Don Stine
I was a member of Paw Paw CRC. That church closed its doors in June 2008, and RedArrow Ministries opened in November of that same year. YES, we just celebrated our 14th birthday. I was a council member of both churches and served as part of the startup team of RedArrow. I am now a member of a local service projects ministry, the building and grounds committee, and my favorite, DramaRama, a ministry that teaches kids and adults about expressing their faith through the art of drama.
Posted in: What Is the Unofficial Dress Code at Your Church? Does it Matter?
I grew up in the Episcopal church in my hometown of Stroudsburg Pennsylvania. That was a "dress shirt and tie" kind of church and the pastor always wore vestments. I found that very stuffy and decided that IF I ever went back to church, it wouldn't be like that. Well, I spent 23 years in the military and rarely set foot in a church until I met my wife. I began attending Paw Paw CRC in Paw Paw, MI and it was much more relaxed, although the pastors always wore ties. Unfortunately, Paw Paw CRC closed its doors in June 2008, and from those ashes rose RedArrow Ministries in the same location in November of the same year. Dress code is jeans. I rarely will wear a t-shirt, but it is super casual. The pastor wears jeans, a button-down shirt, and Vans. I sincerely believe this casual philosophy is the reason our congregation has tripled and we have attracted so many young families.
Everyone has their own comfort zone and not every church is for everyone. Some folks from Paw Paw CRC came to RedArrow when it first opened and were disappointed. That's OK. They have all found a place to worship where they are comfortable and I honestly believe singing our Savior's praises and praying have absolutely nothing to do with the clothes you are wearing.