October at the Baptist Church sees us celebrating our church anniversary. I will remember this anniversary because there are many more than my wife to remind me. I am human, of course, and a man, so it is an unwritten law that I am going to forget some things.  Anniversaries are important; men especially know that as they mark points in our lives that are significant and often life changing. But the significance of an event is in the eye of the beholder (strange metaphor, I know) and that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
The anniversary which the church celebrates is not when it began but when the building was built. The Baptist Church was in existence for many years before the building was finally finished. The desire of those committed to each other in Christ to have a physical witness in the village is a long standing testimony to their hard work and faith. But let me go back to the earlier statement ‘not when it began but when the building was built’.
There is a vital aspect to come to terms with here and that is that the church is not the building but the people.
People make churches.
People forgiven and in right relationship with God and others, make churches.
People following Christ together in faith, love and hope, make churches.
People sharing their lives together and revealing God’s love towards each other, make churches.
People reaching out to the community in service for God, make churches.
People acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God, make churches.
Not buildings, not bricks and mortar, but people.
There have been Christians of many shapes and sizes in Chipperfield for centuries; celebrating God’s faithfulness to us is of major significance.
Love Jason, The Man in the Manse