By HAROLD KELLER

A few years ago, a church in north Louisiana had a sign over the parking lot exit that read: “You are now entering one of the largest mission fields in the world.”

America – a mission field? How can that be with more than 450,000 churches representing 80 denominations? The answer is simple. With most of the churches preach missions, they stress foreign countries. Little emphasis, if any, if placed on the need to evangelize America. Why the need to evangelize the richest nation ever known with the freedom to worship as we choose? Maybe the answer is that we take our freedom for granted and, because of our material goods, we have very little need, or interest, in the God of our creation.

Is the church in America at fault? Before I give my opinion on that, let’s identify the church.

When Jesus talked about the church, He talked about the collective body of Christians.

When people think of a church service, they think of coming together on Sundays for one or two hours. I have been a regular church attendant most of my life. I would not be honest if I said I’ve always enjoyed Sunday church services. It got to the point where I felt guilty because I didn’t enjoy structural Sunday religious church services.

A few years ago, I heard a young preacher speak on what church really is. “It’s not what we do on Sunday morning,” he said. “Sunday morning is only the celebration of what church is all about.” “Church is what we do between Sundays,” he continued. In other words, our everyday walk, meeting and sharing with people who are open to hear what God has done in our lives.

After the service, I approached the preacher and said, “You made me feel much better. I really enjoy church (in between Sundays). I just have a hard time with the celebration.” Of course, I was being sarcastic, but I really meant it.

I think everyone has a ministry, and I believe God has allowed me to work in His ministry of Get High on Life – speaking in jails, rehabilitation centers, being available for individual counseling, moderating family intervention meetings in times of crisis, and being used to help heal the hurt in a lonely and troubled community.

Am I saying that we should neglect foreign missions? Definitely not. We are commanded to carry the message to all parts of the world. I do think, however, that we should not forget the home front.

If we, as Christians, are the church, then church is a seven-day-a-week service – a service to manking – with a mission to share Jesus with the lost throughout the world, starting in America.

Yes, we are living on a mission field. Isn’t it time we start acting as missionaries?

HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational group. Call him at (985) 652-8477 or write to P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084.