"DISCOVER CHURCH" - A 100,000 word web site.
AN INTERESTING WORLD RESEARCH STUDY OF EVERY
CHURCH IN ONE SAMPLE CITY AND THEN 2 HOURS
FURTHER, FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SEE
INFORMATION ABOUT CHURCH.
*** - Three asterisks means
it's the most important sentence to read.
** - Means it's quite important.
* - Means it's interesting.
Gold Coast, What are the churches like on
Australia's biggest beach destination?
DREAM CENTRE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
***(Formerly named but still under the denomination ABUNDANT LIFE FELLOWSHIP)
Gold Coast CARRARA Chisolm & Nerang - Broadbeach Rd
*1. Number of people: 78 at 8am (9 Kids); 274 at 10am (Mostly families); 286
at 6pm (Mostly young)
***2. 10 - 30% filled. There are 1093 chairs in total but there is more space.
Church says they can fit 3,500 people. A curtain cordons off 1/3 of chairs.
3. Type of person. Many. 4. Socio- Economic Status: Working to middle. 5. Amount
of kids. 9 at 8am; many at 10am; many older kids at 6pm. 6. Ages of people.
30-50yo 8am; 0-50yo 10am; 16-50yo 6pm. 7. 50% of men. 8. Weekly offering church
brings in if published. Not there. 9. Lateness of people getting to church.-.
***10. Any other interesting information. At the morning I was accidentally
there, Ps Rod Gilchrist announced on the previous Thursday in Perth he went
to heaven for 4 hours. Many people have heard about this since. This is what
I roughly hand recorded in my journal and newsletter Sunday 27 May 2001 being
at all 3 services and then Monday night 28 May 2001. It was because of this
event that the name of the church was changed to "The Dream Centre"-
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ps Gilchrist said- "I was so impacted by this I cried for 1.5 hours with
a Pastor here and cried an hour with my wife. Being in this world is like eating
baked beans and toast when being in that world is like eating prawns and salmon.
Part of me still feels like I'm there. I lay there after saying goodnight to
my sick mother in Perth where I was visiting her and in a few seconds or minutes
I saw myself across the room my back facing toward me whether in the body or
out of the body, like the Apostle Paul has described. I heard a guttural voice
from behind me saying "This one is dirty." Then a Godly voice spoke
and said "No, he is cleansed." A wind came in from the right and another
from the left. A hand came down and took me through a tunnel. At a billion miles
an hour. A being stood half a metre behind me slightly to the right and he gently
leaned over and lightly kissed my back on the right shoulder blade. I felt such
immense love shining out of him. We were in a "thing" - it wasn't
a spaceship or anything else which they drove around in. I said "Wow, I
would sure love to see the engines on this thing!" He smiled. Then we went
to a room where there were all odd wind instruments playing sweet worship. Where
there were rows of all kinds of instruments. The angel said "Join them."
The angel gave me something and it fitted in my mouth perfectly. "You have
the gift of music" the angel said and handed me a saxophone and I could
play like I never have before. I asked what it was that was given to me. The
angel said "A song." Then we went into another room which was white
and padded and a big chubby angel came in with a smirk and a golden embroided
oval tray and in the middle was a honeycomb like substance. I found myself repenting
for all the things I had done but I had no recollection of specific sins. I
repented for life. After that I ate some honeycomb from the tray and it instantly
rejuvenated my body, I felt so good! I call that the repentance room. I then
saw kids playing in a park wonderfully. Saw houses, some where huge ones. There
were medium size houses and many small houses. Then this house grew a room and
all the other houses wobbled and shifted to make room for this new room. I came
to timber chairs and timber wheelbarrows. I somehow knew these belonged to people.
I came across people who were eating this growing thing which is unwrapped like
cord so I tasted it and it tasted like nothing. My wife said "It tastes
like something. It tastes like anything you want it to taste like." So
I ate and it tingled my spine all over. So I called this "Anything."
I was walking along in green grass and stepped on to a field and the sky went
black and a being stood in the middle of the field and waved his arms around.
I said "What are you doing?" He said "I'm playing a game. Would
you like to play?" "Yes" I said. I did what the angel was doing
and whole bunches of stars in the heavenlies swayed to and fro." I stood
off the field and suddenly it was as daylight again. This is the game called
"Possibilities." I then was taken to the houses and I saw my house.
