Ephesians 4:12 indicates that it is every church member’s role to do the work of ministry for the building up of the body of Christ. So, if you were to ask, “What type of ministries does CRBC have?” We would answer, “We have as many ministries as we have members.”
Our people are involved in a number of activities to serve one another, serve our community, and to reach the world. Below, however, are a few of the main activities that our church life is structured around.
God has promised to work among and within His people through the Word, prayer, the sacraments, and, the lifting up of our voices in praise, meaning that our worship service is central to the work of God in our midst and the ministry of CRBC. Sermons are, typically, preaching verse by verse through a book of the Bible; our songs are chosen for their rich content and our service is full of Scripture readings and prayers.
These “ordinary means” are appointed by God, are empowered by the Holy Spirit, and point us to Christ, all for the good of our souls and to the glory of God.
Before our main service, we all gather for informal discussions centered on a variety of topics. These may be walking through portions of Scripture, reading through a book of particular interest, or even a walk through a portion of church history. A separate class is held for families for parents who are interested in learning how to better raise their children in the Word (see below).
Spanish Language Sunday School:
Nos complacemos en ofrecer traduccion al espanol del servicio matutino y una clase de escuela dominical en el idioma espanol que se reune a las 9:45 am. La clase de escuela dominical esta a cargo de Daniel Tejeda, quien ha pastoreado iglesias en Cuba, Espana y Carolina del Norte.
This class is geared toward parents with their children (of all ages) where we will be learning hymns and catechisms, memorizing Scripture, and discussing everything under the sun – all as a family. Our desire is that this class will encourage and assist parents in raising their children in the Lord. Halfway through the Sunday School hour, teachers engage the children in activities and Bible lessons while the parents spend time among themselves discussing the various challenges families face today in raising a God-honoring family.
For Teens:
Teenagers gather with Pastor Doug during the second half of the class to discuss a variety of topics to help them navigate through the challenges that face them as young Christians.
Immediately following the service each week, our congregation gathers for a potluck lunch and we spend time fellowshipping and playing games (foosball, corn hole, etc.) and the kids can enjoy our playground. Everyone is invited to join us and visitors have often told us that it has been a wonderful way to get to know us and see what church life here at CRBC is like. We also schedule regular times for fellowship and fun so keep an eye on our announcements!
The Lord said that His house should be known as a house of prayer. In addition to the prayers we pray every Sunday morning, we gather for a concerted time of prayer to end our Lord’s Day together. We begin with the singing of a few hymns, a short meditation on the Word, and then we pray for shared requests from within and outside of our church. If you have a prayer request you would like for us to pray for, please share it via our contact form.
Wednesday evenings we gather at the church for an informal and interactive (but rigorous) study of the Word. We are currently working through the Book of Genesis. We start promptly at 7 PM and finish at 8 PM sharp to be sure that families can get home at a decent hour.
Each week, several small group gatherings take place in homes throughout our area. Typically starting with food and fellowship, the groups discuss the content of Sunday's message by reflecting on a series of questions provided by Pastor Doug that are intended to lead the group into a deeper understanding of the passage and some personal application.
Book Club: Once a month, a group of women from all ages gather to discuss an assigned book together. We typically meet the second Monday of each month at 7 PM. Most book selections have audio available as well if you prefer listening over reading. Previous selections have included, "Suffering is Never for Nothing" by Elisabeth Elliott, "Disciplines of a Godly Woman" by Barbara Hughes, and "The Gospel Comes with a Housekey" by Rosaria Butterfield. Contact the church for more information.
Mom's Meet-Up: On Wednesdays at 1 PM, several mom's and their children meet at a local playground, the church building, or at members' homes. Our hope is that this will provide a midweek encouragement to mothers with young children and an opportunity for fellowship. Please contact the church for more information.