Whenever newcomers check out a church, virtually all are asking some form of the same question: “Is there a place for me?” And for years, our short answer at Ingleside has been, “Yes!” Our answer reflects the spirit of Romans 15:7, which says: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (ESV). Of course, the specific questions newcomers may ask are often more detailed, nuanced, and personalized. Consider these possibilities: ...
In his ground-breaking book, The Purpose Driven Church (1995), Rick Warren recounts a study he made of the 100 largest churches in the United States. He writes: “Although I discovered that large, growing churches differ widely in strategy, structure, and style, there were some common denominators. My study confirmed what I already knew . . . : Healthy, large churches are led by pastors who have been there a long time. I found dozens of examples. A long pastorate does not...
As we announced last week, for the five Sundays of July, we plan to gather in one great worship service in our Worship Center at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. More information is here. Join Me at the Church Picnic . I hope you have already marked your calendars and are planning to be at Ingleside on Wednesday night, June 29 for our annual church picnic. Watch this short video and review the Q&A below to get a good idea of what is in store. Where is the picnic held? Again this...
For the five Sundays of July, we plan to gather in one great worship service in our Worship Center at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. After consultation with our staff and Overseers, we believe this summer shake-up to our schedule will be beneficial in several ways: Families will be encouraged to worship together – all in one service. Care will still be provided for birth-4K in our preschool ministry, but kids 5K and older will worship in “big church” with their parents for these five...
For many families at Ingleside, the rhythms of life will change as the school year comes to a close. The demands of classes, tests, and extracurricular activities will give way to a welcome change of pace. At Ingleside, the summer promises to be spiritually significant. I want you to know about, participate in, and pray for some of the ministry and missions that are planned. Here’s a summary: June 6-10 Xtreme Week (Vacation Bible School) June 12-17 Sessions Tour...
On May 3 and 17, our Nominating Committee met to select new nominees who will be considered for service as Overseers. As I left the meetings, my heart was deeply grateful for the quality and strength of the leadership God has given our church across the years. I’m convinced that one of the reasons that we have had strong leadership is because we have a good selection process. It includes congregation-wide input, consideration by a Nominating Committee, personal interviews, and...
A revolution has occurred over the past 10 years. According to the Pew Research Center, in May 2011 only 35% of adults in the United States owned a smartphone. By 2021 the number had grown to 85% (see the data here). Not only do most of us now own smartphones, but we also use our phones now as our primary way of accessing information, communicating with one another, and managing the many details of modern life. When you look at the worldwide data about internet traffic, in 2011...
The month of May has become a time when we connect, serve, and share the gospel with our community in a significant way. As the school year comes to a conclusion, we host a number of end-of-year events at Ingleside. This year these include: . On Monday night, May 16, we will host the Tattnall Square Academy Commencement in our Worship Center. . On Thursday night, May 19, we will host the Covenant Academy Commencement in our Worship Center. . On Saturday, May 21, we will...
There’s more than one way to refer to and relate to a church. Consider these three perspectives. That church. “Yes, I’ve heard about that church,” a person might say. “I’ve heard that church has great ministries for children and students. I’ve heard that church is really committed to missions. I’ve heard that church has spirit-anointed musical worship and solid biblical teaching.” But have you ever been there? Have you ever checked it out and experienced...
As I reflect on our celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this past weekend, my heart is filled with great gratitude – and I hope yours is too! The powerful presence of God’s Spirit in our worship services was evident in the warm fellowship, the joyful songs, and the many who responded to the gospel with repentance, faith, and obedience. Attendance in our five services totaled 3,999 on-campus with 448 joining on the livestream for a total of 4,447 worshipers....
