Why We "Do Church"

On a recent late night visit to the local department store I was reminded once again why we do this thing called church. I was engaging the clerk in casual conversation, like I always do, and before you know it she's telling Gayle and me about her life. She works the graveyard shift, has two school-aged girls and a stay-at-home husband. He stays at home because he's legally blind. She's doing the best she can to provide for the family, while at the same time making sure her girls make it to soccer practice, Girl Scouts and all the other things they do. Her husband feels bad that he's not more help than he is. While I was saying, "Bless your heart" on the outside, my heart was breaking for her and her family on the inside. I reached into my pocket and gave her a card with our website on it and said, "We're a part of a group that is starting a new church in town. Our first service is Easter Sunday, please consider yourself invited." After hearing her story wild horses couldn't have kept me from giving that card to her.

Though I don't know this clerk's name I'm praying for her and her family. I'm asking God to bring her to the Easter Preview Service. I want to see her and her family connect with Jesus! I want her to know there is more to life than scraping out a living. I want her husband to not go through life feeling condemned for something he has no control over. And who knows, maybe God might even heal him.

This precious lady represents a multitude of people throughout this city who are in desperate need of a connection with Jesus. I don't know about you, but that's more than reason enough for me to give myself to this thing we call the church.