A Church Where Sunday Nights Never Died

How many times do you get to go to three services on a single Sunday in the USA?  Yesterday I started with Pastor Lance Lowell at Neighborhood Church, Modesto, my home church. 

I enjoyed the 10AM service where our son, Tim, leads worship.  In this picture (taken a week earlier) Tim is leading and grandson, Evan (striped shirt) is part of the worship team...

...while granddaughter Michelle was playing the keyboard. 

It's a great church with expanding vision to reach its neighborhood for Jesus.

Then at 2 PM I was invited to minister at Calvary Temple, Modesto in their Spanish service with my friend, Pastor Lupe Sarmiento... who is shown helping me with Felipe's suitcase in this picture.  

Perfume has just come squirming out of the case. 

Are these kids enjoying Felipe or what?  Look at their faces.  I think Felipe does better in Spanish than English.  We also enjoyed a great time around the altar with the youth and adults.  God is preparing some of them for His service.

Now it was time to drive about an hour further south to Merced First Assembly of God Church for their great 6 PM Sunday service.  They have a 60 voice choir that will raise the roof with enthusiastic worship.  And the church fills up, even the balcony every Sunday night!  I asked Pastor Harvey Mitchell what his secret was. He says, "Start a full stage choir including youth and the elderly and have them sing every Sunday night. Parents and grandparents will come to hear and see their youth sing... plus the presence of the Lord inhabits His praise."     



In this shot kids enjoy the important ceremony of petting Perfume, the sweet skunk.

And again we saw a beautiful response at the altar with a time of extended prayer and deep dedication to our Lord Jesus. 

I think God is "up to something" at Merced First AG... the California church where Sunday nights never died.

Ralph