Church in Silver Spring

This past Sunday, TTS, AR and I went to visit a church in downtown Silver Spring that meets in the Majestic Theater.

Some immediate observations:

- its in a movie theater (obviously)

- the majority of the congregation was black

- about 100 people in the afternoon service

- no youth service, but a children's service was available

- the church has been around for about 2 years

- there are only about 6 people on staff at the church

- the church is located in an urban setting, outside of D.C.

After the service we had the opportunity to talk with the pastor and church planter of the Theater Church. We asked him, "What is the most challenging part of being a church planter in this area?". He replied that it is very hard to maintain balance between his personal life and the church. It is hard to keep himself spiritually full and still pour out all that he can for his church.
This is reflective of the statistics in The Crisis of the American Church which states that a number one cause for pastors leaving the church is that they are spiritually burnt out.
I really enjoy visiting other churches. Comparing the church I normally attend and Theater Church, they seem to be polar opposites. My church has a huge congregation, of mostly caucasians, and a strong youth program. We have our own gigantic building in the suburbs. I think this demonstrates the diversity of the church of Christ.