I am currently the Pastor at Jefferson Evangelical Church. I was the Pastor of Agape Family Fellowship in Albany a couple of years ago. Before that, I was the pastor at Buena Vista Community Church and Talbot Community Church. All the while, I was also Pastoring at Jefferson Baptist Church. I have been involved in helping to start five different churches in the area around Jefferson, and I was also involved in helping to start half a dozen churches in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The reason for all of that involvement is that I love the church; the church is the “Bride of Christ,” and the church is the “Body of Christ.” My love for Jesus is measured by my love for His Bride and Body, the church. I believe my commitment to Jesus, my Savior, is measured by my commitment to His “Bride” and His “Body,” the church. When I walked out of Jefferson Evangelical Church this morning, got into my truck, and looked back at the church building, I said to myself and the Lord, “I love this church. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be used by You to help make her beautiful for You.”

A lot of well-meaning Christians are very critical of the church. They love to point out all the problems and shortcomings of churches they know. I see a lot of issues and weaknesses in every church I am involved with. I probably see even more than the average person attending church because I have read and studied what a healthy church should look like. But I don’t complain about those weaknesses; I don’t tell others about those problems; instead, I do whatever I can do to fix them. I do that because I love the church; the church is the eternal Bride of Jesus, and the church is the Body of Christ. Jesus died for the church; He gave His life for the church. He is presently making His Bride beautiful and uses people to do that, but he doesn’t use critical and judgmental people; he uses humble people who love Jesus and show it by loving His Bride.

Colossians 1:24 The Apostle Paul said, “in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking”

Paul said, “I do my share.” If every Christian did their share on behalf of their church, the church would be holy, growing, and beautiful.