Why Do Churches Exist?

I am wondering what people in Holdenville believe is the reason that churches exist in their community. Please share your opinion. I would encourage you to share your real name and not hide behind the mask of anonymity. Your opinion is important and I hope you have pride in it.

My church is there to give me and my child hope and guidance, a place to practice my faith, and pray. I grew up in this church, and feel it is the one place I can go and nobody will judge me for what I wear, how I look, who I come with, ect. I love my church and go as much as I can. Next sunday we will be celebrating our 100th year and what a celebration it will be, PRAISE GOD!!!

Churches exist to reach lost souls in our community. Also they exist to be a safe place for all of us no matter what our situation. We find comfort in our darkest hour at church and all we have to do is ask. In bible study we pray for each other and do what we can with the resources that we have. We try to train the youth of our community to have that caring spirit no matter what the rest of the world says. I realize there is no way I can tell all the church does. Time does not allow.

I beleve all religious beliefs are basicely the same, To teach the difference between good and evil, that is that good returns goodness after death, Evil returns evil to you after death.

Ephesians 4:12
To equip his people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up.
Do I win a prize? ;)

While I'm posting there's a common theme of hate on this message board that I'd like to address.

Be grateful for what you have... I'm one of the people who got out of Holdenville and can honestly say there's no place like home. I'd move back to Holdenville in a heartbeat if I could. There are people out there that are proud to tell people, "I'm from Holdenville, Oklahoma." Everyone's heard the saying, "You can take the boy out of Holdenville, but you can't take Holdenville out of the boy." There's good and bad everywhere; we all have choices in life, remember that the most important choice is our own attitude. Focus on the positives & don't sweat the small stuff.