What do you love about Church?
Please forgive this enormously long post, it merits it. Several weeks ago a small survey was carried out amongst the members and attenders of All Saints. About 130 people filled it in, and we have had an initial look at the results as a PCC and staff team. Amy and I (Frog) have been encouraged to read the comments in a time when so many people talk about why people do not go to church - perhaps you will also be encouraged. I have not edited the comments - so they are in a raw form.
Special things:It is a privilege to be a member of such a wonderful church.
I'm staying in Peckham because of All Saints and its members. Great job.
All Saints is a body of believers who love Jesus, take God's word seriously and are learning to live it out in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I love the fact it made my mum smile again
Mistakes are OK and you can carry on.
I love that All Saints is about all of the values in the first questions - not just some - this is truly unusual.
Being a part of something historic and big in terms of what God is up! The history of the church is awesome!
I like the Anointing Presence of the Holy Spirit and the Angels I can see close to the Communion Table and in other parts of the Church during worship - I often see Jesus in the Morning Services
Presence of God/Jesus at work
The vibrancy of church which expects to meet with Jesus, be transformed by the power of His Spirit, and (all) be used by Him to reach out those who are as yet unsaved.
It is a church that is alive with the Holy Spirit! (x3)
God is honored and is central to everything that is done
I know I'll meet with God when I arrive on a Sunday (x3)
Feeling of actually knowing God
The Worship and the sense of togetherness.
It is a place to experience Jesus and real relationship with other Christians.
It's friendly, lively, Spirit filled and God is moving!
Lots of people genuinely wanting to get to know and love God better and make him better known.
room for the holy spirit
A place the helps me to love God more, and know his love through the word, the Spirit and in community.
Sense of people searching to be closer to God
The fact I can trust the integrity, teaching and faithfulness of our vicar and his team.
It's growing, it's dynamic, and it clearly has a heart for the community in which it’s rooted.
Community (internal and external)
internal family
I love the people! Jesus-focused community is what keeps me there every week!
The sense of togetherness.
When we become a multi-cultural church reaching all the difficult members of the congregation.
It’s multicultural! That’s awesome!
Friendship and fellowship - one big family (x4)
I chose to join the church because it seemed open, real, vibrant, included the youth up-front during services, culturally inclusive
It's full of other people who love and serve Jesus. We also love the loving, relaxed atmosphere, the fantastic worship,
The church is full of people wanting to hear God's words and be filled with the spirit, well done Frog and team, excellent!
its optimism and life as a family
It's Christ-centered and very inclusive
Their passion for God and people.
The people - the community of believers.
People who love God and seek to serve him with their whole heart.
There are many great and inspiring men and women of faith who are a part of the All Saints family.
The youth are great
It is my family and I feel I belong here and I love the reputation it has in the local area
Teaching= friendly. Caring of members
the people....there are some of the most genuine, loving , encouraging, real and honest people that I have found in any church with hearts motivated by love
Meeting lots of friendly, like minded people
That it is community orientated, unpretentious and fun
The sense of community, of welcome, of possibility to grow in my relationship with Jesus
Inclusivity of people, being God seekers together, building God's kingdom locally and together
There is a lot of will! Yes we want to serve Jesus!
The people and the community - you can walk down the street and bump into people you know
Its vibrancy, and when there's a real sense of diversity in leadership and fellowship
Its openness, friendliness
The sense of a diverse family in the morning service and the fact that even though it is a large church it still feels like a church for its immediate community
A vibrant God seeking church with an out looking mindset and some great people
The fact that it is a family and we do look after each other in love.
I love being part of the church family and the body of Christ in Peckham
So many inspirational Christians who are natural in their faith. Supportive, un-judgmental atmosphere. Community-focused yet impressively out-ward looking and evangelistic. Money management courses inspired!
All members are valued and given opportunities to serve the body regardless of ability or status or gender.
Fantastic outward-looking place that loves God, and invests in its members well.
The people and the community that has been built up over time
ii. External focus
Feel it has a real heart to see Jesus made known to the community
Passion for Peckham
That its devoted to serving God in the community
That at times it can be a beacon in the community
I love the community feel and focus; the heart for Peckham is massive.
The friends I have made there and its commitment to Peckham and the variety of "stuff" that goes on here
I love the multi-cultural diversity, the worship and the outward focus on mission in the community
I love the family ethos at All Saints and the fact that the Church is heavily involved in the local community
It engages with the local community and is a safe place where I can be real
I feel at home there, and love the way it looks out to the community
Hodgepodge of people who all LOVE each other and LOVE our community and also brilliant that it’s so mission and community focused.
The sense of God being with us and putting us here in Peckham to meet the needs of the lost.
Our youth work; our increasing work with marginalised people
All saints is Mission focused with great real people, very community focused church which facilitates and releases people to use their gifts.
it doesn't stand still - lots of new ideas about reaching out to the community (x2)
That the church has many members who are as passionate as I am about community, the poor, the world
Fellowship and support
Fellowship with inspiring people
The kind friendly people who support me and the feeling of being part of a great thing.
Home group - I feel very supported and challenged there, and it has helped my Christian life enormously, and given me loads more confidence than I had a few years back
The small group is where I have really good bible study and have built up some fabulous friendships (x2)
How welcoming and supportive people are
The house group I’m involved in is really good, makes me feel involved even though I can't make it on Sunday regularly
My small group: the worship, the prayers.
My brothers and sisters who were there for me in difficult time great small groups
Friendships - both through home group and serving together
Friendly, vibrant, informality
Extremely welcoming, made great friends, vibrant. (x3)
Being part of a vibrant, friendly church family that seeks to worship and serve the Living God
People here are nice, well-mannered and friendly. It's a friendly place
The friendly informal atmosphere - I feel happy bringing people and inviting people to meet God at All Saints - thanks!
The informality and openness to new ideas
The community, slightly chaotic services, a bit random. We're not slick like HTB but a bit more cool and laid back
friendships,
Vibrant, lively church
All Saints is a friendly, lively and great church to be a part of
I love it that there is a really positive and joyful atmosphere, honesty and genuineness
Its passion about the Good News coupled with its warmth and inclusiveness
Leadership/vision
The energy and life within the church and the faith of the leaders to dream large and trust in God's provision.
Frog's preaching and personal style was the reason we joined the church.
.... and Frog's obvious gifting in preaching and leading services
I feel the leadership is a real strength to the church keep it up
vision
I love the fact that it is always on the move, with new vision and it is a growing, thriving place to worship.
Its dynamism in moving forward
I feel the leadership is a real strength to the church keep it up
Children’s work
Excellent children's stuff.
The opportunities given to the children to get closer to Jesus.
children’s' facilities are good
Sunday Club and the children's team
The children's work is fantastic! Esther is the best!
Teaching and worship:
Its friendly, relaxed and good teaching
I love the worship, the inspiring teaching (x4)
Dependable upon for correct evangelical theology.
teaching, the variety of people who preach
Fantastic bible teaching
The charisma in worship. It's a home church for most of us(family)
I love being part of a local church, that sometimes has spirit filled worship and that has a desire to meet the needs of the local community.
Good teaching, worship, atmosphere
Worshipping Jesus together up with music and out in the community
the style of the service, the songs and the sermon
the focus on God, the worship (x6)
