Church bigger in size, same big heart

IT'S DIFFICULT to miss the Marlton Assembly of God in Marlton, N.J. It's the expansive - and expanding - worship site a stone's throw west of Evesham Township's municipal complex. Construction that's underway on a new $5 million Family Life Center will double its footprint from 50,000 to 100,000 square feet and will include an indoor soccer field.

When it was founded 30 years ago, Marlton AG ministered to a small congregation with services held at the nearby Florence Evans Elementary School. Today, between 350 and 400 families worship at the church on Sundays and Wednesdays.

For the past six years, Marlton AG's spiritual leader has been the Rev. Jon Wegner, a youthful, 42-year-old North Jersey native whose previous ministry was in Newark. Wegner laughed when describing the culture shock he encountered coming from an urban, largely minority, largely Democratic-leaning flock to suburban Marlton, which is a predominantly white, Republican-leaning enclave.

The Assembly of God denomination has 13,000 churches in the U.S. and 65 million members worldwide.

Where we worship: The church is at 625 E. Main St. in Marlton. Services are held Sundays at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

If you can't attend, the congregation makes a podcast available at marltonag.org. Streaming video is expected to be introduced this fall.

What we believe: "There are four cardinal doctrines of the Assembly of God," Wegner said. "Jesus Christ is the savior; he's the healer; he's the baptizer; the Bible is God's word and because people have sinned against God, God is going to send Jesus to take away our sins."

In addition, the Assembly of God emphasizes "making Jesus Christ real in our life, in our services and our daily lives," he said.

What to expect if you visit: To your right as you come through the front door of the church, there's a coffee bar. "To the left, you can drop off your children for nursery or kids' ministry," Wegner said, for an age-appropriate service.

In the main service, "you'll hear an inspirational message from God's word encouraging people to take the next step in following Jesus," he said. You'll also hear plenty of contemporary Christian music.

"It's an informal service," Wegner said. "We sing."

Beyond the pews: In addition to services, the church runs educational programs (with about 230 young learners in its pre-school and elementary school programs) and organizes lectures, seminars, concerts and fairs.

The new, non-sectarian Family Life Center, boasting a basketball court along with the soccer field, is scheduled to open in November.

Good works: Wegner said the church supports more than 100 missionaries in roughly 80 countries. "We've given over $2 million in the last five years. There are very generous people here.

"We also go into Camden and Philadelphia to feed people."

God is . . . Love, Wegner said. "And he demonstrates his love through the person of Jesus Christ."

Words of hope: Wegner cites Matthew 11:28, where Jesus promises the weary and the burdened, "You will find rest for your souls."