Why I go to church

One of the things I’m most thankful for was my mom dragging me to church as kid. I wasn’t always happy about that drive to First Assembly of God church in Windber, Pennsylvania, especially after a late night out on Saturday. Afterwards, however, I was always glad we went.

Reverend David McGee was the pastor of our little church in Windber for most of my childhood. He was kind, humble, and very compassionate to those in the church and throughout the community. Pastor McGee had a great sense of humor which made his sermons so enjoyable.

Once I fell asleep during one of his sermons, and how he handled it really stuck with me. Somehow he tied the whole thing in with his sermon. That Sunday he woke me up with this question. “Brian, what is Chuck Noll’s wife’s name?”

Noll was the Hall of Fame head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pastor McGee knew I was a HUGE Pittsburgh Steelers fan. That Sunday the Chicago Bears were in Pittsburgh for a game. If I remember correctly, Bears safety Doug Plank was a former teammate of his. But I digress.

My response was Mrs. Noll, but I knew that wasn’t the answer he was looking for. I knew at once I was busted for sleeping and that he had a little fun at my expense. The point is, Pastor McGee loved God, his congregation, and had a special way of keeping everyone involved every Sunday.

I didn’t think I would ever find that kind of warm environment in a church ever again. Then I found Full Gospel Tabernacle in Wheatfield, Indiana. Better yet, both Pastor’s, Craig Smith and Ken Patrick, remind me a lot Reverend McGee.

Here’s why church means so much to me

When you find the right church, you begin to see and understand why going is so important. Full Gospel Tabernacle, just like at my childhood church, revitalizes me both spiritually and physically. The sermons from Pastor Ken and Pastor Craig always get my week off to the best start possible and sustain me throughout it.

As far as the congregation, I don’t know many of the people yet, but that’s okay. Seeing their smiles every week and being around them is uplifting. Hearing their testimonies is inspiring. Seeing how faithful they are is refreshing. They are all part of the reason why I need to go to church, for the fellowship.

Matthew 16 : 18

And I also say unto the, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; And the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 18 : 20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.

I never fully understood, until recently, the importance of finding a good church and going regularly.

It was always easy to justify not being able to go. “I worked late last night”, “you don’t have to go to church to be saved”. I used to tell my kids this one all the time. “The Steelers are playing at noon, we’ll hit the evening service.”

Now it’s impossible to justify not going. While I don’t have to go to church to be saved, the fact is I won’t stay saved if I don’t go. I need to go. I need the fellowship, and I need to hear Pastor Craig and Ken’s sermon’s from the word of God. Going to church restores and revitalizes my soul.

Going to church not only brings me closer to God, it leads me further away from being the man, husband, and the father I was eight month’s ago. The church is the body of Christ, and the people I see there are the family of God. I want to be part of that family, and that is why I go to church. If it wasn’t for my mom, Brother and Sister McGee and their influence on me, I might not know the joy and peace I’ve found at Full Gospel Tabernacle.