Since 1992 Mecklenburg has been a church where you can bring your spiritual questions and know that you will always be welcomed. When you go to church for the first time in years or the first time in a new town, you long to find a place you can feel at home ... a place where you feel safe.learn more about us
The weekend services at Mecklenburg Community Church are designed to present the basic truths of the Christian faith at a level that everyone can understand, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey. And the messages are geared for application in 21st Century Charlotte.
Mecklenburg Community Church is situated on an 80-acre campus in the heart of Charlotte’s fast-growing northeast area, conveniently located between the I-77 and I-85 corridors.
Mecklenburg Community Church
8335 Browne Road
Charlotte, NC 28269
704.598.9800
(Please note, West Sugar Creek Road becomes Browne Road)
Taking I-77
From the South: Take I-77 North to exit 18. Head east on W.T. Harris Boulevard for approximately 3 miles. Turn north on West Sugar Creek Road. Go 2 miles to the church, which is on the left-hand side.
From the North: Take I-77 South to exit 18. Head east on W.T. Harris Boulevard for approximately 3 miles. Turn north on West Sugar Creek Road. Go 2 miles to the church, which is on the left-hand side.
Taking I-85
From the West (or South): Take I-85 North to exit 45B. Head west on W.T. Harris Boulevard for approximately 3 miles. Turn north on West Sugar Creek Road. Go 2 miles to the church, which is on the left-hand side.
From the East (or North): Take I-85 South to exit 45B. Head west on W.T. Harris Boulevard for approximately 3 miles. Turn north on West Sugar Creek Road. Go 2 miles to the church, which is on the left-hand side.
Welcome to MecKidz! A ministry designed just for kids to learn about the love of Jesus and grow in their faith. In MecKidz, children from infant to fifth grade experience church and learn about Jesus in a way that is fun, exciting and engaging.
In MecKidz, children enjoy:
Andrew wasn't all that optimistic about attending a church service, but once he walked through the doors of Meck he knew he had found something different.read the full storyWhat makes Mecklenburg unique?
Mecklenburg Community Church adheres to a unique philosophy of ministry. Our weekend services present the timeless truths of Christianity in a way that impacts people in their lives today. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you can grow in your understanding of Christianity at these services. In addition, we have midweek services that are designed for people who wish to develop their relationship with Christ through worship, communion, and in-depth biblical teaching. In addition, Life Groups (small groups) meet in homes throughout the community, fostering relationships and spiritual growth.
What will the service be like?
Worship, drama, media presentations, contemporary music, and practical messages are all elements of Mecklenburg’s weekend services.
What should I wear to Meck?
Casual clothes are the norm at Mecklenburg Community Church. For example, people are encouraged to wear shorts during the summer and whatever is comfortable for them during the rest of the year. So feel free to leave the suit and tie at home!
How long are services?
The weekend services at Mecklenburg typically last about an hour.
Will I be singled out in any way as a visitor?
At Mecklenburg, you’ll never be put on the spot, never feel forced to give money, and never embarrassed. You won’t be asked to participate in the offering. You don’t have to sign anything or register your attendance in any way (unless you place your child in our children’s ministry — and then only for your child’s security). Let the service be a gift to you.
Where do my kids go during the service?
Our children’s ministry, MecKidz, provides an exciting experience for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and grade schoolers through fifth grade. This allows you to get the most from your experience at Mecklenburg while your child has a great time in a safe, friendly kid-centered environment!
If you have a teenager, they are invited to attend the service with you. In addition, there are student ministries specifically for them. During the school year MAXlife for middle schoolers meets every Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and REALife for high schoolers meets Sundays at 7 p.m.
Is Mecklenburg a Christian church?
