I know in my

business it's supposed to be "believing is seeing." However,

this past Sunday, I can say, "seeing is believing." As part

of a wonderful 10th Anniversary gift from my church, my family and I attended

two church services, one in Times Square and another in Brooklyn. The

Bible says that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. I saw it Sunday.

So, let me give you just the facts, ma'am.

Times Square

Church is located in the heart of Broadway, across from the Gershwin Theater.

Their scheduled Sunday services are 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. We arrived

45 minutes early for the 10 a.m. service and discovered within 15 minutes

of our arrival the main floor was packed. They ended up seating an overflow

crowd in their annex serviced only by a video screen. Their main auditorium,

including their balcony, seats about 3,000 people. Think of it: in the

heart of some of the worse filth belched from stage after stage, 9,000

people are attending Sunday church every week. For about 45 minutes, the

massive choir led the congregation in singing the latest contemporary

praise music to the time-honored, "Leaning on Jesus." Then,

for 45 minutes we heard a solid Bible message that didn't miss any punches.

Senior Pastor Carter Colon wasn't seeking to please his listeners, but

to please an awesome God. As he gave a traditional altar call at the close

of the service more than 300 people packed the front of the auditorium.

And all this happens four times each Sunday.

Times Square Church was founded by David Wilkinson of "Cross and

the Switchblade" fame.

Next, later

that afternoon, we got real proud of ourselves as we negotiated the New

York subway to make our way to the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church, which conducts

four services on Sunday, packing out the auditorium which seats in excess

of 2,000 people. Although the widely popular Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

ministers on Sundays, the Tabernacle leaders declare that their most important

service happens Tuesday nights when they gather for prayer. Get this:

you better arrive an hour early for the Tuesday night prayer meeting if

you want a good seat. Imagine that. Prayer meeting. Usually, the least

attended of our services. But Pastor Jim Cymbala and his wife Carol discovered

years ago that there was "power in prayer." Imagine that! So,

they placed prayer as priority (after all, Jesus said, "My house

shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.").

We thought

we had arrived in time for the 6 p.m. service, but discovered they were

presenting again their Easter pageant. We got in back of the line, some

two blocks from the entrance of the church. Waited. Finally, we were seated

on the very back row of the balcony. The pageant was absolutely powerful.

We wept and laughed and rejoiced. No Broadway show could compare. Truly,

the best show is at God's House. As we left the church to find our subway

entrance, another crowd was winding around the block.

Now, a final

reflection: we are cursed with our blessings. Far too much, far too soon

in life; for too many comforts for far too many ingrates. Many of the

folks who pack these auditoriums travel more than an hour by train, live

in apartments often without air conditioning, and probably never make

it out of New York City. It really doesn't matter because they have a

little bit of heaven on earth with thousands every Sunday giving praise

to the Lamb of God.

"Oh God,

let it be here. Send an un-quenching thirst for your presence and power.

Send an un-ending hunger for your Word and its call for righteousness."

If God hears New Yorkers who talk so fast, surely God can hear us southerners

that talk a bit slower. Let's pray!

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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