Good News Lutheran Brethren

Good News is a wonderful Bible believing church. Pastor Mike preaches God's Word and is a true blessing to the congregation

A welcoming church with a great children's program. This church preaches the Word of God! If you're looking for a local church family, check it out!

Great Bible-believing church!

As a believer, I have always looked to the church for guidance and support. Therefore, when I ran out of gas yesterday and spotted a church in the distance, I thought my prayers had been answered. I managed to push my car to the front of this church and knocked on the door, hoping for assistance.

To my surprise, the person who answered the door simply said, "Sorry, we can't help you," and closed the door on me. I was stunned. Here my family and I were, stranded in front of a church, asking for help, yet we were turned away without a second thought.

I couldn't help but recall times when I had acted similarly. My heart ached as I realized that I had not always lived up to the ideals of Christ, and that I had turned a blind eye to someone in need simply because it was inconvenient or uncomfortable for me to help. This realization only added to the pain and frustration I felt in that moment.

Experiences like these can be disheartening. They're the sort of thing that can cause people to vilify Christ and see His Church in a negative light. But we must all remember that Christians are forgiven, not perfect. That's why we so desperately need a Savior.

This is not to say that we should accept or condone behavior that is not reflective of the love and compassion of Christ. But it does mean that we should extend forgiveness to those who fall short, just as we hope to be forgiven when we do the same.

To the person who turned me away from the church door, I want you to know that I forgive you. My hope and prayer is that this review will remind you, and each of us, that being a follower of Christ means being willing to help those in need, regardless of who they are, what they need, or whether or not it's convenient. I want to clarify that the 3-star review I left for your church is not meant to be a rejection of you or your faith. Rather, it's a reminder that as followers of Christ, our actions and behavior should align with His teachings. My hope is that this gentle rebuke will encourage you and your community to continue striving towards living out the love and compassion that Christ demonstrated.

To anyone who has had a negative experience with the church, I encourage you not to give up hope. One experience does not necessarily indicate a church or individual's rejection of Christ's teachings. There are still believers and churches out there that embody the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to seek out those places and continue to share the message of forgiveness and love that is at the heart of the Christian faith.