Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the most often asked questions about Greater Joy Fellowship...

What kind of church is this? We are a Spirit Filled Body of Believers devoted to following the teachings of Jesus Christ and sharing His Love with others. We are affiliated with the Church of God due to it's long history of preserving biblical teaching as a foundation for life, however we firmly believe, as Paul directed the Church at Corinth, "No man can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1Cor3:11 We invite you to Come As You Are!

· We are people of a modern age with modern problems. We're not here to judge your social status, your economic status, your past or your problems.

· Within our congregation, there are youth and senior adults. Young families with children, divorced, and single members.

· Within our congregation, you will find people from many different Christian traditions and many who have never had a prior church experience of any kind. We are determined to say "Welcome!" to any and all whom Jesus also welcomes and receives!

Are you going to ask me to stand up? Some churches, with good intentions, ask visitors to stand up and introduce themselves in front of everyone. While we do desire to know you better, it's not our desire to embarrass you or make you feel uncomfortable. Before and after services there's plenty of time to grab a cup of coffee and meet and chat with one another!

Do you offer services other than Sunday morning? My work schedule is rather hectic. Today's society is fast-paced. People are working longer and longer hours. It's increasingly becoming more and more difficult for many people to participate in on a Sunday morning. With that in mind, the folks who make up Greater Joy Fellowship meet together at various times throughout each week. Our primary services take place on Sundays at 10:45a.m. and 6:00p.m. We also meet together for prayer and Bible study on Wednesday evenings at 7:00p.m. On the first friday of every month we are proud to host the Area Fellowship Meeting for Pastors and Church Members. Each month a selected church will provide worship music at the opening of services. Please feel free to drop in and worship with brothers and sisters in Christ from churches all over Avery County! Finally, but no less important to us than our regularly scheduled meetings, we gather throughout the year for special occasions, events, and dinners to help us to grow in our relationships with one another.

Do you want my money? In a word, No. The folks who are a regular part of our church community voluntarily give to help support various expenses we incur as a community. But we certainly don't expect visitors to give. If you join us at one of our meetings, you are our guest, and we don't ask our guests for their money. In time, if you decide to become a regular part of our community, you may decide that you would like to participate monetarily in our various activities and efforts. At that time, we would joyfully welcome your participation. But our desire for you now is simply that you be given the opportunity to check us out without feeling pressured to give money.

Are you going to tell me what's wrong with me? At its core, the message of Jesus is about good news. He did not come to earth to condemn us. Instead, he came to give us life. And so, while we feel it is important to recognize that we all have fallen short of God's ideals, it is even more important to emphasize the joyful and complete life which Jesus offers us. Our desire is that you would come away from our services contemplating that reality: that while we have fallen short of the ideal in our lives, Jesus offers us satisfaction, fulfillment and joy in a way and in a measure we have never known before.

Do I have to dress up? Absolutely not! The rule of thumb at Greater Joy is casual attire. If you join us for one of our services (even on Sunday morning), you will see people wearing suits and dresses, but you will also see people wearing jeans and slacks. Please feel free to join us, and wear whatever you are comfortable in.

Do I have to leave my kids with a stranger? We offer a fun, exciting program for children, and we're confident that your kids would have a great time if they were to participate. At the same time, we certainly understand why you would want to check us out before allowing your kids to go to a separate part of our church to participate in our children's program. You're children are more than welcome to remain with you as long as you feel comfortable. At Greater Joy we know that our children are our future. They are a treasured part of our church community!

What is a typical service at Greater Joy like? Many people say that the number one reason that they don't attend church is that it's boring! We're happy to tell you; there are no "typical" services at Greater Joy! Every day with Jesus is an adventure. We aspire to worship together in ways that are relevant, meaningful, and most importantly; inspired by our Lord and Savior!