Where is the Church?

It was family and friends Sunday at New Birth Church in Clinton, MS. The house was packed with members and visitors alike. I had invited a friend from work and she came. The church family had prepared a great meal for after the service. It promised to be a wonderful day until one of the air conditioners quit working. As I sat in the heat I grumbled to myself. Why did the air have to go out on a day like today?

Then I remembered another service with no air conditioning. I was conducting a ministerial meeting in Mango Creek, Belize. Typical for Belize, it was a hot day. There was no air conditioning and the windows and doors were open with hopes that an occasional breeze would cool us off a bit. Right as I was about to reach the main point of my sermon there was a "disturbance" outside. The pastors children were chasing a chicken that was to be served for lunch. A dog joined in the chase and chaos ensued. I tried to ignore it and keep preaching but I could tell I had lost my audience. Between the clucking, barking, and screaming no one could hear me anyway. I quickly brought the service to a close.

Back to Mississippi. On that family and friends day Pastor Phillips preached a wonderful message. His title was "If this were your last week." My friend from work was stirred. We all felt the presence of God very near. The lack of air conditioning didn't seem to matter as much.

In America we have so much. We often take our blessings for granted. Yet the real blessings are not our material comforts.What we really need is a fresh touch of God's spirit. Thankfully, his spirit is not confined to a certain geographical location. I have felt his spirit near in ornate churches in the United States and in simple huts in Central America. God loves people and anywhere that people are gathered in his name he will be in the midst. I am thankful for the air conditioning and comfortable, padded chairs in our churches. Given a choice I would not go without electricity or indoor plumbing. Yet these things are a convenience and not a necessity.

To be a part of God's church is the greatest privilege in the world. Wherever his church is gathered together, that's where His spirit is and that's where I want to be. Don't you?

Thankfully Yours,

Sullivan Jones