Though non-traditional in style, Mecklenburg Community Church is deeply committed to the eternal truths of the Christian faith. Our vision is simple: to become a biblically functioning community of believers so that Christ’s purposes can be accomplished in this world. Our mission is equally clear: to help spiritual seekers become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
However, what truly defines a church is not simply its doctrine, but its values. Mecklenburg’s values shape who we are. Below are Mecklenburg’s ten core values and some of the passages from the Bible that support them:
We believe that the Bible is true and that its teaching is the catalyst for life-change in individuals’ lives and in the church. (Romans 12:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:23-25; Hebrews 4:12; Acts 2:42; 20:32)
We believe that lost people matter to God, and therefore they ought to matter to the church. (Luke 5:30-32; Luke 15; Matthew 18:14)
We believe that the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
We believe that followers of Christ should manifest authenticity and strive for continuous spiritual growth. (Matthew 26:38ff; Ephesians 4:25-26, 32; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
We believe that the church should operate as a unified community of servants stewarding their spiritual gifts. (Romans 12; Ephesians 4; John 13; Philippians 2; 1 Corinthians 12, 14)
We believe that loving relationships should permeate every aspect of church life. (1 Corinthians 13; Nehemiah 3; Luke 10:1; John 12:34-35)
We believe that life-change happens best through relationships. (Luke 6:12-13; Acts 2:44-47)
We believe that excellence honors God and inspires people. (Colossians 3:17; Malachi 1:6-14; Proverbs 27:17)
We believe that churches should be led by those with leadership gifts and structured according to the nature and mission of the church. (Nehemiah 1,2; Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 3; 1 Peter 5; Ephesians 4; Acts 6:2-5)
We believe that the pursuit of full devotion to Christ and His cause is normal for every believer. (1 Kings 11:4; Philippians 2:1-11; 2 Corinthians 8:7)
Saturday at 6 p.m.
Sunday at 9, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m.
Sundays at 10:15 am and 7 pm EDT
First Wednesday is a time for our monthly celebration of the Lord's Supper, and an in-depth biblical teaching from Senior Pastor Jim White. Every monthly service is a great step for investing in your spiritual journey and taking it to that next level. Better yet, there are even programs running simultaneously for children birth - 5th grade! So what are you waiting for?! Mark your calendar now and come expecting a great night!
Family Night, held on the last Wednesday of every month, is a high-energy virtue driven service designed for the entire family to enjoy together!
The Family Night team meets, plans, creates and is always excited about what's in store for every Family Night @ Meck. You can look forward to seeing some of your favorite characters, meeting new ones, crazy videos, awesome worship, a few surprises and as always, a new core virture that kindergarten through fifth graders will focus on each weekend throughout the month in MecKidz. Please register online at www.mecklenburg.org under Upcoming Events if you are interested in purchasing dinner before Family Night.
A pizza dinner will be served in room 215 (upstairs) at 6 pm
Everyone is on a spiritual journey. It doesn't matter where you are on that journey - taking your first exploratory steps or well along the path - connecting with others along the way will help you move further along in the process. To help you do that, Meck has organized a network of small groups meeting in people's homes throughout the week to study the Bible and develop friendships with each other. In our fast paced life, it helps to have friends who live in the same neighborhoods, go to the same schools, participate on the same sports teams, and even hang out at the same Starbucks.
The Meck Institute is our adult education ministry that seeks to promote spiritual growth through various classes and seminars. Think "community college" with an emphasis on the Christian worldview!
We offer classes for those just beginning to explore the Bible and Christianity and for those who want to study at the seminary level. Our classes are small and interactive to encourage questions and discussion. As you learn, you meet other people and feel more connected to the Meck community.
Arts Team
Community Care
Financial Ministry
Habitat and More
MAXlife
MecKidz
Men
Missions
REALife
Women
Bookstore
E-News Update
Member Resources
My Spiritual Journey
Prayer Request
Serious Times
Tough Questions
Update My Info
Giving is one of the central themes in the Bible. Jesus talked more about this subject than heaven, hell or prayer. To understand what it means to be a Christ-follower, we must also understand what it means to be a giver.
Click here if you'd like to learn about the benefits of donating stock.
