[LWC]

What the person in the video and some of you have shared is one of my biggest fears as a pastor. If a person comes and just doesn't enjoy the service that is fine. I have been in a service or two that I didn't enjoy. However, what I fear so vividly is that someone may get burned by a church and never give another a chance.

"We have not been given a spirit of fear...." so I do not fear but I do pray that the congregation in which I pastor does not burn anyone to the amazing grace of our dear Lord and His desire that we gather in one heart and one mind and one accord to worship His name and seek His face.

To me, a church is not about the building but more about the cornerstone. Not about the materials is built upon but about the solid rock of Jesus Christ that it is founded upon. Not every person that enters the doors will enjoy a prayer, 4 songs, a sermon and an altar call (just for example) but I hope they find peace, hope, love and refuge in the arms of Jesus. I hope that local congregations can be a place that embodies the love of Jesus. I hope that the place of worship that you attend or that you seek may be found taking seriously the call to be like shining with the light of the world and lit like a city on a hill. Far too many are brightened with artificial light and the true darkness of their efforts come to the light. Let your love flow. Be genuine. Allow your place of worship to be a place where we can all come and be broken.

One of my favorite things about the church I pastor now are their two mottos. (They were in place before I came, so I cannot take any credit and would receive none anyway) "A place where it is okay to not be okay" and "Healing for the past, help for the present, hope for the future".