Keith Mlyniec, Senior Pastor
Worship Style - Contemporary Baptist
This week we attended the church that our daughter is currently attending. This church is not only close to the University of Rhode Island (where she is a student), but also sends a van to the campus inviting the students to attend. So, in the congregation that numbered at least 150, many students were present, including several familiar faces (friends of our daughter). The website tells us that both the Pastor and his wife attended URI.
We were greeted by many people both as we entered and while we were seated in the sanctuary. There was much interest in why we were there and our pilgrimage. Pastor Keith let us know that he had visited our website and wondered if they were going to be one of the 52 churches. We assured him that they would be week #13. We had the honor of being present at a Baby Dedication. Pastor Keith spent some time explaining the meaning and purpose of this dedication, that it is to honor God for the gift of the child, to bless and recognize the parents and their commitment to raising the child in the church and for the church to pledge its support to them. The baby had the most amazingly beautiful head of hair!
Pastor Keith's message was based on Acts 5:17-21. He talked about how easy it is to be a Christian when things are going well, miracles and healings are happening and everyone wants to hear about Jesus. However, where do you find yourself when you are challenged about your faith? Do you find yourself like the apostles in this scripture, in a sort of prison? When persecuted, embarrassed, and ridiculed, do you take yourself off the playing field and out of the game - and go into a spiritual prison? "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 'Go, stand in the temple courts,' he said, 'and tell the people all about this new life'." Pastor Keith asked us what do we see when we go through the door? Do we see a field white for harvest or do we retreat out of fear and go back to the "prison" ? Do we tell the people we come in contact with about the New Life available to them or do we hold back? We all are called to go through the door and get into the game!
Worship Style - Contemporary Baptist
This week we attended the church that our daughter is currently attending. This church is not only close to the University of Rhode Island (where she is a student), but also sends a van to the campus inviting the students to attend. So, in the congregation that numbered at least 150, many students were present, including several familiar faces (friends of our daughter). The website tells us that both the Pastor and his wife attended URI.
We were greeted by many people both as we entered and while we were seated in the sanctuary. There was much interest in why we were there and our pilgrimage. Pastor Keith let us know that he had visited our website and wondered if they were going to be one of the 52 churches. We assured him that they would be week #13. We had the honor of being present at a Baby Dedication. Pastor Keith spent some time explaining the meaning and purpose of this dedication, that it is to honor God for the gift of the child, to bless and recognize the parents and their commitment to raising the child in the church and for the church to pledge its support to them. The baby had the most amazingly beautiful head of hair!
Pastor Keith's message was based on Acts 5:17-21. He talked about how easy it is to be a Christian when things are going well, miracles and healings are happening and everyone wants to hear about Jesus. However, where do you find yourself when you are challenged about your faith? Do you find yourself like the apostles in this scripture, in a sort of prison? When persecuted, embarrassed, and ridiculed, do you take yourself off the playing field and out of the game - and go into a spiritual prison? "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 'Go, stand in the temple courts,' he said, 'and tell the people all about this new life'." Pastor Keith asked us what do we see when we go through the door? Do we see a field white for harvest or do we retreat out of fear and go back to the "prison" ? Do we tell the people we come in contact with about the New Life available to them or do we hold back? We all are called to go through the door and get into the game!