For unchurched

eyes only! If you are an active member in a local church, read something

else. This is for those folks who have yet to decide to attend a church.

First of all,

I want to say to all you who are not active in a local church: you are

missing out on building friendships with some of the nicest, most generous,

and lovable people in Georgia. Seriously, church house after church house

waits on you to come through their doors so they can love you. In just

showing up one Sunday morning, you will get more affirmation than at Cooperstown

has for new inductees in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

This love you

experience in local houses of worship will be there for you when adversity

hits. Do you know of any other "agency" that will get up a meal

for your family when death visits or when sickness knocks? It's the House

of Love that sends out the love in the form of meals, visits to the local

jails, and even helping to pay the power bill.

Second, you

will make friends. I know people who have come through our church came

and went but it was through the local church that they made friends that

will serve them the rest of their lives. Truthfully, most people are lonely.

Most households receive less than three personal telephone calls a week.

People are lonely and desperate for meaningful relationships. Bingo! The

church house is the house of relationships. First, we talk about the relationship

between you and God. Then, we get down to relationships between you and

Bill and Mary and Sue and Joe.

Third, by participating

in a local church, you link your life with eternal purposes. It simply

is nauseating to live your life for the newest restaurant to open or the

latest, effective underarm deodorant. Through a church, you can link your

life with eternal purposes. You will hear every week the teaching of the

Word of God of which it is said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away,

but not my Word." Think of that: your life having eternal dimensions.

They will teach you in the church that you can deposit prayers at the

very throne room of heaven prayers that will be alive and operative even

after you are dead and gone from the earthly scene. Think of that: you

can pray for your grandchildren's mates, fully knowing that unless you

reach 100, you will never see them.

Fourth, a local

church will help you in your vocation, career, or profession. You'll learn

that God does not wake up just on Sunday, but that he is interested in

your progress at school, at the office, and on the road. God wants you

to be successful in your chosen career path and through the church, you

will learn God's methods for success. Good question for you: in your present

work situation, would you want your best or would you want God's and your

best? Bet I know the answer. Your local church will help you seek our

God's best for your life.

Fifth, a local

church will help you and your love ones face the big fact of life and

that's death. The obituary column has new entries every day. The last

time I checked, the mortality rate was 100 percent. You will die! Would

you like to know the best way to die?

Bingo! Your

local church will help you discover the very best way to die.

So, I have

not mentioned all the benefits of local church membership and participation.

Maybe my readers will write some letters to the editor and share even

more benefits, that is, if you read this column and I told you not to!

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of River's Edge

Community Church in Fayetteville.

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