Culpeper saw more troops march through its county than any other county in the nation during the Civil War. The atrocities it saw during this time of war and the blood that soaked its ground left scars on our community that are still seen to this day.
The Anglican Church oversaw the Baptist Church in Culpeper in the 1700's. If you preached without permission from the Anglican Church, you were imprisoned. Culpeper imprisoned more Baptist preachers than any other county in the nation. Many fought back, and as a result, Culpeper was the birthplace of religious freedom.
About 50 years ago, Culpeper was voted as the second healthiest place to live in the USA, behind Asheville, NC. In 1971, the US Department of Interior designated the Culpeper-Warrenton area as one of the seven most desirable places to live. Not too long ago, Culpeper was voted as one of the top ten small towns in America.
But what about the Christian community? What kind of accolades is the Church receiving? Here are but a few transformations I believe God wants for our community:
-The Church in Culpeper reaches across ethnic boundaries. The African American and Hispanic churches unite with the "white" church to reconcile and fight prejudice with sincere love.
-Christians look beyond their church membership as not just family tradition, Sunday attendance and an opportunity to hold a seat on the Church Board, but more as an obligation to live a life that reflects Christ in our words and actions every day of the week.
-Christians no longer allow denominational labels to prevent unity within the Church of Culpeper.
-Our older generations live with such integrity and character in their relationship with Christ that the younger generations look to them with respect and adoration.
-Christians bring home from church a lifestyle and love for the community that reaches their neighbors through a relationship founded in authentic love, care and service.
-Churches grow not as a result of transfer of membership, but as a result of reaching our community with the Word of God, the love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 comment:
I love what you said here:
"Christians no longer allow denominational labels to prevent unity within the Church of Culpeper."
In my weekly women's Bible study we've been studying the book of John this year. This past week we studied chapter 17. Our leader encourages us to come up with titles for the chapters. I titled chapter 17 "United We MUST Stand". If only we could all just be united as believers and do away with all these denominations that cause division.
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