FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Is Van Lear Church part of a denomination?

Yes, Van Lear Church is one of many churches that make up the Brethren in Christ Church (headquartered in Grantham, PA). To find out more, check out the Brethren in Christ website at www.bic-church.org.

How many people show up on any given Sunday?

Currently, our worship time serves anywhere between 35 to 50 people. We know we're small but so was Zacchaeus and look how the Lord blessed him! (Luke 19:1-10)

What can I wear to church?

To cut down on distractions we appreciate clothes of some sort. Some people dress up, others dress down. Dress comfortably but let modesty be your wardrobe consultant.

What about worship style?

It's as free or as reserved as you feel the Lord drawing you into. We realize people come into God's presence from many different life situations. And so, some desire to raise their arms and joyfully praise God because of how He has set them free from the bondage of sin. Others feel like simply reflecting on His goodness and grace as they stand in His presence. Still, others are somewhere in between. When it comes to worship, what seems to matter most to God is not the style we use as much as the heart we use. Our great desire is to worship the triune God with hearts that are honest and open. How about you?

Uh, how about the Bible? Which version do you use?

Well now, this is something we're adamant about! We believe the Old Testament can best be understood by reading the Hebrew and Aramaic texts and there's just no substitute for reading the New Testament in koine Greek. We've discovered, unfortunately, that hardly anyone understands these languages so we've been forced to settle for a modern translation of these ancient texts. Since there are many good translations available these days we had to choose one so that everybody would be able to follow along with the scripture being used. The New International Version (NIV) of the Bible serves us quite well. If you don't have a copy we'll give you one.