Saturday, June 29, 2019

Finding A Good Church Home

I was recently talking with a young lady at work.  I actually overheard her talking with someone about why she hadn't joined a church.  She was recent without a Pastor since that one had passed.  Since I know her, I asked what church was she attending.  She told me the name of the church which I was familiar with.  She said it was too big.  I asked how many members.  She said about 500.  Since I attend a megachurch, I didn't think that was too big.  She said that she had a relative that goes there, but she was still scared to join.

I didn't ask her why she was scared to join because I know other single women who sort of bounce from church to church or don't go to church at all.  A lot of people are at the point where they want to go in, get a word and go home.  They don't want to get to know people in the church because they fear how they may be treated and it is just safe not to be in a clique. I know from whence I speak having been single for a long time and now married.  I thank God for being married because I have a covering.  Some of the things that people try with single people, they are not going to try with married people.  There are married women who attend church and their husband does not and at times they are privy to church politics. However, I would assume that people respect them.

When I was single, I grew up in a church where my grandmother was a member.  Later, My Uncle Willie Lee took us to church and it was safe. The Pastor was respectful and that's where I stayed until I graduated from high school and came to college.  Sometimes we visited other churches for programs and I felt respected.  In college, I started out going to the Baptist Student Union which was cool, but I wanted to attend a church.  I went to Prescott Baptist across the street and that was not really where I wanted to be.  It was small, but I needed something more.  Then, I went to Olivet Baptist right down the street from the University of Memphis and stayed there until I was directed to go to Temple of Deliverance and that's where I am now.

In my 54 years, I have seen and experienced a lot which I will not disclose here. Some people have cool or cordial relationships with their Pastors and they don't mind getting the relationship hookup, but for the majority of people, that's something that they want to do on their own.  Pastors need to respect that because the Bible says "And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them." (Exodus 2:25)  A lot of people stay at home and watch a TV ministry or online.  I did that for about a year as an adult and didn't miss a beat.  I sent my tithes in and everything was cool.  I believed that if Jesus came back at that time I would have gone with Him as well. Of course, I told her that my church was cool, but she says that the church is too big.  I pray that God will lead her and others where to join.  Sometimes people sit at a church for a few years until they feel comfortable.


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