30+ Days of Giving Thanks, Day 47: the Local Church

A week ago, I wrote about the Universal Church (see This Post to read what I wrote). Today, I am writing about the “other side of the coin”—the Local Church. This is that expression of the Body of Christ that is visible, it is tangible, it exists within its time and its place. It is what the world sees when it looks at Christianity—for better and for worse!

In particular, I am thankful for the local church to which I belong. Note that I do not refer to it as “my church,” for “my” is a possessive pronoun that may have two meanings: (1) that which belongs to me, or (2) that to which I belong. I belong to Jesus, and am a member of His Body—the Church. He has placed me in the part of His Body which meets regularly  (for worship, for teaching, for fellowship and for service, and more) at 481 South Street in Newburgh, New York, USA, and is known by the name of First Baptist Church in Newburgh. This is my church, but it is not my church—it belongs to Jesus Christ!
Anyway, I give thanks to God for putting me here in this corner of His Kingdom, and in the midst of this local church. The people who belong to the Family of God meeting here are some of the finest people it has been my pleasure and privilege to know anywhere and any time. In the five and a half years Kelly and our sons and I have been a part of this church, we have seen our church grow in grace, in love, in forgiveness and being accepting of others. We have said “Goodbye, for now” to some dear friends, and we’ve said “Hello!” to many new friends.

We have worshipped, we have prayed, we have studied God’s Word, we have broken bread together, we have laughed and we have cried together. We have carried one another’s burdens, and helped one another back to our feet when one of us has stumbled along the way. We together have carried the banner of the Cross, and have planted it deep in the soil of our community. I give thanks to God for this church, and each of the people who are a part of it. Most of all, I give thanks that God has placed me here, and now, to be a part of His great work in this place and time.