Adventure Church

 Adventure Church, Draper, Utah, 10 am service 8/6/2023

Adventure Church is affiliated with the Foursquare Gospel denomination, an Evangelical/Pentecostal Church founded in California in 1923 by Aimee Semple McPherson (1890 - 1944). Today the denomination claims 8.8 million members worldwide.

McPherson was an early celebrity pastor who made heavy use of the radio. As a charmastic female preacher she made a real impact on the popular culture, fictionalized versions of her show up in such works as Sinclair Lewis's novel Elmer Gantry, and the early Frank Capra film 'Miracle Woman' where she is played by Barbara Stanwyck.

Hallmarks of the faith include female clergy, an emphasis on 'entertainment', and spiritual gifts such as healing and speaking in tounges. I saw neither gift manifest in the service I attended.

The service started with now standard 'praise and worship' Christian rock style music. When I go to various services I typically will not sing, even though the lyrics are usually projected on a screen, unless I know the song. 'How Great Thou Art' was one of the songs this week so I sung along to that.

Then there was a communion service, they did open communion but specifically said "this time it's between you and the Lord", implying they don't always do open communion. I did not partake. People came up front at the end of the music portion to get bread and juice which they took back to their seats. Associate pastor Kuulei Lee, a Pacific Islander woman, lead this part of the service. There was no prayer as such, but some Bible readings and basic instructions.

This was followed by video announcements on the three big screens and then the sermon. Sermon was on 'The Great Commission', it was somewhat rambling and began with a Star Wars skit, including use of lightsabers. It was given by another associate pastor Ira Popper (the main pastor is a woman and she wasn't there this week).

Again I thought it was mostly meandering, if pleasant, but got interesting near the end when Ira shared his conversation story, which I suspect most people there already knew. Ira was raised Jewish, even Bar mitisvhaed. Urged on by friends he accepted Christ at age 17, outside the music room at his California high school March 18th, 1976. (This reminded me of the Spielberg surrogate and his "flirt to convert" girlfriend in The Fabelmans). I suspect that caused some friction at home, it would be interesting to learn more.

The service had an overall pleasant and comfortable vibe. Only three people talked to me. The building is bigger then it looked from the outside. There were various offices, common rooms, a coffee shop. There were classes and day care for young children. Around 120 in the sanctuary, about half the seats were full. White, Latino, Pacific Islander, black, Indian. Good cross section of ages. Two people in wheelchairs. I found the place likable.

Fun facts: Aimee Semple McPherson was married three times, the first ended in death the other two in divorce. While Aimee died in her 50's her two children, a boy and a girl, both lived into their mid 90's.