Saying what's on your heart

Recently at the Barton College luncheon during General Assembly, two Barton College students and I gave speeches about what the church means to each of us in the past, present, or future. Originally, when asked to speak on the topic, I was a little apprehensive about how much to say and more importantly, how to say it. I did not want to upset anyone listening to my speech by sharing my opinions of the church.

The more anxious I became about giving my opinions to a banquet room full of people, at the General Assembly of all places, the more I realized that I wasn't giving the topic the amount of prayer and thought it deserved. It began to bother me throughout the night. The church is such a sensitive topic these days. Everyone has their own opinions and experiences about the church, so being in a room filled with strangers explaining my views wasn't something I was looking forward to.

After praying and taking time to just listen in the silence, I began to write and couldn't stop. God gave me the courage and strength to say what was on my heart, and I felt so free once it was completed. It was at that precise moment that I realized God had answered my prayer in those moments of silence by clearing my mind of the things that were interfering with my thoughts on this topic. I hope others will realize how much we all need those silent moments to pray and listen quietly to God speaking to us.

I would like to share part of my speech with you now.

For me church means community. Church is not restricted to a building. From my own experiences, what holds the need for a local church is its community sense. That community sense is what first drew me to attending church. I was looking to evolve my relationship with God, and the church provided those opportunities and people for me to draw upon.

Being in church gets me in the right strength of mind and in a spiritual community. Earlier in my college career, I didn't go to church for a few reasons, one major being that I was too busy, etc., but that didn't work. I realized that it only caused me to drift away from the One who loves me. Now in the present, I couldn't imagine not going to church.

Recently, some people told me that going to Church regularly, just because it's Sunday, is automatic and ritualistic. I told them that I once thought similarly; however, after growing in my faith, I realized that Church was where I first felt God reaching out to me. God led me to the church. I didn't understand that God was trying to guide me earlier and that the only way I could realize this was through the church.

I told those people that it is with joy that I go because I would not be where I am in my life now without God and the church. Both Jesus Christ and the church have changed and guided me into being a much better person.