First Things First
God doesn’t need our money; He already owns it all. But when we willingly set aside the first part of our income for the local church, our hearts will be turned toward Him. (Matthew 6:21)
Know Giving, Know Life
Giving is the antidote for materialism. The Bible says that by giving generously we are able to “take hold of the life that is truly life.” You aren’t really living unless you are freely giving. (I Timothy 6:19)
The Treasure Test
Giving is the only area in the Bible where God invites us to test Him. Give your tithe (the first 10% of your income) to God and see if He does not open the floodgates of heaven to bless you in ways that you never dreamed possible. (Malachi 3:10)
An Eternal Investment
Even when the stock market’s down, you can make an investment that pays dividends for a lifetime and beyond. Only two things will last forever: People and The Church. By investing in the life-changing message of the church, you can leverage your money for eternity. (I Timothy 6:7)
The Internet Campus can be used in so many ways:“As we begin the Christmas season, Mecklenburg will once again give you and your family the opportunity to do the single-most important act of the holidays: give to Christ at Christmas.
Since 1994, Mecklenburg has attempted to honor the gift God gave us in the Christ child through our annual Giving to Christ at Christmas campaign. The idea is simple: we give gifts at Christmas in celebration and honor of the birthday of Jesus, so we should begin our gift-giving with Him.
For me, it all began with a simple editorial cartoon that is now reprinted every Christmas Eve in the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper.
That's what Giving to Christ at Christmas is all about. Every Christmas, the folks at Mecklenburg give the most generous, one-time cash gift they can - above and beyond their normal giving or pledges - as a direct gift to Christ Himself at Christmas. The money is then used strategically in the life of His church for the extension of His Kingdom.
Read the full letter
Missions 2.0
An additional fifteen-percent of each gift will once again go toward helping Mecklenburg invest in international mission efforts. As initiated last year, we will be using your gift to expand our international opportunities in new and exciting ways that will allow your family to experience missions yourself - taking trips, engaging service projects, and involving your children in cross-cultural experiences. Your gift will allow us to not only develop these mission partnerships, but to serve the needs of our mission partners through strategic gifts - whether it’s through the repair of a roof, the purchase of a truck, or the giving of food. Your gift will allow us to do that.
Supporting the Heart of the Mission
Finally, as we have in years past, the remaining amount of our one-time gifts will go toward our campus as we seek to pay for and develop this most valuable resource for the fulfillment of Christ’s mission to the world. Through these investments, we can reach out and touch countless lives for the sake of Christ.
You can participate using the online giving link or simply make your check payable to Mecklenburg; using the envelope we've enclosed will make sure that your gift goes directly toward Giving to Christ at Christmas. (*if you did not receive a packet, pick one up at any of Mecklenburg’s weekend or midweek services, or call the church office at 704-598-9800).
Then, at one of our Christmas Services on December 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, or 24th, we will all bring our one-time cash gifts and give our gifts as part of our celebration of Christmas. If you can't be here during one of these services, just mail the envelope at your convenience, or turn it in at any service throughout the month of December or January during the time of offering.
One final thought...whatever you do, have your support of this effort be above and beyond your normal, intended level of giving to the church's regular needs. The Giving to Christ at Christmas campaign is meant to be a special, one-time, seasonal love-gift in response to God's gift to us. Not one dime of it will go toward the church's regular budget needs, which will be as present in December as any other month, and needs our continued support and faithfulness.
Now that we have started our annual "Giving to Christ at Christmas" campaign, there are many excellent questions that have historically been raised, or that have come to the surface in light of this year's effort. We've compiled the most frequently asked.
Q: I did not receive a packet of materials regarding the "Giving to Christ at Christmas" campaign. How can I receive the packet?
A: Packets are available at our information centers. If all of those have already been taken, just call the church office at 598-9800 and we'll be glad to send one to your attention.
Q:What do you mean when you say that these gifts should be in addition to our regular giving?
A: The ministries of this church depend entirely on the weekly giving of those who attend. Throughout the Bible, special projects such as our "Giving to Christ at Christmas" effort were funded by "over and above" giving so that the day-in, day-out ministries would not suffer.
Q: Tell me again what will take place during Christmas Eve services:
A: During the Christmas Eve services, December 20-24, Mecklenburg will celebrate Christmas through song, media, drama and message. As part of that service, we will turn in our envelopes with our one-time "Giving to Christ at Christmas" gift at the time of the offering. If you are not able to attend on that day, you can just mail your gift in earlier, or in January.
Q: I'm getting a lot of year-end requests for giving. What does the Bible say about prioritizing the church?
