dec through...faq's

Got questions?  We all do!  Here are answers to some of the most common ones we hear.
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What is the focus at Durham Evangelical Church? Will I be singled out as a newcomer?

DEC has a heart to care for people. For us that includes two foundational commitments. We want to bring people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and we want to build folks up to full maturity in that relationship. Everything we do as a church is based on those two things. We love newcomers! We want to make your time with us a real blessing. We never single out new people or put them on the spot. We try hard to make this a welcoming place.

Does God even care if I go to church?

The short answer is “no”. God doesn’t want people to “go to church”, He wants them to “be the church”. A church isn’t a building, it is the people. Jesus once summed up His mission by saying “I will build my church”. God is in the process of building His church right here in Durham. The community of people known as DEC is just one of thousands of churches worldwide that are growing as God’s family, His people. It is a place where all who believe in Jesus become part of the great work of God. It isn’t about “going”, it is about “being”.          

What is worship and why do we worship the way we do...?

Worship is responding to God.  It can be expressed many different ways, but to worship is essentially “to give God what he deserves” – to recognize and honor him for who he is, what he has done & what he is doing.  It is both very personal and very public.

In our services, you will hear people singing to God and about God.  You may see some lifting their hands or bowing their heads or even applauding God – these are among the many ways of expressing worship that are included in the Bible.  But when it comes to worship, the heart of the issue is the issue of the heart, for Jesus said the greatest command is to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength.  That’s a great definition of worship!

Why don't we hold communion on Sundays?

We believe that communion is something to be shared by those who have made a faith commitment to Jesus Christ. We realize that on Sundays we have many people joining us who haven’t come to a place of faith yet. So instead of doing something which would exclude these folks, we do our communion services on Wednesdays. These are services specifically designed for our members.           

What if I'm not baptized or was baptized as a child?

Baptism is something we hold dear here at DEC. Jesus’ last words in the Gospels were “go therefore into all nations baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. We view baptism as the wedding ceremony of the Christian life. It is the next step for those who have believed. As such, we only baptize those who have expressed faith and belief in Jesus. Though some churches baptize children, we believe it is a sacrament to be administered only to those old enough to express that they have personally accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.        

What does becoming a member of DEC mean?

Much like baptism, we hold membership as something very special. To be a member is to commit to being a part of the DEC family. It means growing with us, worshipping with us, and serving with us for the glory of God. Anyone who is a believer in Jesus is welcomed to become a part of our family. We offer membership seminars regularly where we discuss the beliefs, values, and heart of our church.