It was my privilege to accompany Kathy to spend the weekend with the Lord's church in Lancaster, New Hampshire. The church there numbers about six on a typical Sunday. Kathy spoke on a ladies day and there were about 20 ladies from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. We had 10 on Sunday morning. Tom Jackson, a Bear Valley graduate the Alpha Alpha Class (1979), is the preacher for the Northern Valley church of Christ. He has spent many of his years since graduation persevering in the very difficult work that is ministry in the northeast. A few weeks ago, in Utah, I learned the same about the state of the church there. Less than two dozen congregations exist in that Mormon- dominated state.
My impression, worshipping with these saints, is that the sweetness of fellowship is intensified in how rare and precious it is. In an area where there are tens of thousands of people, there are less than 20 Christians assembling. You won't find singing that fills the building with full, gorgeous voices. You won't the hustle and bustle of people filling up the seats and crowding in together. You will find a handful of Christians thrilled to have each other's company and longing for their numbers to grow.
God has made the church a place where this kind of fellowship and kinship should exist. It should be a place where we know about each others' lives and care about each others' well-being. If someone is missing at Northern Valley, everyone is concerned and finds out why. That seems to be the approach of the first century church. I am resolved not to take for granted the vital, fragile, and vibrant nature of the fellowship we enjoy with one another. May we appreciate the tie that binds us together!
Neal Pollard
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