Why c3? (Part One)

Things are changing. Last year at this time Abundant Life Church had about 15 solid members; we met at the Holiday Inn where we set up our stage and our chairs every Sunday and put people out front to wave cars in so they wouldn't get lost if this was their first time visiting.

Today we have a stage that we share with two other wonderful churches but the caravan of equipment now stays put for the most part when we finish service on Sunday. We used to have three to five people meeting in the Wolcott's small living room for an informal Bible study. Today we have a mens connect group, a women's connect group, a vibrant and crazy young people's ministry and each service is including more and more children which means the start of our children's ministry is not far off.

Our pastors, Peter and Gay Chapman finally have their belongings with them in their new home that has a bedroom for both the Chapman kids and we all feel better that they are settled. We are attracting many new members and are even welcoming some old friends back from the original Abundant Life Center. These are the things we have been praying for and God has been faithful to answer those prayers in a positive way.

So, if everything's going so well, why spoil a good thing by aligning ourselves with a church that's half way around the world? Well, let's look at their values:
According to Phil Pringle, Pastor of Christian City Church (c3 Church), their values include fervent, heartfelt prayer, the worship and praise of God, and a foundation of faith and vision. In their services prayer plays an important part as it does in all of Abundant Life's services. We don't rush through "the singing part" to get to the preaching. We take time to "love on God" with worship and praise music and he answers by visiting His Spirit on us. At c3 church Worship is such a big part of who they are, that recordings of their music are known worldwide.

We do not practice "religion" - a systematic approach to the worship and service of God - we live faith. At c3 Church, faith is what they have built their church on as well. A culture of faith permeates all of the c3 churches around the world. Peter and Gay Chapman have imparted the vision they have for Chico and Butte County to Abundant Life and we as members have made it our own; bring the people in this area closer to God and make them disciples who can then go out into the world and spread the Good News. c3 Church is also committed to making not just believers but disciples for Christ. Abundant Life and c3 both seek to train up leaders in the service of the one to whom we owe all.

This lifestyle doesn't mean a life of austerity; it is a lifestyle of abundance! as the current name of our church implies. Jesus said in John 10: 10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly". Some of the richest men who ever lived wrote down the words found in the Bible. David gave 2.5 billion (yes, that's with a B) for the building of the temple. Solomon had boatloads of gold arriving at his ports daily. Even Jesus, who had received kingly gifts at his birth did not want for money. Both Abundant Life Church and c3 Church support and celebrate the financial blessings God showers on us.

(continued next week in Part two, Why c3?)

For a look at the culture of C3, check out this video by Phil Pringle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTBZKaualTc