Always Something To Do… Rommel’s Guide To Young Adult Groups In Vegas
I was with some friends the other night, and had the chance to talk to them about getting out and meeting new people. One of my biggest hopes here on SexyReligion is to help people outside the church understand people inside the church and vice-versa. This is often easier said than done, but I hope this blog post truly resonates with that goal.
I’ve been in Vegas for about 8 months now, and I’ve visited and/or heard about quite a few churches that have scheduled times/programs/services/gatherings for young adults. These groups aren’t all too extra-ordinary — there are thousands of groups like them that meet throughout the United States — but here in Vegas they’ve inadvertently created a funny dynamic: the most well known groups in the valley each meet on different nights of the week. Each and every night of the week, men and women between the ages of 18-30 have the opportunity to study the Bible and fellowship at a different church than the night before.
I’m sure this seems a bit strange to most people who aren’t immersed in church culture, so I thought I’d share with you the perspective of someone who is…
Meet Rommel. He’s Canadian by citizenship, Filipino by background, lives with family in Vegas and studies at UNLV. He is passionate about music, and you can find his MySpace link on the right-hand side-bar of this blog. He’s crazy about Hill-Songs Australia, but you’ll also find a cover of Wonderwall in his MySpace recording list.
I asked Rommel to write about his experience with young adults happening around the valley, and for him to share about the phenomena of having a different group every night a week…
This is what Rommel wrote:
As a Christian and a follower of Christ, I have sought after various fellowship, worship and church service activities around the valley of Las Vegas. It may seem at times that I take on to much responsibilities in these activities and exhaust myself to the brim — not the worst of offenses. I have found that keeping myself busy allows me to focus on the positive aspects of life with Christ, because the alternative could be sin if I were not so pre-occupied. So for this specific topic I would like to talk about the different activities going around the Las Vegas valley, with a short background of each event.
Mondays: Valley Bible Fellowship
Usually my Mondays consist of numerous amounts of chores that I neglect to do, but towards the end of the day I make a long, but fulfilling drive to Valley Bible Fellowship. Every Monday night at 7p.m. Christians meet-up at a facility on Durango and have a time of prayer, worship, the preaching of the Word of God. I definitely encourage anyone who is seeking for a good basis of how the Word is preached. The preaching is unquestionably biblical, and not watered down, like various churches around the valley. My only opinion would have to be, at times it seems very structured which gives the feel of an actual service (which probably it already is) compared to a college group. NOTE: Any age can join; you don’t have to be in college in order to hear the word of God. The only stipulation is that you are awake, walking-and-talking, and most importantly alive and willing to travel to get there.
Valley Bible Fellowship
3965 S Durango Dr
#105
Las Vegas, NV 89147
702 254 2251
www.vbflv.org
Tuesdays: Intentional Gatherings (Aaron & Morgan’s House)
Tuesdays have got to be the best days ever! This day is when I jump out of bed, take off my jimmies, run to the bathroom, brush my teeth, wash my face, and do everything imaginable before I step out into the heat of Las Vegas, only to forget my sunnies inside my house. In all actuality, Tuesdays are quite the opposite of every other day of the week, it’s the day I really relax and just focus hard on the aspect of worship before “Intentional Gatherings.”
Intentional Gatherings is a form of community where people build relationships and intentionally live the Christian faith with one another; keeping them accountable in exhortation. The basis of this group is to stray away from mainstream Christianity, and to live biblically in the sight of others, for the simple purposes of the Great Commission. There are about three I.G. houses within the Las Vegas valley, but the house I currently attend is across the UNLV campus at Aaron and Morgan’s house. Just a brief background about these two amazing soldiers of God. Aaron and Morgan have opened their house, food and fellowship to see a great vision God has instilled in their hearts to do, which is to place I.G. houses around the valley, but before this can happen, certain factors need to be realized. For example: Discipleship, Leadership, and Patience (which probably can go under the qualities of a leader, but you get my point). Overall the house and fellowship with amazing people and personalities are welcome to anyone who is willing to come.
Intentional Gatherings (Aaron & Morgans House): Cross-streets are: Maryland Parkway and Dorothy (across from Capriottis)
NOTE: IF YOU GET LOST AND ONLY IF:
text me at 702-927-3862 (text only, I don’t answer calls, and on your texts, direction only please. I will not be texting back if your questions are “what are you doing tonight” and I don’t know you)
Hope Baptist Church (Veritas)
Hope Baptists conducts fellowships at their building every Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. as well. I do not normally attend this function because of my responsibilities at Intentional Gatherings, but everyone is welcomed and encouraged to seek after Christ.
http://www.hopebaptistchurch.com
Wednesday: Charismatic Ecumenical Ministry International (C.E.M.I.)
