In a day of worship bands and multimedia presentations, Sturgeon Bay-based Friends Community Church is growing by keeping it basic. According to Christianity Today, many churches are taking a more contemporary approach to their services by relying on electronic technology, less traditional music, and more informality to attract families. Friends Community Church Pastor Nancy Bontempo feels older churchgoers in some cases are wondering how they fit in as the services become even more contemporary. That has helped drive Friends Community Church’s weekly attendance numbers.

Bontempo hopes participation will go up even higher in 2019 as they play a major role in helping host events for the Door County BRIDGES program during the summer for visiting J-1 visa students.