Like many churches across the country, the DeKalb Lutheran Church, the DeKalb Wesleyan Church and NIU student groups have undergone several changes in their services to reach out to a younger generation.

Guitars, drums and keyboards are just some of the changes in the DeKalb Lutheran Church’s music during services. It also has a different worship schedule, with services on Saturdays instead of Sunday mornings.

The goal of a second service with a different format is to attract new people or those who are looking for something new at church, said the Rev. Marilyn Hanson, senior pastor at the DeKalb Lutheran Church.

“We felt that it was important to offer other styles with contemporary music,” Hanson said. “We want to meet people where they are at.”

People today are looking for things that are more actual, she said.

While many people welcome these new services, not everyone agrees with them.

There are many church members who are very supportive, but there are many who will never participate in a new modern worship style, Hanson said.

The DeKalb Wesleyan Church has also adopted a more innovative service.

Besides its traditional service, the church tries to reach out to the community in a more contemporary style.

Worship services need to adapt to the demographics, where the church is, said Ray Wahl, Solo Pastor at the DeKalb Wesleyan Church.

“In our church, we have the organ, but we also have a praise modern service,” Wahl said.

Wahl said churches have to reach the seeker, and it may be through Saturday night services.

Christian organizations on campus also offer modern services.

If students go to Campus Crusade for Christ meetings on Thursday nights, they can see students participating in this new modern worship atmosphere.

“Many churches lead to extreme tolerance, but there are many that are changing for good,” said Jason Folkerts, president of NIU’s Campus Crusade for Christ.

Folkerts said it all depends on how they want to express themselves to God, which makes people worship in different ways.

However, the United States isn’t the only place where changes such as these are being made.

Michael Black, the head pastor of NIU’s Newman Catholic Student Center, said that if people go to services in Africa, they can see instruments they won’t see in Poland or Mexico. But what they use there won’t fit into a service in America, he said.

Churches can change the style of worship according to the country where they are located and adapt to the culture, Black said.

The Newman Center still has its music played by a piano, organ and choir participation, Black said. He said sometimes a violin or a saxophone is used.