CEMI and I have a history together, the embodiment of people within this congregation is the reason you are looking at a change man, and for the more significant reason, a Christian. CEMI was a small Christian “filipino” church that is non-denominational, the majority of people that congregate in the building are mostly filipinos; although today, the church has began its early stages to becoming interracial. Every Wednesday night at about 7p.m. CEMI conducts service, the preaching of the Word here is definitely not watered down, and the people are friendly and are willing to get to know you. The church mirrors that of a family, so if your not ready to share your dirty secrets then I suggest you keep to yourself. Generally CEMI is a great church is not one of the best church that is led by the spirit and convicted with the Word of God. My only critique would have to be the lack of planned programs and articulation within the preaching and teachings of the pastors. Given that those reasons are not as important as the main intent of the body of Christ — you should allow yourself to be moved through the Word of God and not through articulation, [programs and articulation] do not make Christians, but again [my critique] is only an opinion.
Location: Cross-streets are Pecos-McCloud and Desert Inn (inside the Mcdonalds complex)
First Wednesdays at Central Christian Church
Every first Wednesday of the month, Central Christian Church conducts special worship programs for their members. By far, I would have to say that Central has been gifted with a great worship team and if what you’re looking for is worship and the spirit moving through music, then definitely Central is the way to go. As for the Word, I cannot necessarily vouch for them because of my bias opinion towards their preaching [style], that perhaps I cannot be counted to deliver a good critique towards the [substance of their] preaching. Given Central is one of the third largest churches in the United States, its members range by the thousands, then I would understand their having to preach the way they do. So with that said, all are welcome once again.
http://www.centralchristian.com
NOTE: Central Christian Church have regular Wednesday services from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday: Jacob’s Well at South Hills Community Church
Are you tired of driving miles and miles away from home to reach a church of believers to fellowship with? Well look no further, if you live in Henderson it may be five to ten miles away (for everyone else in Vegas, TOUGH LUCK!). The college group Jacob’s Well occurs every Thursday at 7p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Come join the fun, the kid-like personalities, the friendly [comfortable] atmosphere and the people are nice too.
Friday: Charismatic Ecumenical Ministry International (C.E.M.I.)
Cross Encounter
Cross Encounter is another youth group held by CEMI church in Pecos and Desert Inn. This small but growing group of Christians believers have a great head on their shoulders and are growing constantly. It has an extremely fun atmosphere with fun people.
Saturday: Brother’s Keepers
Brother’s Keepers is again affiliated CEMI, although the ministry is its own separate entity. This ministry is another form of Christians gathering intentionally for the purpose of living the Bible. Unfortunately this ministry travels from house to house of the congregation, so I cannot provide you with a specific location. So please feel free to call [txt] me.
Midnight Bike Rides
For the times that I do not want to fellowship because I need my time with God alone, I go riding by myself (of course everyone else is welcome, just call me), allowing the wind to take me. My Saturday, are usually for myself and God, but I do welcome anyone who would like to bike ride with me.
Sunday: Church
The celebration of Christ and fellowship with His believers is a crucial part of the Christian life. Everything we do, is established through the Word and our out-pour and cry is done everyday; but what a great time to do it with everyone!!! GO TO CHURCH!!!
This list most certainly isn’t complete, but I think you get the idea… What do y’all think about this? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to having church every single night? For those who aren’t as familiar with church culture, what do you think about this? Feel free to drop me a note in the comments…
Good stuff. I was nervous as i began reading, realizing that Intentional Gatherings would pop up on the list, not knowing what Rommel would have to say. Haha! As you know, the vision for I.G.’s is a hard one to communicate…it’s almost opposite to anything else in the evangelical world. However, a new language is hard to learn. I would hope that I.G.’s would never show up on a list of weekly gatherings that Christians could add to their arsenal of Bible studies or “christian groups”. I’m not saying i’m upset that Rommel included it in his list. I just want to throw out there for the reader that I.G.’s are supposed to be SO much more than a weekly gathering. They are meant to be “missional communities” of people who do life together in particular part of a city. A weekly gathering is a natural result of doing life together. that gathering isn’t necessarily for anyone. In fact, it’s supposed to be an intimate time for those who are a part of the “family”. We have no desire to grow any one group, or community large. In fact, when that happens we view it as a “great problem” that we MUST do something about. To us, that solution is to multiply. In the DNA of I.G.’s is a reproductive nature. We want everyone to live in tight knit community with those they naturally do life with, which often times means they shouldn’t be involved in our community. Hmmm…obviously we’re still learning how all this works. The last thing we EVER want to be is just another “college program” that students can busy their schedules with, removing them from the world, and those who need the Gospel. The whole premise behind missional community is that each individual follower of Christ would bring the Gospel to the people and places that it is not, and be in community together as they journey. If we are truly doing this then we will see NEW BELIEVERS added to communities, and new communities birthed as opposed to having the same believers run around from college group to college group. Hmmm…long entry. Sorry for the ramble. Thank you guys for such a graceful “review” of what I.G.’s are to you. Take care.
It is great to see other people after gods own heart and wanting nothing more than to have the lord speak to them on a daily basis.