SEVEN DAY A WEEK CHURCH

Back in the 1980's, church researcher and consultant, Lyle Schaller coined the phrase "The Seven Day a Week Church." Schaller was reporting a trend moving from churches that basically defined themselves by their Sunday morning services and the work of a pastor to congregations seeing themselves as a church (meaning the people) engaged in ministry throughout the week--a church whose ministry was more than a pastor assisted by people to a people equipped by a pastor. In this new identity churches moved into a 24/7 mode.

As churches evolved into a more intentional and continual program of ministry, the ministry of the laity took on greater significance and the congregation's impact in its local community multiplied. Once the province of megachurches or large mainline congregations, "seven day a week" became the definition of middle size churches (churches of 200-400 members). Such churches are now open more often than closed. Parking lots can be as busy on a Tuesday as a Sunday. Like-minded civic and volunteer organizations call the church facility their home. The core leaders and staffs of these churches joke about "first shift, second shift" and sometimes "night shift."

Seven day a week churches, especially if they are committed to providing support for the community in which they reside make themselves welcome and even essential neighbors. Although some people complain about the increased traffic flow caused by any facility expansion, most of the population find seven day a week churches a comfortable reminder of the better side of society.

"Only on Sunday and Wednesday Night" kinds of churches, once the norm, are now largely ignored.