What is Church?

I just finished reading Mike McHargue's book Finding God in the Waves. In the book he tells his story of how he lost his faith and found it again. In his chapter Take Me to Church he says, 

"If you want to know God, it turns out some advice my grandmother gave me mirrors what science has to say: pray, read the Bible, and go to church!

The capacity of the group to help people form and maintain a belief in God and to experience the positive health and emotional effects thereof forms the basis of my claim about what a church can be and do and why that is good for the world:

The Church is at least a global community of people who choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Even if this is all the Church is, the Church is still the largest body of spiritual scholarship, community and faith practice in the world - and this practice can improve people's lives in real, measurable ways." p. 219-220.

It is at least a community trying to improve people's lives in real, measurable ways. So many times church is the direct opposite. At ShadeTree we want our ministry to be good news for all people. Are we perfect? No. Are we spiritual? Sometimes. Are we mature? Not always. Are we loving? I hope so. Are we fun? We are trying. Are we caring? We are getting better.

At ShadeTree Community Church we are on a journey following Jesus. 

This is who we are. 
This is what we do.

As we respond to God’s love, our journey is done with others as a lifelong pursuit of Jesus.

We love having you as our travelling companions. 

Larry Pozza