Living Faith, formerly known as CPC-Dulles, a satellite site of Community Praise Center in Alexandria, VA., officially announced its new name and opened its doors to the community on Easter weekend, April 4. Members were encouraged to extend personal invitations to their friends and family. More than 100 people attended, including 40 guests, many attending for the first time.
Jennifer Deans, pastor, took the opportunity to begin a new sermon series titled: UNChristian: When We Don’t Follow Jesus’ Lead. The series studies the life of Christ and encourages taking a hard look at what it means to be Christian. “I had two young adults say they were committed to coming for the rest of the series,” shared Deans. “They are excited about the honest perspective coming from the church and are excited to continue attending and learning more.”
During the service, attendees were asked to consider the unchristian things they had done in their lives, actions that put Jesus on the cross years ago. These admissions were written on sticky notes and placed on a cross. “We then looked at how Christ loves each of us, even when we were the most unchristian,” said Deans. “On the cross, He said, ‘Father, forgive them!’ Through this, we are saved.”
At the end of the service, each person came back to the cross, took a nail, which represented unchristian behavior, a card that read, “Father, forgive them” and a new sticky note that asked how they would respond to Jesus. “It was an interactive service that touch many folks,” said Deans. “We invited everyone back next week, letting them know there would be a special treat –Georgetown Cupcakes—and encouraged them to invite their friends. We are excited about the response we have received from everyone and we are excited about the journey that God is leading us on.”
CPC-Dulles was formed in October of 2012 and will be officially organized into the Living Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church on April 24th.
