August 16, 2026
Greetings and blessings to you all. There was a time in America when the local church was the center of life for most people. In Nehemiah Chapter 13, we read that the people of Judah had neglected the house of God. The results were that the church could no longer function as it should; that is to worship God and fellowship with each other. The people felt that it was more important to build their own Kingdom than God’s Kingdom. Like today our focus appears to be not on Christ but on exercise, work, family, sleeping, social media, etc. all good things…however the Lord is not getting the focus. Nehemiah had encouraged joyful worship, and the rebuilding of the church but it seems that all too quickly the people returned to business as usual. They turned away from the Lord and compromised their relationship with Him and one another. Are we doing that now in 2026? After the planned epidemic, some have never returned to the church. Some have decided that it is just not that important. Dr. Anthony Fauci said it best, “just attend what we deem as essential. The church is not essential.” The devil never stops his evil. He is a liar and a destroyer of all that God has for the Christian. Ask ourselves…. in our busy lives is there an area that should be reserved for the Lord but- you have been using that time for something else? Is church attendance even necessary? First and foremost, understand we are followers of Christ. Our intentions are to obey and trust Christ. The Word says, “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:24-25) Second, where are you getting your sense of community and meaningful support? Is it from your therapist? Is it from your biological family members? Is it from your pet? God knows we need church community. We are social creatures. One of the major problems in our society is loneliness. This can lead us away from Christ and to our satisfying our flesh with things such as alcohol, overeating, shopping, etc. And let’s not forget how the church provides people with teaching of The Word. That’s food for our Spirit. Therefore, neglecting church attendance for convenience and personal comfort is not wise.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie