The Church

“Behold how precious and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.” – Psalm 133:1. Last month many in this nation celebrated and acknowledged the birthday of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He once said, “It is a shameful tragedy…that the 11:00 hour on Sunday mornings in one of the most segregated hours in Christian America…”

Although he was referencing the obvious racial segregation that existed and still exist today, as we still hear people of different races and ethnicities reference, a “black church”, “white church”, “Spanish church”, “Korean church” or some other ethnicity or group and we seem to forget that all of us believers are “The Church.”

In Matthew 16:18, after Peter correctly declares that Jesus “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responds, “…and on this rock I will build My church…” All of us Christians are the church, His church, not my church or Pastor so and so’s church but HIS Church. The word “church” in this verse (Mt 16:18) is a Greek word, ekkléssia. This word is derived from 2 other Greek words, “ek”, which means, the point of action where motion proceeds from or originates. The second word, “kaléo”, to call out, a gathering of people.

The word “church” used by the Lord is not a building, it’s a gathering of people called out to be launched into action. This is why I often reference to our congregation that, “Church is not where we go, but what we do. We do church, we don’t go to church.” The church I pastor is, Community Transformation Church in New Caney, and I also try to remind our wonderful congregation that, “We can’t transform the community if we’re not in it.” It is difficult to reach the world for Christ or be a light to a dark world if we limit our Christianity and faith to a pew on Sunday mornings. Let’s fulfill the Great Commission, one community at a time.

Roger and Yvette Obregon are the campus pastors for Community Transformation Church in New Caney. They have six wonderful blessings that are their children, that faithfully serve alongside them in various ministries for the church. The New Caney campus is one of six Community Transformation Campuses in the Community Transformation family of churches. The Church’s mission is to transform the community for Christ by empowering, equipping, serving and sending the people of God into the community.

Visit our website to learn how you can help transform your community: www.myct.church