Colossians 1:1-8 Faithful Messengers & the Faithful Message

Do not underestimate the power of a faithful, biblical church. The most influential church in my life was Pleasant Garden Baptist Church in Pleasant Garden, NC. Pastor Mike Barrette was the pastor of PGBC. I recall that the church was a Bible-believing church, a friendly church, and an accepting church. The services were great! The services were well organized, reverent and exciting and the music was always a tremendous blessing. My Sunday school teacher came to visit us several times before Lori and I joined. 

But Pastor Barrett was the biggest help in my life. Lori and I went to PGBC at a tough time in our lives. Pastor Barrett took me under his wing and cared for me as a young man aspiring to the ministry. He set a good example. Pastor Mike was an expository preacher, which reinforced what I already believed about preaching. When I look back I have nothing but fond memories and encouragement from Pleasant Garden Church. They had the essential ingredients of a New Testament church: 

1. faithful messengers, 

2. faithful members, and 

3. they believed and taught the faithful message. 

That is why I am telling you this story. PGBC had these essential elements and so did the church at Colossae. But many today do not have them. These have convinced themselves that it is not necessary. An organization might be big, it might have a minister, it might have members, it might even have a steeple on the top of its building but if it is not true to the faith that was once delivered to the saints, the body of doctrine that is the biblical and historical Christian Faith, then it is not a real church.