Visitors

What time are services?
Sunday School, 10:00 AM
Sunday Worship 11:00 AM
Awana Club Supper 5:30 PM
Discipleship Training, Youth, Awana Club 6:00 PM
Sunday Evening 7:00, PM
Wednesday 7:00 PM
 
How do I get to Philadelphia Baptist Church?
See the left sidebar of our website for a Google Map of our church location.
 
What happens when I get there?
Please let us know that you are a Guest and we will gladly assist you with directions, give you information about our Sunday School classes and assist you in answering any questions. Our greeters will welcome you at the door and will assist you in any way, particularly getting your children to Sunday School classes.
 
What childcare is offered?
At 10:45 AM we offer childcare from birth through 1 year of age in our Nursery Department. Children ages 2 through 5 are invited to join you in Morning Worship Service. During that time, we have a Children’s Message and then if you like, your child can go with our Children’s Church Teachers to the fellowship hall, where they will be taught a Bible Story, make a craft and have a light snack. Please let us know of any food allergies your child has.
 
What do I do before the service starts?
If you arrive before the service starts, you will notice that our worship center is an auditorium filled with rows of pews. There are no reserved seats, so you may sit anywhere you like. Each pew has a book rack with song books and a Bible. Many people will be greeting each other during this time. As you enter the Sanctuary you will receive a bulletin., During the Service, we will welcome visitors and give you a Welcome Packet. Please fill out card and return to us. Don’t worry if you arrive just a little after the service has started, an usher will assist you in finding a seat.
 
What is the worship like?
Services generally last an hour. Our worship services are a time of joyful worship and praise, with a variety of traditional and contemporary Christian music provided by our Choir and/or Soloists. The Baptist Hymnal is located in the back of the pews and are the song books from which we sing most congregational hymns. We encourage a “joyful noise.” We believe that God will lead you in the worship style you feel most comfortable with. There may be special announcements or features during the service.
 
How will I know when to stand?
The pastor or the music minister will ask the congregation to stand or sit. Generally, we stand during congregational singing, and during the invitation song and prayer.
 
How are guests greeted?
Before the service, our greeters (and many of our other members) will extend a friendly greeting to you. Please let us know you are a guest. You do not have to register or sign your name to anything if you do not wish to; however, we would like to know you were our guest and ask, if you wish, to fill out the Visitor card provided in your visitor packet you received during the Morning Service., Please drop the card in the offering plate as it is passed during the service. If you are visiting from out of town and plan on moving to the Marshville area, we would love to know that.
 
How is prayer used at Philadelphia?
During the worship service, the pastor may open the front of the Sanctuary as an altar and invite those who have specific prayer needs to come forward. He will pray for those unspoken needs. He may just have prayer without an “altar call.”
 
What is the pastor’s message like?
Our pastor gives Bible-based, expository messages lasting about 40 minutes., His messages are timely and often sprinkled with appropriate humor.
 
Do you have a crying room available?
We have Nursery Rooms in the Fellowship Hall building (located beside the main building.), We want you to feel comfortable using the church nursery.
 
Do you give invitations at the end of the service? What are they like?
At the end of his message, the pastor will usually offer an invitation. The invitation is to anyone who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to accept Him. He will also ask those who would like to become part of our church family or would like to be baptized to make that known. This is also a time for Christians to come pray for needs in their life or simply to come and praise the Lord through prayer. The hymn that is then sung while the congregation stands is an opportunity for those people to come to the front of the Sanctuary and talk with the Pastor about their needs. Decisions that can be made for membership: 1. BY PROFESSION OF FAITH – If you are not yet a Christian but would like to be, or if you are a Christian but have never been baptized by immersion as a believer, which the Word of God commands, our pastor will pray with you and guide you in your decision. 2. BY TRANSFER OF LETTER – If you are a Christian and a member of a church of like faith and order, we will write to the church where you are a member and request that a letter of transfer be sent. 3. BY STATEMENT – If you are a Christian and have been baptized as a believer according to the scriptures, and do not either have current membership in a church or are currently a member of a church that does not grant letters of transfer, you can receive membership by your affirmation of the above.
 
What happens after the service?
During the closing prayer, the pastor will go to the entrance doors in the Vestibule/Lobby and greet the congregation as they leave. There are various exit doors located in the Sanctuary so you do not have to leave through the Lobby. The pastor will gladly stay after the service to greet you on a more personal level. If you have children in one of the nurseries, you will need to go and pick them up at this time. As the congregation leaves, you may find several people mingling within the pews. Feel free to stay as long as you would like and fellowship.
 
Do I need to donate money when I visit?
Philadelphia does encourage tithing. However, our guests are not expected to give anything. During this time, we ask that you place your Visitor’s card in the offering plate.
 
What Sunday School classes are offered on Sundays?
We offer many classes. For children, we have age/grade appropriate classes from Birth through Youth. The Nursery/Preschool Department is located in the Fellowship Hall (Beside the Main Building.) Also, located in the Fellowship Hall are classes for College & Careers, Young Adult I and Young Adult II Classes. Located in our main building, we have Men’s Classes, Ladies Classes and Couples Classes, on the basement and main level and Children’s classes, Grades 1st through 12th, on the 3rd floor level. We also offer a Singles and Singles Again Class that meets in the Family Life Center (our newest building beside the Fellowship Hall building.) All classes begin at 10:00 AM.