We spent fifteen months and countless hours in preparing our congregation and planning for the start of this new, third worship service at Park Street. That long time frame was due, in part, to the fact that we also started a new, second Sunday school for all ages at the same time. But it was also because we recognized early on that we were not ready to move forward. At Yorks Corners Mennonite, they spent about a year and a half preparing their congregation. As a result, there was not serious opposition to a second service.
Some churches are able to start a new service with as little as three months' planning.
The Elkhart, Indiana, First Brethren Church was able to begin a new style worship service in that amount of time. According to Pastor Tim Garner, they had already incorporated a praise team and choruses into their existing service, so it was simply a matter of transferring some of the musicians to the new worship time. It also includes a twelve-week time line leading up to the start of the new service. Churches should recognize that the task will not be easy, however. Take as long as necessary to win a favorable attitude toward the new service, and be prepared to present a quality service.