There was a time not so long ago when declining membership in churches was a source of great worry and concern. It is a recognized fact that there has to be a focal point for people and what better than a church where you learn the word of God and get a road map for the kind of person you ought to be. Heart of the Canyons Church, the Contemporary Church Canyon Country realized that in order to be meaningful in the present context to a broad age-group, the church services have to either blend contemporary elements into the traditional services, or have separate contemporary services for the younger generation.
The youth at Heart of the Canyons Church, a Contemporary Church Canyon Country meet on Wednesday evenings and at 10:45 on Sunday mornings at laMesa Junior High. These services are naturally youth-oriented. The messages deal directly with the issues and concerns that the young are dealing with. The question arises – what is the difference between traditional church services and contemporary church services. Traditional services use a prescribed order of worship. Contemporary services are more freeform. At Heart of the Canyons Church, a Contemporary Church Canyon Country, corporate worship in the main services blends traditional and contemporary worship. There are Bible studies for members of all age groups. It is believed that a family that prays together stays together. Consequently, there is a service for children, young people of Junior High School and those who are in Senior High School.
There are small groups for men, women and families. There are separate counseling groups for those who are planning to get married, and for couples. In all their programs, there is a deep underlying concern for the well-being of others.
The Contemporary Church Canyon Country runs a special program called Care Ministry. Within this ministry, there are teams of people who work on a rotation basis for various Ministries. For instance, there is a Hospital Ministry, where a team works with those who are in hospital or are confined at home; a Meal Ministry, where the members who form a team ensure that families where there is a new born baby, or there is some illness, or surgery, have food to eat and are cared for.
This service is also extended to homes where there has been an accident or maybe death; a Prayer Chain, where the team receives prayer requests. These requests can be sent to Contemporary Church Canyon Country either by telephone or email. The team prays for that need, and then passes it onto the next person in the chain. Likewise, there are teams that deal in the same manner with grief – Grief Share, and divorce – Divorce Care.
The Contemporary Church Canyon Country has teachings for all groups of people, be it youth, children, adults and families. Special sessions are held for the youth to give them proper guidance during their most important years of their life. Teachings like speaking the truth always, having respect for elders and having faith in God, are some of the things taught to youth, who are exposed by and pressured to give into to what society says is okay, rather than biblical truths taught by the church.