We are planting a new church in the west valley of Phoenix called GracePointe. It’s a brand new church free of a lot of the things that cause people to stay away. I suspect GracePointe is a lot like the first Christian church that met in Jerusalem. I’m not saying we’re perfect and everything we do works, but I am saying that God is so visibly involved in this new church that even the new believer can recognize His presence.
I wish all churches were like GracePointe. Most are not. Unfortunately, a high proportion of people who "go to church" have forgotten what it is all for. Week by week they attend services in a special building and go through their particular, time-honored routines, but give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing. The Bible talks about the "the bride of Christ" but the many churches today seems like a ragged Cinderella. There needs to be a reaffirmation to the nonnegotiable, essential elements for which God designed the church.
I love the church. I am an incurable lover of the church. It thrills me beyond measure to think that I get to serve God through pastoring His church. Although I am also involved in some other ministry activities, I wouldn't trade my ministry in the church for all of them combined. The church takes first place in my ministry priorities, and everything else grows out of my commitment to the church.
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