05 Nov With the People of Imagine This LLC

Ron Ramsey, Bishop
I spent last Sunday with the Imagine This LLC congregation in Grand Ledge, Mich. Over the next few days, I want to share some of my thoughts and observations about this new United Brethren church.

Grand Ledge is a small bedroom community just east of Lansing. The church started a little over a year ago, on October 21, 2007. The pastor is Gordon Kettel (right, with his wife Lori).

They hold two services–at 10:00 Sunday morning and at 6 p.m. When they started a year ago, sharing a building with three other church groups, the only time available was Sunday night. The evening service attracted a number of people, so when they moved into their own building a few months ago, they decided to keep the evening service.

I preached in both services last Sunday. The services are the same, but with a different worship team. Announcements played on the screen before services. They sang, had a good worship time, took the offering, sang again, and then I went up and preached. Gordon showed a video clip during the offering.

It’s a different atmosphere, not a traditional setting. Most people sit at round tables. There were no pews; you don’t spend the serving looking at the back of somebody’s head.

We went to eat after the morning service, then came back to the church and visited. It seemed like people were always around. We watched the Lions and Bears play on a big screen in the afternoon. They had a fellowship time from 5-6 p.m. with coffee and cookies, but people started to come probably as early as 3:00 or 3:30.

The evening service seemed more energetic, and the crowd was a larger. Both featured what I consider good worship, with good worship leaders in both. In both services, I spoke to people who said it was their first time attending Imagine This. They get visitors every week.

I had a great time in Grand Ledge, and am thrilled by what I see in this young church.