S DOING IN MCLEAN COUNTY!!!}

Who's Fault Is It???

Comments made by Franklin Graham this weekend on ABC's This Week have really frustrated me. I don't have the energy or the vocabulary to address everything he said, but one item REALLY got me upset.

...the government has undermined the traditional church function of assisting the poor because it took this mission "away from the church, and...had more money to give and more programs to give, and pretty soon, the churches just backed off." (taken from "Mother Jones")

Really??? So Mr. Graham is stating that it's our government's fault that the Church isn't doing it's job? Really??? God forbid he would turn to the Church (the "church" in the larger sense, not singularly and/or denominationally), look it in the eye and make the correct statement... The Church has failed the poor, the needy, the sick, the underprivileged. The government, in my pea-sized-brain opinion, has been trying for decades to do what the Church (again, I'm referring in larger terms) has not done.

However, I'm not going to make my statement a general one about all churches (small "c" - singularly). Many churches have made great attempts, and had great success, in reaching those in need.

The church we attend in Bloomington/Normal, Illinois Eastview Christian Church, has shown great compassion and a deep desire to help those with little... I've been very impressed with the way they have desired to minister through the food pantry, benevolence, help ministries, counseling services, Imagine (distribution of thousands of toys, coats and boxes of food at Christmas). And they are looking for more and more ways to reach out, and especially through small groups.

But, many churches do... NOTHING. NOT by the fault of our government (sorry Mr. Graham), but because they just don't want to and/or they have forgotten what ALL the Church should be doing.

Here's an idea for all churches... Read and study the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) & the book of Acts... And learn how the Church can "take back" social responsibility by doing what they're suppose to do.

Ok... I'm off my soapbox and I'll get back to gardening and photography. Thanks for "listening" to this pea brain.

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