The Local Church

On the first Sunday after I was born I was carried into my parent’s Local Church in my mother’s arms. I have been incredibly blessed to have been given a rich heritage, due to previous generations loving and serving in the House of God. My church congregation also became my extended family and the place for encouragement, friendship and development of who I was and what I could achieve in my life. Most days of my childhood included relationship with friends from my Church and opportunity to discover relationship with Jesus. I totally love the Church and its impact on mankind. It certainly is the Hope of the World!

Jesus said ‘I will build my Church and the gates of Hades won’t prevail against it.’ This is a seriously encouraging statement, because you and I are the Church. It’s not a building, its people like you and I connected together in this living, pulsating, organism called The Church!! A vibrant healthy church creates the opportunities for destinies to be unlocked, lives to be transformed, and hearts to be set on fire and a purpose to exist on planet earth! No wonder Satan is in fear and trembling, because when believers are filled with faith and the Holy Ghost, anything can happen!!!!

Here in Sydney, the Church is continuing to grow weekly. One of the most fulfilling experiences of my life is seeing the salvation of men, women, teenagers and children. My five year old grandson responded to the opportunity to give his life to Jesus, last Sunday night. His precious life is already being shaped in the most amazing way by the preaching of the Gospel. Generational transfer is happening before my eyes, as I see Isaiah loving Church and particularly impacted by worship. He goes to sleep most nights listening to the ipod playing his favourite worship songs.

There has been a saying for many years ‘the family that prays together stays together.’ The Local Church creates the environment for families to build this habit in their home. It’s the place where hearts are nurtured towards God and each other, and a spirit of unity established, that creates faith in the hearts of everyone in the home.

Be a contributor to the Church with your time, talents and tithe and you will be a recipient of abundance, grace and incredible blessings.

Psalm 92:13 ‘Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.’

Blessings to you,your family,home and Church

Tricia McDonald