I was shocked at it's size. It wasn't big nor was it small. It was like an unfinished
3 bedroom house. I went to a huge house and 1000's of people came and as they
came, the walls got bigger and bigger with walls of air. I asked "What's
this?" He said "This is your ministry." Instinctively I knew
what I had to do. To the people of this church I repent for being me so much.
Always pushing, always striving. Being in this church and having my dream home
doesn't mean anywhere near as much to me anymore."
----------------------------------------------------------------
ABUNDANT LIFE REPORT CONTINUES. 11. Time AND date. 7.30am-12.30pm; 5.30pm- 8pm.
12. Length of service. 1hr 30min. 13. This and other service times. 8am &
10am & 6pm Sundays. 14. Preacher. Ps Rod Gilchrist.
***15. Feeling of building. Warm, energetic, young. Also what is of interest
is 30 metres next to the church is a large youth centre which cost $1.5 million.
It costs $4-$8 to get in. There are Sony Play stations, large concrete skateboard
parks, a 50 metre pool, 9 trampolines, U-shaped roller blade ramp, basketball
courts, pool tables, food areas, mini-golf. Up to 200 a day can be there. 50
have been saved over the last 6 years. It's billed as Australia's premier youth
park."
**16. Estimate style of belief. Abundant Life Fellowships come out of the morning
TV ministries from Kenneth Copeland, Creflo A. Dollar, Jesse Du Plantis etc..
Which means they are very "Word" based. Prosperity, stand on the promises
etc..
17. Dress to not stand out. Casual to smart. 18. How to get there. Travel to
Gold Coast, get to Nerang, turn left at Nerang - Broadbeach Rd. Take 3rd street
on right Chisolm Rd.
9.00am BAPTIST. REEDY CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH 10 Gemvale Rd Reedy Ck
*1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 322.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 484.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: -.
5. Amount of kids: 60. (Explanation: 262 adults with some children in Audotorium
+ 60 kids in Sunday schools = 322.) (Only some 5-10 kids not in Sunday School)
(Hillcrest Christian College is part of the church.)
6. Ages of people: 20% were aged over 60 years. Most were young families.
7. % are men.
*8. Weekly offering published: $6,770. ($710 was for missions)
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
**10. Any other interesting information: In June 2004 The
"Queensland Baptist Magazine" reported they had done "40 Days of Purpose" -
"During the 40 days the church’s regular attendance rose by 15% and small group
numbers increased from 25 to 50 (with 500 committed.) …. 30 have been baptised.
The church’s giving has significantly increased allowing them to employ an administrator,
and several people have given their lives to Jesus Christ." .
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 26 Jan 2003 9.45am- 10am.
12. Length of service: -.
13. This and other service times: 9.00am; (Sunday school starts at 9.30am) 6.45pm.
14. Preacher: Steve Bagi. John Hopping preached.
15. Feeling of building: Approx built 1999. Air conditioned.
16. Estimate style of belief: Part of the Baptist Union.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel along the Pacific Hwy and it's on the highway just
north of the Reedy Ck turn off.
28. KNOWABLE SONGS: Well known.
30. Quality of preaching generally: Sermon based around the Australian tennis
open.
6.30pm CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. 17 Junction Rd, Burleigh
Junction, Gold Coast.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 160.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 264.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: -.
5. Amount of kids: 23 0-16yo.
6. Ages of people: Many young people.
7. % are men. -.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: Many before 6.52pm. Many at 6.52pm.
4 at 6.56pm.
*10. Any other interesting information: 160 people on a Sunday night is quite
unusual. The congregation seems to like the Pastor a lot. It's independent Charismatic
church which has been around for many years. They run a full program of things
like Alpha and also a free counselling service with trained people. The church
has produced their own worship CD called "Angels in Worship" by "Impact
Music Team" in 2002, Executive Producer Oliver Tham. CHURCH GIVES $5000
TO FOOTBALL CLUB. This Gold Coast Christian Community church had their Pastor
Eugene appear on the Channel 10 state news 17 March 2004 giving reasons why
the church gave the Labrador football club $5,000. The only rule is that each
member of the club must attend one service in the season.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 26 Jan 03 6.15pm- 7pm, 7.20pm- 9.30pm.
12. Length of service: 1 hr 30 mins.
13. This and other service times: 6.30pm; 9am.
14. Preacher: Rev Eugene & Judy Bognar. A migrant. Formerly a Roman Catholic
Alter boy.
15. Feeling of building: Good. Very friendly church.
16. Estimate style of belief: Charismatic. They have a community food wagon
too.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: From Burleigh Heads travel along Reedy Ck Rd until a Department
of Transport sign says to turn left at "Christian Community Church."
Turn right at the immediate T section. Go to the end of the road where you must
turn left.
6pm BURLEIGH CHURCH OF CHRIST. Fleah Crt Burleigh Heads
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 12.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: Approx 200.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: -.
5. Amount of kids: 0.
6. Ages of people: Some young.
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: 26 Jan 03 7pm- 7.03pm.
12. Length of service: -.
13. This and other service times: 6pm and probably 9am.
14. Preacher: -.
15. Feeling of building: Bit cold. Age of building is circa 1960's.
16. Estimate style of belief: -.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual.
18. How to get there: Travel along Reedy Ck Rd, Tallebudgera Creek Rd.
SOUTHPORT CHURCH OF CHRIST. Parklands Drv Southport QLD 1. Number of people: Approx: 100 - 400. 2. Number of chairs: Approx 200- 600. 3. Type of person: -. 4. Socio-Economic Status: -. 5. Amount of kids: Many. 6. Ages of people: -. 7. 50% are men. 8. Weekly offering published: -. 9. Lateness of people getting to church: -. 10. Any other interesting information: Reputation of being one of the largest Churches of Christ in Queensland. 11. Time there AND date of visit: Once in the early 1990's. 12. Length of service: 1hr30 - 2hrs. 13. This and other service times: -. 14. Preacher: -. 15. Feeling of building: Good. 16. Estimate style of belief: -. 17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart. 18. How to get there: Travel along Smith St and it's behind the University.
7pm HOUSE OF PRAISE. DR SASHA ALEXANDER. 5 Demand St, Arundel, Gold Coast.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 71.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 170.
**3. Type of person: Perhaps the people here could be described as attractive,
materially focused due to going fully in God under a full grace mentality, easily
divorced, fun, active.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Car park full of late model sports Commodores and
Pajeros with mags.
5. Amount of kids: 8.
6. Ages of people: 5 are 60+, mostly young families.
7. 30% are men. In a small group there were 9 men 15 women.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: Church itself started late.
***10. Any other interesting information: This would be the biggest church in
Queensland whom are fully into the Toronto Blessing. As such, they call themselves
REVIVALISTS. It's a completely different way to worship. It's NOT believed to
be a cult. They fully believe in the bible and all major doctrines associated
with it. They do NOT believe they are the only ones who are saved. They DO believe
in the "Prosperity Doctrine", however, they would be the most personally
giving people as well. Giving in time, friendliness and money to the poor.
----------------------------------------------------
***Here are the top ten quotes spoken from the pulpit by Dr Sasha Alexander.
1. "They call the Gold Coast Australia's Hollywood..."
2. "I need $100,000 for TV and God said to go on Optus for free as there's
a Christian channel there..."
3. "I remember when we would go for 5 hours in worship and it would go
just like that...."
4. "I got a vision for 2.4 million. I need 12 staff to go on the road."
5. "This building would cost 1.2 million, we can get it for half the price..."
6. "If you need to fast to hear God's voice, you will only then hear God's
voice when you fast..."
7. "When I was at Christian Outreach Centre..."
8. "I said to God - Don't ever make me a boring preacher!"
9. "God gave me the gift of Faith..."
10. "If you say God told you something and it then fails, that's not right..."
----------------------------------------------------
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 2 Feb 2003 6.55pm- 10.00pm.
12. Length of service: 2 hours, ended at 9.15pm.
13. This and other service times: 7pm; 10am.
**14. Preacher: Dr Sasha Alexander.
15. Feeling of building: Good.
**16. Estimate style of belief: They admit they are "Swinging off the Chandalier"
Charismatics.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: All casual.
18. How to get there: Travel along the Pacific Hwy, take the Southport exit,
go along the Gold Coast Hwy, after less than one km turn south or right at Captain
Cook Drive, drive past the tip, Demand St is soon on the left.
*19. ACCEPTANCE IN CHURCH AS A VISITOR: Very accepting of all
types of people from the wealthy to the poor. As long as each person at least
tolerates the way their church operates, everything is cool with them. It's
recommended that if you visit this church that you not only ring before hand
to say your coming but that you know they are Revivalists and you accept this.
That's all they want to know. Or that you are a Revivalist.
*20. People who talked to me after the service: Many.
