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AN INTERESTING WORLD RESEARCH STUDY OF EVERY CHURCH IN ONE SAMPLE CITY, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE INFORMATION ABOUT CHURCH.
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* - Means it's interesting.
HumeRidge CHURCH OF CHRIST TOOWOOMBA (Independent details about.)
Note: HumeRidge church starts at 9am now.
HumeRidge church starts at 9am, since the larger extension has been built in mid 2005. "HumeRidge Centre" is the name for the largest auditorium at Church of Christ Hume St Toowoomba.
1. Number of people: 170. ( Approx 658 TOTAL for all weekend attendees, being only 31 people in difference to AOG Spring St.) (Mid 2008 670 in attendance at 9am and 330 at 6pm. The churches own figures.)
**2. Number of available chairs: 510 (A 1410 seat additional building built mid 2005).
3. Type of person: Uncomplicated types, what you see is what you get.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Low/Medium.
5. Amount of kids: About 20 of which 1/3 went to crèche half an hour into the service.
6. Ages of people: 0-70yo.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: Mid 2008 the year to date average per week is $15,942 with 670 in attendance at 9am and 330 at 6pm.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: 9 at 8.32am, 6 at 8.33am, 6 at 8.35am, 15 at 8.37am, 8 at 8.38am, 4 at 8.39am.
10. Any other interesting information: -.
11. Time there AND date of visit: 25/11/01 8am-9.30am. (177 people at 2000).
12. Length of service: Approx 67 mins. Sermon went for 23 mins.
13. This and other HumeRidge service times: 8.30am. 10am, 6pm. This church has only one service in the morning at 9am since mid 2005 as the larger extension was built.
*14. Preacher: Dale White. In Churches of Christ they lean more towards the title "minister" but they are "Pastors".
*15. Feeling of building: Built in Oct 1994.
16. Estimate style of belief: They DO allow hands raised in worship. The minister does work with other churches and with CLN (Christian Leaders Network). Although not a Charismatic church, the minister is not very closed to gifts of the spirit.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get to HumeRidge: Travel south or towards Kmart along Hume St, cross over Stenner St and travel 100 metres and turn right into the church.
This church starts at 9am since the larger extension has been built in early 2005.
*1. Number of people: 334.
*2. Number of available chairs: 510 (A 1410 seat additional building built mid 2005).
3. Type of person: Uncomplicated types, what you see is what you get.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Low/Medium.
5. Amount of kids: 72 of which 2/3rds went to children's activity 30 mins into the service.
6. Ages of people: 0-70yo.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: $4594 (Budget $6000).
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
***10. Any other interesting information: This church also has a very large youth ministry area with well known Social Worker Ross Saville. The church extension, a 1410 seat auditorium built by mid 2005 -northern property side. It attracts a 50% tax subsidy if you give, as it's a community based church and the buildings receive rent from many areas including the University for exams, other churches for special events, sports. The church first started in 1882. The first building acquired in 1904. In 1997, Bruce Armstrong completed 18 years of ministry and retired in 2003. "In the past 12 months of 2001, Sunday Morning Attendance's have risen by 100 to around 600 each week."
11. Time there AND date of visit: 25/11/01 10.15am- 12.30pm.
12. Length of service: About 80 mins.
13. This and other service times: 10am, 8.30am, 6pm. This church has only one service in the morning at 9am since the larger extension has been built in mid 2005.
14. Preacher: Dale White. In Churches of Christ they lean more towards the title "minister" but they are "Pastors". There are about 5 full time and 8 part time staff in this church circa late 2002.
15. Feeling of building: -.
**16. Estimate style of belief: Many Charismatics attend this church. This church believes in the authority of God's word, that full immersion water baptism is basically the only way to go but it's possible to be saved without this type of baptism. That a Christian is someone that specifically asks Christ in their heart at a given point in time. A life time of giving 10% of wage is expected as with all churches. The Christian life style needs to slowly and steadily involve your whole life from family to work to one's personal life which is what all evangelical and Charismatic churches believe in.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual.
18. How to get there: Travel south or towards Kmart along Hume St, cross over Stenner St and travel 100 metres and turn right into the church.
6pm HumeRidge CHURCH OF CHRIST TOOWOOMBA 461 Hume St
1. Number of people: 154. (127 on the 25th April 2004 - low due to same sermon of the course.) (Mid 2008 330 in attendance at 6pm - the churches own figure.)
2. Number of available chairs: 510 (A 1410 seat additional church completed in 2002 at north).
3. Type of person: Uncomplicated types, what you see is what you get.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Low/Medium.
