Country Church - Pine Ridge Baptist

The church is not a building.  The church is the body of Christ, a living organism over which He is Head.  But, there is something about church buildings.  Pine Ridge Baptist Church - the building - sits in the heart of Melder, Louisiana physically, spiritually, and at least in years gone by, socially.  It was there that I first heard that Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Wonderful people who loved the Lord would gather in this place along with some not so wonderful people.  We would sing "Standing on the Promises" and "Revive Us Again" and "How Great Thou Art" out of the Broadman Hymnal.  Kind folks would teach squirmy kids Sunday School out of quarterlies and then help us spray paint macaroni gold before we glued it on poster board.  We had amazing home cooked meals there and we had some very raucous monthly business meetings there that hurt our testimony and sometimes hurt one another. Following Sunday morning worship, men would gather in the Louisiana heat near the front door and several would have a smoke together.  I was introduced to Jesus there and baptized there as was my mother before me.  Her funeral and my father's funeral was held there.  It still stands, a quaint building but so much more.  My life was changed there.  I am grateful.