Why Church?

It was amazing to see the crowds as Pope Francis visited and celebrated mass in the United States. Although there were limited tickets, the media kept us well-informed of his every move and word. He’s energizing and reaching out to those previously isolated or disenfranchised with organized religion, but will it translate into people returning to church?

AP/John Minchillo- Pope Francis places a white rose at the South Pool of the 9/11 Memorial in downtown Manhattan, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, in New York. 

I’ve been a church-goer most of my life except for a “too busy” time during college. But it wasn’t until I went on a mission trip and felt the grace and caring of Christians who I hardly knew that I understood how much God loves me as his child.It was my first mission trip to South Africa in 2007, traveling with a friend and his church group. We had planted a garden in a township outside of Soweto when I received a phone