5. Amount of kids: 27 between 0-16yo, half of which are 14-16yo.
6. Ages of people: 0-70yo but mostly this is a youth service.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: A goal in 2002 is to raise the level of giving to $10,000/week.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
* 10. Any other interesting information: The church themselves say that people in attendence were 836 in the morning two services and 227 at night on the 18 April 2004 the offering Weekly Average for the last 4 weeks as being $8,022. With the Budget being $10,000 per week. (Which means each person gives an average of $7.30 each week.)
11. Time there AND date of visit: 25/11/01 7.45pm-8.45pm (118 people late 2000).
*(I attended this service hundreds of times from 1980 for 10 years.)
12. Length of service: About 1 hr 20m.
13. This and other service times: 6pm, 10am, 8.30am.
14. Preacher: Dale White. (Brendon Walmsley led worship 25th April 2004. First time.)
15. Feeling of building: Good.
16. Estimate style of belief: At 25th April 2004 it was the second week of a course for all three services called "40 Days of Purpose" in which 800 parishioners and their friends had signed up.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel south or towards Kmart along Hume St, cross over Stenner St and travel 100 metres and turn right into the church.
1. 29 people.
2. 90 chairs.
3. Older, local, friendly types.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Middle and management.
5. A 17 & 18yo.
6. Ages of people: 90% 65+.
7. 7 males.
8. Don't know offering but $1160 was given to a struggling missionary. 9. Lateness: Two.
10. Lovingly greeted from the time I came into the building to the time I left. 10 out of 10. If you want attention, go to a smaller church like this!
11. 9.20am till 11.50am 16/7/00
12. 10am-11.12am (Had communion too.)
13. This and other service times: 10am.
14. Do have a "minister" but he's not there when visiting speaker is there.
15. Feeling of building: Good, nice.
16. Bible based, born- again, full immersion baptism, non- Charismatic largely.
17. Dress code: casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel along Hume St to Perth turn East towards Brisbane, travel about 2kms, turn left at Curzon.
1. Number of people: 90.
2. Number of chairs: Approx 150.
3. Type of person: Working class/ blue collar type. Not complicated types.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Lower.
5. Amount of kids: Some twenty.
6. Ages of people: Mostly 20-50yo.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: -.
11. Time there AND date of visit: 7/10/01 6.10-20pm. Also 21/5/00.
*(I also went for 6 months at age 18 due to neighbours invitation.)
12. Length of service: Allow 1hr 30m-2hr.
13. This and other service times: 10.15am, 6pm, 8.50am (Bible School), 7.30pm Wednesdays.
14. Preacher: Evangelist Ian Coker.
15. Feeling of building: Not bad.
**16. Estimate style of belief: The "non-denominational" version of Church of Christ are a smaller cousin of mainline "Churches of Christ." At the end of all their discussions it is probably true to say they believe you need to be fully immersed water baptised in their church otherwise you won't really be saved. Not only that but you will have to believe that this is the cause or reason for salvation. They particularly believe that FULL WATER BAPTISM IS A FULLY NECESSARY PART OF SALVATION. Most Christian churches generally do not believe this. They are very fundamentalist when it comes to doctrine, citing that they ONLY do what is in the bible and also they do NOT do anything UNLESS it's in the bible. For example, they do not have organs or instruments in their church as nowhere in the NEW Testament does it say to use musical instruments in church. This church universally will challenge other churches to debates over scripture "to see who wins." They do not believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with tongues at all.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual.
18. How to get there: Travel along Drayton Rd.
6pm CHURCH OF CHRIST DRAYTON, NON- DENOMINATIONAL. 52 Gipps St Drayton.
1. Number of people: 66.
2. Number of chairs: Approx 150.
3. Type of person: Working class/ blue collar type. Not complicated types.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Lower.
5. Amount of kids: Some fifteen.
6. Ages of people: Mostly 20-50yo.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: -.
11. Time there AND date of visit: 7/10/01 6.10-20pm.
12. Length of service: Allow 1hr-1hr30m.
13. This and other service times: 6pm, 8.50am (Bible School) 10.15am, 7.30pm Wednesdays.
*14. Preacher: Evangelist Ian Coker has been there over twenty years having had an Air Forces background.
15. Feeling of building: Not bad.
16. Estimate style of belief: The "non-denominational" version of Church of Christ believe unless your water baptized fully immersed, your not saved. They do not believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with tongues at all.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual. 18. How to get there: Travel along Drayton Rd.
