THE CHURCH: From the contemporary music performed by a "guitar-drive band" to the Starbucks coffee people are encouraged to enjoy during services, Abundant Life Church, 7305 E. Furnace Branch Road in Glen Burnie, is not the average Assemblies of God Church.

Still affiliated with the Assemblies as it was when it first began more than 50 years ago, the church in 2000 dramatically changed the way it worshipped and served. Though a quarter of the congregation left, it took just six months to bring in new faces to fill the void. Within five years, the membership had doubled.

Its lead pastor, the Rev. Dan Mucci, said the transition...