A: While there are many good organizations that have financial needs, many do not extend the mission of Christ. Even those with Christian dimensions should not take away from the church, because the Bible teaches that our first gifts and full tithe should go to the local church of which we are a part (Proverbs 3:9; Malachi 3:10; I Corinthians 16:1-2).
Q: Can my gift be given in the form of stock?
A: Yes. In fact, there are certain laws that make it beneficial to give stock to a church, letting you give the full value without capital gains taxes. Contact our Director of Finance, Chuck Peacock (cpeacock@mecklenburg.org) for more information.
Q: I'm due for a year-end bonus that I'd like to put toward this effort, but it won't be in by the week of Christmas. Can I turn in my gift later?
A: Sure! But all gifts must be given by the end of the year if they are to count toward your 2008 giving record for the I.R.S. Also, it would help us immensely if you could let us know what your plans are - maybe even turning in a note as to when your gift will be given and the amount of that gift.
Q: I've heard some people say that if you give a financial contribution to their ministry, God will give you a financial windfall. Do we believe that?
A: Not exactly. Those who teach that God guarantees a financial "windfall" if you give to their ministry go beyond what the Bible teaches about the rewards that come to those who are generous givers. What the Bible does teach is that those who give can expect to receive something in return (see Luke 6:38; II Corinthians 9:8). This can often be financial in nature, and the Bible clearly teaches monetary blessing when we tithe (the giving of ten percent of your income to the church's weekly offering for the operating budget - see Malachi 3:10-11), but the reward of giving can also include increased intimacy with Christ, as well as joy in the giving itself (see II Corinthians 8:7-8). So while the Bible promises great joy and reward in giving, the specific manner is up to the wisdom of God Himself.
Q: Will all of the money raised go solely to the areas designated?
A: Yes. Your "Giving to Christ at Christmas" money will support Crisis Assistance Ministry (to the working poor), our effort to expand international missions and mission projects, and the ongoing costs associated with our campus expansion.
Q: I once heard Jim White talk about giving by revelation instead of reason, but I don't remember all that he said. What was that about?
A: In the past, Jim has taught that when you make your decision on what to give based on reason, you look at what you have, do some calculations and figure out what is reasonable or affordable, and then give that. No faith is involved at all - it's just math. When you give by revelation, you go to God in prayer and ask "Lord, what do you want to give through me?" That makes it an act of faith and worship, and makes what you give a reflection of your trust in God and His leading of your life. His point was that the actual amount you give is not as important as being sure that you have sought God's guidance and, to the best of your ability, followed His leadership.
Q: How can I help the most with our church's effort?
A: First, thank God for giving us our building, campus, growth and ministries, along with the opportunity to be involved in impact around the world. Second, pray for God to let you know what your part will be, particularly in regard to your one-time gift during our Christmas Eve services. Third, follow-through on what God tells you to do as a step of faith and obedience. Fourth, be sure to remain faithful to your regular level of giving (*If people give to this effort from what they would normally give to the church, we will serve these three areas, but have no year-round ministry!). These four steps will help our church's effort the most.
Q: Anything new in this year’s effort that our giving will achieve?
A: Yes! This year we will follow last year's initiation of Missions 2.0 and use your gift to expand our international opportunitites in ways that will allow your family to begin experiencing missions yourself - taking trips, egaging service projects, and involving your children in cross-cultrual experiences. Your gift will allow us to develop those partnerships, and begin puttin together those opportunities. In addtion to this. your gift will allow us to give strategic support to our mission partners, supplying specfic needs that they have for their mission.
Q: Will the money given be used just to create mission opportunities, or also help support the needs of some of our mission partners?
A: This year we hope to not only use your gift to create missions opportunities for you and your family, but to give generously to our new mission partners in order to serve them at their point of greatest need, such as our mission partner in Jamaica, WonByOne to Jamaica. Such needs can be anything gfrom a new vehicle to a micro-economic development project to serve the poor in the region. You will be hearing about new partnerships and opportunites in January when we reveal the 2009 Missions Catalog.
Don't hesitate to call the church office with any other questions you might have about this year's "Giving to Christ at Christmas" campaign!
