The second church I attended was Citipointe Church, which is my home church, located in Carindale. We attended the 10:30 service which tends to be one of the main services on Sunday.
The service began with praise and worship, led by the Citipointe band. The praise was incredible, everyone got into it and just gave the praise to God that he deserved. The worship was amazing, the presence of God could be felt and it was easy to enter into his presence. After praise and worship one of the pastors of the church got up and led the congregation in prayer over the prayer requests. He then praised God for His miracles in peoples’ lives, reading out one or two praise reports. It was incredible to hear the miracles that have happened in other people’s lives. After this we were told to greet people and then to take our seats. When everyone had regained their seats the pastor called up a leader from the church to give the announcements. These were done in an interesting way, making me want to listen to each different notice. After the announcements were read out they were followed by a short video clip on the main announcements. Following this was the tithes and offering message. The message was short and interesting, challenging my perspective on tithing. Shortly after the tithes had been taken up the Senior Pastor, Pastor Mark Ramsey was announced to give the main message. The message given was serious but funny and Ps. Mark had a unique way in making his point. The message went for a reasonable length of time (about half an hour). It wasn’t too long or too short. One praise song ended the service on an up key note, setting the atmosphere once more towards the King of Kings. Overall Citipointe Church was an amazing experience with an incredible atmosphere, and a great place to experience the presence of God and learn how to apply His Word in your life.
Citipointe Church is a Christian Outreach Centre. Clark Taylor was the founder of Christian Outreach Centre. Originally Clark Taylor was a minister of the Methodist Church, but soon after being baptised in the Holy Spirit miracles started taking place. The leaders of the Methodist Church soon asked Taylor to either stop performing these miracles or to leave the church. Mr Taylor left the Methodist Church and began a home group of 25 people in the front room of his home, 23 June, 1974, this being the beginning of the church. As the church grew quickly its location was moved a couple of times until in late 1975 it moved into a warehouse in Kurilpa Street. Also in the year 1975, the church began a television show “A new way of life.” Miracles were happening both on the TV and in the lives of those who watched, 100s were born again each week and came to church. By 1977 over 1000 people were gathered at West End COC, and other Christian Outreach Centres had been planted in several nearby cities. Because the church grew so rapidly, COC Brisbane had to purchase 25 acres at Wecker Road in Mansfield, and by the end of 1985 had a facility which could accommodate 5000 people, the name of the Mansfield. (http://www.coc.org.au/about/default.aspx) The Church was changed in recent years when the current Senior Pastor, Pastor Mark Ramsey, took over.
Men and women with a heart to pioneer for Jesus Christ began launching Christian Outreach Centres in cities and towns across Australia and then overseas.
The theological understandings and core beliefs of Citipointe Church are as follows:
1. The Holy Scriptures are inspired by God and infallible
2. The Godhead comprises Father, Son and Holy Spirit
3. The Lord Jesus Christ is the son of God. He came to earth as a human by virgin birth. He led a sinless life. His death atoned for the sins of the world and his resurrection brought our justification. He ascended to the father’s right hand, and will personally return to reign upon earth.
4. Salvation comes by faith in and confession of Jesus Chris as Lord, producing an upright and moral life.
5. The ordinances are water baptism, for all believers by immersion and the Lord’s Supper celebrated regularly in remembrance of Christ.
6. Divine healing is secured for every believer through the atonement of Christ; and deliverance from all bondage to the power of satan.
7. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is shown through speaking in other tongues
8. The gifts of the Holy Spirit used for the equipment of ministry and the edification of the Church and the fruit of the Holy Spirit as the expression of Christian Character in believers.
9. The Church comprises of all born again believers of all nations and denominations under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
10. The Bible Prophecy in its fulfilment in world events, heralding the climax of this age and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (http://www.coc.org.au/about/believe.aspx)
Citipointe has no liturgy. The services are to be free for the Holy Spirit to guide as he wishes. There is always praise and worship, offering, a message from the Word of God, an altar call for salvation, prayer and announcements, but not necessarily in a particular style or in a particular order. The general pattern is praise and worship, prayer requests, announcements, offering, message from God’s Word, altar call and ministry if wanted. (Gunsser, Sam. Personal interview. 02 June, 2010.)
Citipointe Church’s vision is to unmistakable influence the World for Good and for God (Titus 2:14). They are achieving their vision through their values which are: - With God nothing is Impossible. Don’t ever give up! Always expect breakthrough (Luke 1:37). Every Believer is called to engage; to engage God, others, the Church and the world. We need to be connected and serving. (Acts 2:42-47) (Ephesians 4:11-12). Everybody can make a difference if we live our lives on purpose, for His purpose (2 Cor. 9:6-8). (http://www.citipointe.com.au/index.php/about_us/vision/)
Citipointe impacts the surrounding area through community care and youth programs such as Red Frogs (High School and University Chaplaincy); then it reaches around the world through Church planting, Praise and Worship music, Leadership Training and Development, Missions, and International Care and Aid such as She Rescue Homes (rescuing trafficked children). (http://www.citipointe.com.au/index.php/about_us/who_we_are/)
Christian Outreach movement seeks to follow Jesus as its head. The Oversight which is made up of a group of senior pastors from each state oversees the vision and management of Christian Outreach Centre Australia. There is also an Operations Board which oversees the financial affairs, policies and property management of the Christian Outreach College movement. (http://www.coc.org.au/about/oversight.aspx)
Citipointe Church itself has a senior pastor, executive pastors and depart mental heads to run the church.
There’s no restriction on the type of music. The music is provided by Citipointe band, which is a modern rock type band with keyboards, drums, guitars. They mostly use contemporary praise and worship music, often written by themselves. They also use some older choruses often, and occasionally a traditional hymn when an atmosphere of incredible worship is present.
Citipointe Church is a great church to help a person glorify God and know Him better, invest their time, talent and treasure, and value every individual.
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