The Church’s One Foundation

A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about churches all over the world closing their doors—for good. At that time, I knew churches in Europe were declining in membership and in numbers on any given Sunday. Huge cathedrals in many countries sit empty on Sunday morning. I can’t imagine these old places of worship lying empty.

Worse yet, some of the oldest sacred places on earth have been turned into bars or, as I saw in one, a skateboard park. It makes me shudder.

I had no idea so many were closing their doors right here in our own back yards.

Some estimate that as many as 4,000 to 7,000 churches will close here in the next year. That’s a lot of churches. Others dispute this number and cite the number of churches opening, or changing their name, or leaving a particular denomination to become an independent organization with no denominational ties. Apparently, identifying with a particular denomination isn’t the thing to do these days.

But some churches are thriving.  One such is Brooklyn Baptist Church in Brooklyn, Alabama.

FOUNDED ON FAITH AND HOPE

The Church's One Foundation @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #wearethechurch #writing Share on X

This weekend, my husband and I will attend the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of a little church in a hidden-away peaceful community in south Alabama. Brooklyn Baptist Church, which proudly claims this name, was founded in 1821 by the Rev. Alexander Doniphan Travis, born August 25, 1790, and died December 2, 1852, at the age of 62. He built this church on a foundation of the Word of God,  faith, and hope for the future.

Rev. Travis is my husband’s GGGG uncle and the uncle of Lt. Col. William Barret Travis, commander of the Texas troops at the battle of the Alamo.  Lt. Col. Travis, or Uncle Bill, as we affectionately call him, is the brother of Emily Katherine Travis Brantley, my husband’s GGG grandmother.

The little church has been there a long time. The graveyard attached to it holds the final resting place of at least six generations of my husband’s family, including his grandparents, Hiram Herbert Smith and his wife Alice Eugenia Thames Findley Smith.

FAITH LIVES ON

I have to wonder what kept this little church alive and vibrant while even the huge cathedrals in Europe and many churches here in America have closed their doors. As I thought about this, I think it comes down to one simple thing—faith.

Certainly, many today simply don’t see the need for faith. Many deem Christianity as a fairytale or worse. Some see it as beneath their intellect. Why need religion when they’re so brilliant they have the capacity to solve their own problems? Besides, have a need? Google it. They’ll be happy to tell you how to fix it.

That’s just it. It isn’t about religion. Anyone can have religion.

A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

What they don’t understand is this is about a personal relationship with the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. The people in the little community of Brooklyn walk with Him, by faith, daily. Every area of their lives is centered around that relationship, including worshiping together in the little church founded two hundred years ago.

I’m humbled to have married into such a faith-filled family. Uncle Alex, you’d be so proud to know your family and many members of the Brooklyn community still gather to worship the God you loved so much, in that little church you founded so long ago. May she live for another two hundred years.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Blessings, y’all!

 

Y’all!! This brought tears to my eyes. THIS IS THE CHURCH! This is what she looks like. It’s people all over the earth who proclaim with one voice, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!! I do pray this blesses YOU!

As Church Doors Across the World Close, Could Yours be Next?

Here is a link to that earlier blog post.

 

 

Do you put your faith in Jesus Christ? If you don’t know and you’d like to have a personal relationship with him, please contact me. It would be my honor to pray with and for you.