FAQ
Where will Fellowship Raleigh be located?
Why did we choose to plant a new church in Raleigh?
Is Fellowship Raleigh a member of a denomination?
Does Fellowship Raleigh have Elders or some form of leadership accountability in place?
When will Fellowship Raleigh begin a weekly Sunday morning service?
What about child care and nursery for Fellowship Raleigh gatherings?
Where is Fellowship Raleigh in the fundraising process?
How and when can I begin giving and/or tithing to Fellowship Raleigh?
Where will Fellowship Raleigh be located?
This is always the first and a good question. We must remember that the Bible's idea for "the church" is never a specific physical building. Fellowship Raleigh will always be located wherever we end up gathering together as the people of God. Currently our Sunday morning worship service is held at Raleigh's historic Broughton High School. We love renting space at Broughton because it is inside the 440 beltline which is our target ministry area. Broughton is near families, near downtown, and near college campuses. Of course at some point we will look for a permanant facility within the same target area.
Why did we choose to plant a new church in Raleigh?
It is important that we clearly answer this question for ourselves and for others who ask. For us planting Fellowship Raleigh is a matter of obedience to God, because we feel he has clearly called us to do this. Some of the realities and facts God used to convince us and call us to plant this church are explained below through the acronym- 'N.E.W.'
Need- Because there are so many people in Raleigh without Christ, there is a need for strong new churches that champion the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
- Jesus told his followers to make disciples in the context of the local church
- 475 people move to Raleigh every week
- 80% of the 370,000 people in Raleigh do NOT regularly attend any church
- 88% of the 370,000 people in Raleigh do NOT attend a Bible and Gospel teaching church
- There are many churches, but 80% of all churches in the U.S. are plateaued or declining
Effectiveness- Because there are so many people in Raleigh without Christ there is an urgent need to invest in the most effective method of sharing the Gospel, which is planting new churches:
- Church plants must share the Gospel to grow and survive
- Less internal maintenance provides more freedom to focus on sharing the Gospel
- Newer and less established social networks are more welcoming to new people who are curious about the Gospel
- Less entrenched in traditions, which can distract from sharing the Gospel
- Church plants see 10 new believers in Jesus per 100 members (compared to 3/100 for established churches)
World- Because of the many people in the world without Christ we should plant strong new churches to champion the Gospel in strategic world cities like Raleigh:
- Simple fact: strategic cities shape the world
- If you reach strategic cities with the Gospel, then you can reach the world (Apostle Paul's strategy)
- Raleigh is a strategic world city
- 100,000 college students in the Triangle; 50,000 in Raleigh
- Highest PhD per capita in the world for cities over 70,000
- 50% of adults have at least a Bachelors degree (compared to 25% nationally)
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Is Fellowship Raleigh a member of a denomination?
No, however, we do take accountability and encouragement through ongoing partnerships with other churches very seriously, which is why we are members of the Fellowship Association. Besides being a church plant of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, AR, we also have a strategic partnership with Four Oaks Church in Tallahassee, FL. In effect, both FBCLR and Four Oaks are commissioning the work of Fellowship Raleigh. The established leadership from both of these churches serve Fellowship Raleigh by providing advice, encouragement, and accountability while our local leadership structure takes shape.
Does Fellowship Raleigh have Elders or some form of leadership accountability in place?
Fellowship Raleigh has an "Advisory Team" serving with Matt in an "Elder capacity" by providing prayer, advice, encouragement, and accountability while our local leadership structure takes shape. This leadership team at present includes Matt Schoolfield (Pastor/Elder Fellowship Raleigh), Bill Wellons (FBC Little Rock Church Plant Director & Founding Pastor/Elder), Rick Taylor (FBC Little Rock Pastor/Elder), Erik Braun (Four Oaks Church Tallahassee Senior Pastor/Elder), Doug Smidley, and Skip Martin (Four Oaks Church Tallahassee).
When will Fellowship Raleigh begin a weekly Sunday morning service?
September 7, 2008, 10 AM Broughton High School.
What about child care and nursery for Fellowship Raleigh gatherings?
For our Sunday morning service at Broughton we offer Fellowship Kids for children through 5th grade.
Where is Fellowship Raleigh in the fundraising process?
To support Fellowship Raleigh throughout the first three years we have been raising finances (from outside) to go along with internal giving and tithing. It typically takes a new church plant three years to get up on it's own two feet financially (self-sustained). God generously provided us with what we need for year one. However, much of the year one money is in the form of start-up gifts and will not necessarily continue for years two and three. We are still fundraising and looking for monthly financial partners and single gift amounts to carry us through years two and three.
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How and when can I begin giving and/or tithing to Fellowship Raleigh?
Please begin giving and/or tithing to the Lord through Fellowship Raleigh as soon as possible. The best way to give right now is by writing a check to "Fellowship Raleigh." You can give this check to us through the Sunday morning offering or mail it to us at P.O. Box 19592, Raleigh, NC 27619.
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