Jenny Stein - Church Visit #1

Church Name: Life Changers International Church
Church Address: 2500 Beverly Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
Date Attended: 09/14/14
Church Category: Higher Socioeconomic Status

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?
The worship service I attended at Life Changers was a massive gathering of churchgoers, containing a congregation of over 1,000 people (most likely many more). This was quite different from my regular church, which has usually about 70 people in attendance at the most. Because the congregation was such a large turnout when I went to Life Changers, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the population and not knowing anyone there. Similar to my home church, Life Changers had similar hymns and a similar sermon; however, much of the music from Life Changers was more contemporary and upbeat, rather than the slower pace of my regular church (mine is more traditional in terms of music choices and the way the music is played). But because the congregation was so large at Life Changers, they did not do communion the time I went. We do communion each Sunday at my home church. Besides that, the layout of the service was similar to the one I am used to, but Life Changers did have more staff (more than one pastor and speaker, along with helpers) than my regular church.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?
I enjoyed the upbeat and contemporary music played at this church. I also felt that the sermon was more engaging and relevant than the ones usually spoken at my church. I feel that Life Changers appeals more to younger audiences due to its contemporary theme, differing from the traditional service of my own home church. I greatly enjoyed this change, and felt more engaged with the message and the music being played. I think it was interesting that there were multiple speakers helping with the service instead of just one person. I also loved the enthusiasm of the congregation and the people on stage operating the music and the lights. It felt much more enjoyable to be a part of this congregation rather than the one I usually am a part of.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?
Because of the massive congregation, it was disorienting trying to get to know people, especially in just one service. I also, unfortunately, felt it was impossible to be able to talk to the pastor or the speakers on stage because there was so many people. Because of the congregation being over 1,000 people, it felt difficult to feel a connection to anyone else in the congregation or to be able to connect to anyone there. Though I enjoyed the service, I would have liked it better if there would have been more chances to speak to the pastor or develop a friendship with someone at this church.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?
The aspects of Scripture and theology that applied to this visit are the fact that God will accept you no matter who you are, even if you are not that wealthy. This church felt that many wealthy people attended the service due to the appearance and reputation of Life Changers, but the message that I got out of the service still applied to me even though I am not that wealthy. The church did not discriminate based on financial status, which I felt was very important. This reminded me of Proverbs 22:2, in which, "Rich and poor have this in common: the LORD is the Maker of them all". The Lord made all of us as equal human beings, and even when we are not very wealthy and attend a wealthy church, we are still accepted because God made all people, and we all belong to Him.