21. Length of time they talked: 45 mins.
22. How soon do visitors get talked to after service?: Soon.
*23. HOW MUCH CHURCH IS OPEN TO WIDER CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Yes, they see themselves
as a church which spreads spiritual fire to each city they go to. All other
Pastors and other church parishioners are very welcome to join any special meeting.
***24. Unusual things about worship: Everything is unusual but it's not really
scary or intimidating once you understand where this church and movement are
coming from. The church began with an alter call for everyone to voluntarily
come out with all of them falling on their backs and not getting up for 6 minutes
until the Pastor said "OK, now if you could all peel yourself up from the
floor... we shall begin the meeting." He then called out people with healing
issues. (I would recommend this church for a healing when the Doctors have given
up as there are many testimonies of miracles coming through this movement.)
Then the Pastor gave words of light personal prophecy. The Pastor spoke in tongues
quietly to himself but it's a very relaxed form of tongues. He then intuitively
went in and out of preaching and alter calls. (An alter call is where you walk
out the front and stand in a line and wait for the Pastor to lay his hands on
your head in prayer.) (This church believes when you fall or lie down, you can
let go into God more.) In this church 100% of the people fell but in normal
Charismatic churches about 50% of people fall.
***25. EMPHASIS OF MINISTRY: They have a large new truck and trailer with 500
chairs. They've been to several cities and would like to be invited to any city
on the eastern seaboard as long as you can guarantee above 100 people will come.
No costs involved but to believe God for the fire of God to fall and for God
to cover the finances.
26. Famous business people: -.
27. Famous people: -.
**28. KNOWABLE SONGS: Half the songs are popular songs. The other half are "Revivalist"
worship songs. i.e. "Let's all spiritually get smashed!"
29. Quality of sound system/ loudness: Fine.
30. Quality of preaching generally: Good.
31. Meaningfulness/ depth of preaching: Deep in it's own way.
32. Enjoyment/ lightness of preaching: Very light. The preaching is also highly
enjoyable.
*33. Impact/ deepness/ enjoyment of worship: The worship is probably the best
thing about this church. As it's personally touching. You tend to forget about
your problems. Many report a very rich and deep sense of the Holy Spirit flowing
inside of them.
34. Amount of home groups: -.
35. How to access home groups: -.
36. Friendliness of home groups: -.
37. Intention to build: Yes.
**38. Estimate percentage church owned / rented?: Rented. They were above the
Bus Interchange in Surfers Paradise until the Gold Coast council said they were
too loud. (This present church service wasn't overly loud at all.)
39. Estimate age of building: 5yo.
40. Dowdiness of building outside: No. But's in an industrial area of large
new sheds.
41. Inside?: Good.
42. Have sister churches where? Probably none for the moment but the church
may gear up to a denominational spread eventually.
43. Sunday School availability: -.
44. Ages availability: -.
45. % kids attend: -.
46. Noise of kids at back: Zero.
*47. Where is bible college? Their college is in the current church, sectioned
off. There is one year of theory of how to work in the "school of the spirit"
and then there is 2 years of internship where you sit on special pews with signs
that say "(Reserved for) interns." The idea is to spread the revival
fire through out to different cities and countries.
48. Where do kids school? -.
49. How many missionaries do they support: Some.
50. What cost? -.
51. What is average they give to missions: They do support missionaries. Dr
Sasha has travelled a lot in the USA and Malaysia etc..
*52. What is average they give to local poor? This type of Christian tends to
give a lot personally to anyone they come across in need. They are the most
giving out of all the denominations.
53. International poor? This seems to be a natural extension of their walk with
Christ. On the wall of the church is a sign saying how much the church gives
overseas.
54. Other emphasis on giving: Mainly the giving for outreaches like TV, tent
meetings.
55. Per head total giving: -.
***56. Extent of other church programs: In 2002 they spent $125,000 for a 1000
seat tent with 500 chairs. And a late model 2 tonne truck with large trailer.
They have been to Gosford, Townsville, Gold Coast with 150- 250 people each
meeting. They would like to be invited to various cities. They have invited
other Pastors to attend but not many do as yet.
57. Pastor receive stipend? Yes.
58. How much? -.
59. Qualifications of Pastor: Has a Doctorate.
60. Estimated of parishioners complaints. Probably due to alleged flightiness
of meetings.
61. Estimated ability to resolve parishioners complaints: Ps Sasha said from
the pulpit "From now on we are not going to be like a speedboat, easily
knocking, but I'll turn this large ship around slowly."