Insights & Information

Third service joining Sunday morning lineup

worship_lineup1

Triad Baptist Church is launching a new acoustic contemporary service at 8 a.m. Sept. 17, and returning to a three-service format to continue to position it to meet the spiritual needs of Kernersville and beyond.

Pastor Rob Decker said the church’s Executive Leadership Team and deacons began considering the move late this spring because of the faster-than-anticipated growth of its 9 a.m. contemporary worship service, and visitor surveys about the overflow bleacher seating.

More than 680 people now attend the worship service (not including children’s church), and only 120 additional seats could be added if the bleachers weren’t used, Decker said.

“This shift would only reduce our current seating capacity to 75 percent full vs. 80 percent full which is traditionally a tipping point where people feel a service is too crowded to attend, and we had seen attendance level off for the first time in April, May, and June,” he said.

“We believe the best course of action was to return to a three-service format like we had before we moved into the Worship Center/Gym, and know this is not a permanent solution,” Decker said. “We still look toward an eventual move into a dedicated, larger sanctuary, and appreciate everyone’s willingness to make this move so we create the best experience possible for those who choose to worship with us, perhaps for the first time, as we further the gospel and our mission to point lives toward Christ.”

Beginning Sept. 17, Triad’s Sunday morning service schedule will be:

  • Acoustic Contemporary Service: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Contemporary Service: 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • Traditional Service: 10:45 a.m. to noon

Decker first informed the Church Council leaders who lead each ministry two weeks ago as well as Sunday School leaders.

Triad Baptist held its first services in the new Worship Center/Gym on July 6, 2014. The capital campaign that helped finance construction is long since over but people continue to give, Decker said, which may allow the church to move into the new sanctuary earlier than the original seven- to eight-year lag estimated after the Worship Center/Gym opened.

As currently designed, Decker said the new sanctuary would seat 1,750 on the main floor and another 700 in the balcony, which would probably be finished after a few years).

“We can easily see going back to two services at that point,” he said.

Giving could speed transition

Decker said that the church’s progress in paying down debt is a positive trend that bodes well for future campus expansion.

“We currently make $63,000 a month in mortgage payments, or about $720,000 a year,” he said. “Based on that current payment schedule, we’ll be out of debt in seven years.”

With about $20,000 in giving to the building campaign program (added to the church’s general fund mortgage payment of $43,000 monthly, Decker added: “If this pattern of giving continues, we’d be able to build earlier than 7-8 years originally estimated based on good debt management strategies. That’s exciting, and a wonderful reflection of the commitment of our members.”

Acoustic contemporary format

Contemporary Worship Leader Braden McKinley will also lead the new acoustic contemporary service featuring music representing a wide variety of styles, from old to new hymns filled with biblically rich content. The instrumentation will include piano, keyboard, violin, acoustic and bass guitar with a single box drum called a Cajon that has a lighter sound than a drum set to provide percussion.

“With the changes, we believe some who currently attend the contemporary worship service and some who attend the traditional service might accept the softer contemporary style and attend the new service — creating more room for growth in our contemporary worship service,” Decker said.

“This change is also very much in line with our previous church-wide survey and service preferences, and trends.”

Decker first informed the Church Council and Sunday School leaders about the changes, which will bring an “Early Risers” children’s program for children age 4 through fifth grade as well as a nursery for children age 3 and under, plus Sunday School classes for any that decided to move to an earlier time before the service.

Dan Parsons, who directs Triad’s Sunday School ministry, will meet with class leaders 4 p.m. Sunday, July 30, about the changes in Room G-216. Tim Gerber, executive pastor for children and ministries, will handle children’s ministry and nursery-related requirements.

If you have questions, or would like to serve during this new session, call Gerber, Decker, or Parsons through the Church Office, 336-996-7573.

Phase 2 Shot of TBC B&W 17

Join us Sunday at

9:00am Traditional Worship
10:30am Contemporary Worship