Dear Church Family,
What a journey it has been. For years, we have gathered as a faith-filled community with a simple but profound mission: to know Jesus and make Him known. God has been faithful beyond what any of us could have imagined. Week after week, year after year, He has drawn people through our doors — people searching, people longing for connection, people hungry for truth — and He has transformed lives through the power of the gospel. For that, we give Him all the glory.
Over the past several years, however, we have reached a meaningful crossroads. Our growth has been a tremendous blessing — and it has also created a genuine bottleneck. With two services, we are at capacity. Seats are full. Parking is especially stretched. And perhaps most importantly, we are aware that there are people in our community who visit once and don’t come back, not because of the message, but because there simply wasn’t room. That is a problem we cannot ignore.
After much prayer, counsel, and seeking the Lord together as a leadership team, we are excited to announce that beginning Sunday, August 23rd, 2026, we will move to three worship services: 8:30am, 10:15am, 12pm.
Why Are We Doing This?
A new third service is directly related to our mission to spread Christ’s gospel, and to grow people into His disciples. This structure also permits us to expand our territory right here in our own community — and we believe this is preparation for even greater expansion beyond our walls in the years ahead.
Our vision is simple: make room to reach more non-believers and make more disciples. We want more people who don’t yet know Jesus to walk through our doors, hear the gospel, come to Christ, be baptized, and experience transformed lives. And above all, we want to raise up men and women who don’t just attend church — but who become disciple makers themselves. That last part is the heartbeat of everything we do.
What Will It Look Like?
We will offer the same worship experience at three new service times every Sunday morning. Kids Ministry will be offered at all three services, while Middle School will be offered at the 10:15am service and High School at 12pm. Our Discover Classes (Discover Jesus, Discover Membership, Discover Community) will be offered at the 8:30 and 10:15am services with Adult Discipleship Classes offered at the 12pm.
What Are We Inviting You Into?
Change, even good change, requires something of us. Here is what I am personally asking of each of you as we step forward together:
- Move forward in unity, trust, and prayer. This is a moment that calls us to link arms, believe the best of one another, and trust in the Lord’s leadership. He will do great things as we move forward together. I invite you to start praying now for our church and this transition.
- Believe God to grow you. This isn’t just about filling seats — it’s about your own walk with Jesus. Let this season stretch your faith and deepen your discipleship.
- Make room for others. Consider prayerfully where God might be calling you to have an open hand — on your seat, your service time, your preferences — so that someone else can find their place here. We will specifically ask for 400 people to commit to attending the new 12pm service.
- Become a two-service congregant. If you are able, we challenge you to prayerfully consider attending one service and serving at another. This move to a third service will require an additional 100+ volunteers on Sunday mornings.
- Become a disciple maker. More than any logistical change, this is the invitation that matters most. The goal was never to fill a building — it is to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of Jesus Christ. That happens one life, one relationship, one intentional conversation at a time. You can be that person, and it can begin with a commitment to invite and bring others to church with you.
On Sunday, May 17th, 24th, and 31st we will share more about the third service vision with the congregation, and I challenge you to make a commitment to partner with us as we move forward. Please take some time to look at the online commitment form at burkecommunity.com/thirdservice and complete it at your earliest convenience (no later than May 31st). You can also sign up to serve in specific rolls at burkecommunity.com/serve.
I am so grateful to walk this road with you. The best days of this church are still ahead. Let’s step into them with faith, with joy, and with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, who called us here.
Blessings,
Pastor Marty
Note: If you have any questions about our transition to three services or the part you will play in it, please contact us at: [email protected]
