Parishioners at Faith Community Bible Church in Westminster are embarking on a seven-week spiritual adventure today.
The program, "Facing Down Our Fears: Finding Courage When Anxiety Grips the Heart," is designed in conjunction with "Chapel of the Air," a 15-minute daily radio show broadcast nationally, and "You Need to Know," a 30-minute daily television show broadcast on 100 stations nationally. Both shows will be dealing with the program's themes during the seven weeks.
"All the churches who participate will preach on the same themes. They won't necessarily have the same passages and messages because we all have our own messages. But we will all have the same themes," said Gary Buchman, pastor at the Faith Community.
The series of programs will deal with a different topic every Sunday, beginning today and concluding on Easter Sunday.
Although "The Chapel of the Air" has been sponsoring the series since 1980, churches have been able to participate only for the past 10 years.
"It started out as a way to get listeners to do something daily," said Marion Oliver, director of publications at Chapel Ministries, the parent nonprofit organization of "Chapel of the Air" and "You need to Know." Chapel Ministries is based in Wheaton, Ill.
Ms. Oliver said the mission of Chapel Ministries is to foster renewal among Christians and congregations. The adventure program was opened up to churches as an attempt at "getting people into the Bible everyday."
Mr. Buchman said the series begins by tackling everyday fears generated by seemingly endless reports of crime, drugs and the other problems of modern life.
"The news is filled with pessimism, and society seems to be getting worse," said Mr. Buchman.
Other topics include the fear of living an insignificant life, the fear ofrejection, failure, and unhealthy fears of God. The program also will address fears about sickness, aging and death, and the fear of threats to children.
Mr. Buchman said this is Faith Community's first year to participate and that his congregation's response has been positive. "These are very real things that everyone is dealing with," he said.
He said he hopes the series will show participants that help with everyday fears, large and small, comes from God and the Scriptures.
"I want people to develop confidence in being able to handle fears by having a focal point, that is not a substance, to help handle fears. And to help their children and others handle fears," the pastor said.
Grace Fellowship Chapel meets in the East Middle School cafeteria and has participated in the program since the second year it was offered.
Ralf Nies, pastor of Grace Fellowship, said the past programs have had a positive effect on his congregation. "Everyone is committed to it for that 50-day period. . . . It has the benefit of a daily pattern," he said. "It is a time of accelerated growth."
Ms. Oliver said more than 2,500 churches of all denominations will be participating in the program this year. "It has very wide interdenominational appeal," she said.
"Literally thousands of churches will participate in it at a time," said Mr. Buchman. "Churches across America are participating in this in-house adventure."
Mr. Buchman said that in addition to learning to deal with fears through prayer, participants will be encouraged to demonstrate their faith. "We also encourage people to do at least one outrageous act over the eight weeks. . . . Do something that you otherwise wouldn't do," the pastor said.
Some of the weekly services at Faith Community will include a five- to 10-minute skit dealing with the topic of the week, and music will be used to reinforce the messages, Mr. Buchman said. Members also will be encouraged to purchase a journal that they can use daily during the seven-week program.