I waited several weeks to write my response to an article in “Free Speech” several weeks ago pertaining to “How sad it was to see children practicing baseball at the Redwine complex on Sunday mornings instead of being in Sunday School.”

I wanted to have time to think through my feelings and reasoning for responding to make sure my words would not be perceived wrong but also that my words be taken to heart to so many who attend the average church today.

I wanted to offer the solution to what I believe is the problem with most churches today. To the writer of that quote, let me please ask you several questions.

How do you know that those boys and their coaches did not attend a church on the previous Saturday evening? How did you know that possibly right after their practice was to end, the coaching staff loaded up the entire team and headed off to attend a church that morning? Where does it say in the Bible that we must attend church on Sunday morning?

You see, through my experiences as a pastor, that statement and the feelings that bring a statement like that out is why most young parents today don’t attend the church and for most children today, baseball practice is a lot more fun on Sunday mornings than Sunday school at most churches.

Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus ever say, “Come to church and be blessed.” Jesus’ words were always, “GO into all the world and be a blessing!”

As pastor of New Vision Church in Fayetteville, I encourage my folks if they are on their way to our Sunday morning worship experience and they drive by any ball field and see kids practicing, go to the nearest store, buy enough cold Gatorade, go back to the field and as a gift from them, their family and New Vision Church, leave the Gatorade for the kids and coaches, ask them if you can pray with them before you leave and then thank them for the opportunity to serve.

I’d rather my folks be late for our worship experience while serving others in ways like this than be critical of others for not coming to a building on Sundays.

All I’m saying is, let’s be careful to understand “WE” are the church, not some building, and everywhere we “GO” and every person we come in contact with, is an opportunity to serve others as Jesus modeled for us. Remember, “GO into all the world.” No one did that better than Jesus Christ Himself.

Alan Parker, pastor

New Vision Church

Fayetteville, Ga.