News - January, 2008
The angel which I stationed at 9339 Alt. A1A to prevent anyone from renting the property until I had a chance to raise funds and get people interested in this project has been doing a good job so far. The property is still vacant.

There are also several vacant lots across the street from this location, and I've been wondering whether going straight into building wouldn't make sense, given the current real estate crunch. Either way, the location seems ideal because of its proximity to Fosters Pub, which keeps people in the parking lot until 5am every night. And those people, really are people who need a Savior, (not that I don't need one first).

FATHERS' HEARTS
I have felt the calling to go on the radio lately. I am hoping to do a talk show one hour daily. I would like to interview local pastors. I know most would like the air time. I'd like to talk about the early church fathers. To read from the ante-Nicene fathers every day and then talk about them with the pastors would be a great way to talk about the first church and compare that with the church of today.

I'm no expert but most people are unfamiliar with these writings and when I turn on my radio today I get two views. After abut 25 years hearing the same thing I'm kind of tired of it. Either I get EWTN or various Catholic networks and their apologetics. Or I get Moody Bible Radio and a particular Reformed mindset. Occassionally, I hear from independents who have bought a little AM radio time for a weekday or odd hour at a discount. I hear them praying in tongues and talking about the Holy Ghost every now and then. I thirst for more.

I haven't written news updates here for a while, but recently I've felt the need to get inolved in radio and it has occurred to me that the two projects - All Night Church and a radio program, could and should work together. The radio program was something I wanted to do long ago. Talking about the earliest church fathers is corrective. So few people know that these early fathers exist or that we possess their writings. I originally envisioned the radio program as just a matter of reading through the volumes of AnteNicene church fathers I have on my shelf, cover to cover, without comment.

I have thirty eight volumes in all. Of particular interest is volume one, since it is the earliest. This contains the writings of Clement, Mathetes, Polycarp, Papias, PseudoBarnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin the Martyr, and Irenaes of Lyons. If there is time we'll cover others. Since the time I started reading these early church fathers their works became available on line, which is very cool. So click on the links and start reading away! These are not "inspired" works in the same sense as the Bible is, but they are very important because they are the earliest writings we have from any Christians. Some, not all, of the questions many people have about how to interpret the Bible, are answered by seeing how these first Christians believed.

More importantly, in naming the radio program "Fathers Hearts" I am hoping to get out the hearts of the apostles with the hope of challenging the church to be more like the first church in their love and devotion. The overriding question I want us to be asking is not "what were their doctrines?" but "what were their hearts like?"

COMMUNICATING TO ALL CHURCHES
Of course, if we do get on radio we will have an opportunity to get the message out about the facility. And we will be able to convey the vision of the inter-denominational 24 hour common work ministry. This is a start in the right direction for All Night Church. If the Lord wills, we will be able to solicit enough donations first to get on the air, and then over the air to open up on the ground. And as one friend has already suggested, all over the world wide web, while we are at it, because we can certainly stream our radio messages through this web site, and in fact, we can record any services any of the contributing churches want to broadcast.

WEDDING INVITATIONS
I am still interested in passing out wedding invitations as a way of inviting people on the "highways and byways" to church. I actually tried it for a day in July, but it was very hot out and we didn't have a church building yet. I think that is premature. But I still love the concept. And it did get a few people to come to the web site.

MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS
Since the church is still in the "concept" stage I think it is fair to beg rather than preach at this time. My goal in the present phase is to raise funds so we can get on the radio. If you've got a business we can plug it a little bit as a way of saying thank you for your contributions. You know the routine. If you like the vision here then let's chat about it and when we've got enough financial commitments raised to go on the radio, you can start sending the money in. I will not be asking for any actual donations until I know that we are definitely doing the radio program. Talking things out in advance will also give us a chance to share the vision together and I would like to hear your thoughts.

Naturally, I covet your prayers. I don't expect to be a voice crying out in the wilderness here. I have yet to speak to anyone at length about this vision who does not see it as something that the churches should all be participating in. When I did start soliciting churches by phone several months ago I realized, as expected, that the pastors have their hands full already with their own congregations and programs. Nobody wants to take on anything new. But Christmas is now behind us so I'm thinking of starting the year at full speed ahead. Lord willing, I will have more news very soon, telling you about when you can hear us on the radio, and not long afterward, when you can expect us to open our doors.

HOW TO DONATE
If you would like to make a donation to the All Night Church at this time, you may make a check out to that name and send it to my home address below. Once I have some donations I will set up a non-profit organization and it will become tax-deductible. I will not deposit your check into an account until this preliminary paperwork is filed and the account is set up.

Your ongoing contributions and commitments are going to be the simplest indicator of how much radio time to purchase and what channels, etc. and when to actually set up shop so we can start serving the community with All Night Church 24/7.

Send Checks to:

All Night Church
4265 Lilac Street
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Call me and feel free to contribute your time, your ideas, your resources, your prayers, your finances, your concerns. I am not doing this alone. Thank you for letting the Lord lead you …

James Carvin
Lay Pastor