1. # of people: 138. **(This is proof my numbers counted in church are quite accurate. This is a case in point that the numbers I record of people being in the church, actual bottoms on seats method, is accurate. At the beginning of every report I give a count of the people who were actually in the church, the MEAN number for strict accuracy purposes. (Dictionary definition- the word "MEAN" is understood as "Equally distant from 2 extremes.") So, this number is given in the criteria in each report under "1. # of people:" Also, as an example, I found all Churches of Christ and Lutherans particularly kept good records of numbers. So, in this church their official book indicated that "The numbers for this service according to their freely available records put numbers as low as 119 to as high as 152ppl for the last 8 months.)
2. Available chairs: 250.
3. Type of person: Informal, friendly
4. Socio- Economic Status: Lower middle.
5. Kids: Many
6. Ages: All
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: not given.
9. Late arrivals: 2, 2 mins
10. Interesting info:
11. Date & Time spent: 10/11/00 8am-10.40am
12. When service finished. Aprox 1hr 20m
13. This & other service times: 8.30am; 10.30am; 6.45pm
14. Preacher: Steve Christian (2 f/t, 1 x 2.5 day/wk)
15. Feeling: Warm, very friendly, talkative, attractive.
16. Their belief: Church of Christ (mainline) are born again, non spirit filled generally, fully immersed water baptized believers. One of their senior ministers wives spoke in tongues at a time.
17. Dress code: Casual.
18. How to get there. Travel north along Ruthven, cross North, church is on the left.
10.30am NORTH CHURCH OF CHRIST. 125 Ruthven St
1. # of people: 44.
2. Available chairs: 250
3. Type of person: Informal, friendly
4. Socio- Economic Status: Lower middle.
5. Kids: Many
6. Ages: 13 ppl 60+, 9 kids.
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: not given.
9. Late arrivals: 2, 2 mins
10. Interesting info:
11. Date & Time spent: 10/11/00 8am-10.40am
12. When service finished.
13. This & other service times: 10.30am, 8.30am, 6.45pm
14. Preacher: Steve Christian (2 f/t, 1 x 2.5 day/wk) (In Jan 2006, was a part time chaplain in a Doctors Surgery.) Ian Hunt is the main "minister" (not called Pastors)
15. Feeling: Same.
16. Their belief: Same.
17. Dress code: Casual.
18. How to get there. Travel north along Ruthven, cross North, church is on the left.
6.30pm NORTH CHURCH OF CHRIST Ruthven & Jones Sts.
1. # of people: 55ppl.
2. Available chairs: 180.
3. Type of person: Accountants, teachers, blue collar.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Working.
5. Kids: Strong group of 17-20yo's due to Youth Pastor 20hrs/wk.
6. Ages: 15-50.
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: -.
9. Late arrivals: 3ppl 6.37pm.
*10. Interesting info: Have computerized big screen. Many Hill songs.
11. Date & Time spent: 7/1/01 6.35PM-8.15PM
12. When service finished. Aprox 1.25hr
13. This & other service times: 6.30pm; 8.30am, 10.30am.
14. Preacher: Lay Accountant (A non-paid preacher who normally is an accountant). Like many churches, have a hard time filling p/t ministry positions, particularly if non-Charismatics.
15. Feeling: Nice warm feeling. Church of Christ people are always very friendly.
16. Their belief: Non-Charismatic, not against it.
17. Dress code: More Casual. 18. Travel north along Ruthven, cross North, church is on the left.
HIGHFIELDS CHURCH (CHURCH OF CHRIST). See listing under "Darling Downs"
1. Number of people: Approx 20.
2. Number of chairs: 40.
3. Type of person: Evangelicals.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Medium.
5. Amount of kids: Moderate.
6. Ages of people: 20-40yo.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
***10. Any other interesting information: Dr Delroy Brown was a minister at Toowoomba Church of Christ (Hume St). He formed his own church and worked at the University of Southern Queensland teaching. In June 2000 the church was in the paper as being vandalized in the initial stages of construction.
11. Time there AND date of visit: Several visits in 1999.
12. Length of service: Approx 1hr 20m.
13. This and other service times: -.
14. Preacher: Dr Delroy Brown. He formed this church in 1987 and has focused the ministry on international students from University of Southern Queensland. He is a native to Jamaica and has attended Bible college and university in United States and Canada.
15. Feeling of building: OK.
***16. Estimate style of belief: I visited Dr Delroy Brown in his home and a visiting preacher from the USA was also staying there. I remember this Italian clearly as told me his family was once part of the original Italian/ USA "Mafia". When I visited he talked with me as though I was really not saved. After much discussion I found that this denomination are very similar to Gipps St Church of Christ. To put it simply, they believe unless your water baptized by them your not saved. Also, unless you believe full immersion water baptism IS salvation ITSELF, you are STILL not saved, even though you may be full water immersed baptized yourself.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel south along West St, after Stenner turn right up Wuth St.
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