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What Can You Tell About a Church From It's Web Site? Maybe that we're artistic? Organized? Original? Really not much. A website is cold
type, mere printed words splashed with a few pictures of people you've never met and don't know. You've never heard them
sing or speak or even talk. You've never "felt" their excitement! You can "see" them smiling, but
you can't "feel" or experience their smile for real. The Lord Jesus said in John 7.24, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge
righteous judgment." We often have people drive by our modest modular buildings and judge us by what they consider the
smallness of our facilities. We've seen them drive completely around the structures and then slowly drive away. Sad
indeed. Are they looking for nice or appealing buildings? What can you tell about a building or the sign out front,
or the way the grass is cut? The "life", the people, the reality, the soul of the church is inside!
The firmness of a handshake, the joyous arm around the shoulder, the interest shown about yourself and your family--that's
the stuff FBC is made of; that's the people of God! The Greeks had a great word for the church called ecclesia (eck-la-see-ah),
or the assembly, the called out ones--the people themselves. That's the real church! That's the blood-washed people, the saved,
the redeemed who have the favor and blessing of God upon them. That's what you want to "see"! They could meet
at the river or in a hundred-year-old barn or under a giant Marion County oak tree and still be the assembly, the ecclesia!
The Lord Jesus never had a building; an "auditorium"! His ecclesia began with 12 men. I wonder what His ecclesia
was like? We've had many folks
say "We would have made a great mistake had we not decided to come inside and visit!" We agree! We contstantly
hear "That's the best choir I've ever heard!" "Those are the friendliest most caring people we've ever met!"
"We're afraid to miss a service, you never know what's going to happen at FBC!" "This church means so much
to me--you will never know how much!" Glory! We say to you what Jesus said to some new disciples when they asked Him "where dwellest thou?" He
replied "Come and see." Get out of your car--walk inside the building; look at literal faces; shake literal
hands; hear the music, hear the Word of God preached, feel what God is doing among us! Then look at the buildings and the
lawn and read the sign. Then decide if you want to come back. Most do. By the way, we just completed the ground breaking ceremony for our new 300 seat auditorium!
Presently, we're doing two services to allow everybody a good seat. Soon we'll all be together again! We would love to have
you among us!
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