The value of the church in a world in spiritual ruin

We recently celebrated the first anniversary of the church where I congregate with my family. Among the guests were some neighbors; some disbelievers and other proselytes of the Afro-Cuban religions so widespread in my country. But they were there by the grace of God. As we do not have a temple, we rented a small open-air venue from a neighbor and right there we celebrated with gratitude to the Lord for our first year of life. A young man, representing his ministry, sang "I want a church", by the adorer René González and what we did not know is that God had a beautiful purpose that day for his people gathered there. The rain that God sent in the middle of the guest preacher's sermon made us all huddle together in the only roofed space that the premises had. There, in a tight mass that tried not to get wet, the Lord squeezed Christians and non-Christians. What symbolism!

A guest approached me. "Listen to me, what is the name of the song that the boy sang?"

I want a church! -I answered. You are christian?-

"No, I practice another religion, but I liked what it says."

-Ah. It is as if God is speaking to his church. I can get it for you if you want. - I told.

"Yes, thank you," he answered.

His face was emotional and there was even a certain radiance in him. The rain was piling up and we all adored loudly with beautiful praise. His eyes started to get wet and mine too. The Holy Spirit was at work, declaring the love of God to a person devoid of love, revealing truths and needs to fill the gaps, making everyday vicissitudes forget, sowing the seed of his church in a heart that said it was hopeless. That night, a few who said they did not believe, touched by the message and the very special atmosphere, approached the Lord for the first time and are in the hands of the Spirit for him to complete the work that began that night. The church was giving a beautiful witness to the neighbors of God's love.

The church of Christ has much to say to a world that has given the true God an accolade, but we need to wake up from this spiritual lethargy, from the Sunday environments that are lived once a week in many temples without temple. There is a world out there that is lost and we do nothing. The value of the church is its mission to bring the good news here and now. The good news can turn into bad news if you are late. The gospel is the good news for today and tomorrow. The gospel is a newspaper that does not offer old news and this is reason enough to invite the world to visit us today, to live us today, to offer them a better tomorrow in Christ.

The church is not perfect, but it has the promise of the return of the prince of the shepherds to make it shine. You have to work and decorate it for your marriage with the Lamb. You and I are the Lord's hands to collaborate in his work! My little church, with only 50 members in its first year of life, has a nice motto that God gave me to encourage, encourage and encourage you: we are a church without a temple, but with mettle.

God bless you!