My local church has impacted me in important ways. When I was asked to write about why, as a young adult, I stay involved with the local church, I confidently said yes, sure that I had many ideas as to why the church is important. However, as I sat down to write, my mind could only come up with, “Well, my dad says it is important, and I know the Bible talks about it somewhere.” That was at the beginning of June.
This summer I was an intern at Bethesda Church in Huron, South Dakota, the church I grew up attending. During my internship, I learned many things and was able to dive deeper into why I believe some of the things that I do. One of those things is why involvement in the local church is important to me and other members of the body of Christ.
As a result of my internship, I have a fuller biblical understanding of the importance of the local church. And, though I trust my dad’s advice and judgment, I am glad that my view is now grounded more firmly in Scripture.
The New Testament includes many letters written by Paul to specific bodies of believers, to local churches. He writes about how to live as believers within the body of Christ. Given what Paul writes and my own experiences, here are three reasons why I value being part of a local congregation.
Intentional discipleship
While the local church is a powerful tool for evangelism, it is also a place where intentional discipleship can happen. Granted, it is not the only place where discipleship happens, and many churches need a lot of work in this area. However, healthy churches include intentional discipleship. When I talk about discipleship, I am referring to believers coming alongside their brothers and sisters and walking with them as they seek to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
During my summer internship, I was discipled mainly by two members of the Bethesda church staff: Pastor Aaron Garza and worship coordinator Lorena Blom. Through reading books, studying Scripture, having conversations and working alongside them, both Pastor Aaron and Lorena challenged and encouraged me.
They pushed me to think deeply and step into leadership roles that stretched my comfort zone. Their discipleship has served to grow me and equip me to lead better, both in how I function in my position as a leader and how I come alongside those I lead with. Discipleship is essential for any believer, and I have seen the fruit of it in my life.
Accountability
With discipleship comes accountability. It is so easy to remain at the same place in my faith when I don’t have anyone to keep me accountable. I need people who make sure my life matches what I profess to believe.
I am blessed with a group of friends who keep me accountable and challenge me as we seek Jesus together. However, I appreciate that attending a local church allows for those same things to happen with people of different ages and in all stages of life. The diversity within my churches in Huron and Hillsboro is beautiful, and I feel blessed to be part of them.
As a worship leader, I am accountable to God as well as the congregation for what I put into my mind and heart each week. Leading worship is not just standing in front of people and singing. It is also speaking truth and encouraging the congregation to think about who they are worshiping.
I believe it is important to include Scripture between songs to connect what we sing to the truth that we hear from God’s Word. That is why I need to spend time daily with God and fill my heart with truth from his Word, so that what comes out on a Sunday morning is in line with truth. So, it is not just individuals who hold me accountable but the whole congregation as well.
Service
Finally, being part of a church creates opportunities to serve the body and bring glory to God in doing so. At Bethesda, I have experienced much joy in serving in children and youth ministries, as well as on the worship team. At Ebenfeld MB Church, I have also served on the worship team and I am helping in a kids’ Sunday School classroom.
As I was reflecting on how I have served in the church, I was led to ask why. Why have I chosen to serve in my churches rather than simply attend on a Sunday morning?
Service is something that has been stressed in my family for a long time. I grew up watching my parents selflessly serve countless numbers of people, both in and outside the church. As my siblings and I grew older, my parents encouraged us to serve in the church as well. After all, church is a place where I not only get poured into, but where I can also pour into others. I receive so that I can give.
Furthermore, I look to 2 Corinthians 9 for why I serve. In this chapter, Paul writes about generosity. I want to be generous with my time and the gifts God has given me, and the church is a wonderful place to do it. When I serve, I am so often blessed by my church body, even when I am serving on what feels like an empty tank. However, it is in these moments that I remember the ultimate reason for why I serve—so God will be glorified.
2 Corinthians 2:12-13 says, “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”
I am thankful for the opportunities God has given me to love and serve the people in his church. It’s a beautiful circle of receiving and giving that is only possible because we received what Christ so graciously gave us first. When I think about what Christ did for me, it makes me want to serve.
God has used the churches I’ve been involved with to impact me in a big way. I take much joy in practicing Colossians 3:12-17 with my brothers and sisters. But while I love being involved in the local church, I have seen people hurt by the church. I am incredibly sad when people speak of experiences that have pushed them away from the church or worse, pushed them away from their faith. I pray that in these situations Jesus will heal the hurts, draw people back to himself and in his grace reveal the beauty of his church as it is intended to function.
As part of my internship, I read Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever. This book helped me appreciate the local church more and solidified my belief that the local church is essential to a believer’s walk with Christ. I love what Dever says: “Being part of the church is being part of a family. Committing yourself to relationships within the church will bring glory to God.” That is my desire—may God receive all the glory.
Faith Nelson is from Huron, S.D., where she attends Bethesda Church. She is currently a junior at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., where she attends Ebenfeld MB Church.
This article has been posted by Christian Leader staff. The Christian Leader is the magazine of U.S. Mennonite Brethren.
