This Week @ Monday Creek: It's all about Jesus

 

Alex Stine, Church Secretary
Nelsonville Wesleyan Church, Nelsonville, Ohio USA

Billy Graham once said, “Churchgoers are like coals in a fire. When they cling together, they keep the flame burning; when they separate, they die out.” Dwight D. Eisenhower echoed this truth, noting, “A church is a place where you can find a community of people who help you carry your burdens and celebrate your blessings.”

Nelsonville Wesleyan Church has long been a steady spiritual home in Nelsonville, Ohio—a place where faith, fellowship, and community come together. Rooted in the Wesleyan tradition of holiness and service, the church continues to offer a welcoming environment for worship, Bible teaching, youth activities, and outreach. The congregation gathers weekly for Sunday School at 9:00 AM, Sunday Worship at 10:00 AM, Wednesday evening service at 7:00 PM, and Thursday Bible Study at 11:30 AM, along with additional programs that encourage deeper involvement. Services are led by Pastors Andy Stine and Mike Thomas, whose steady leadership and heartfelt preaching create an atmosphere of encouragement, spiritual growth, and genuine care.

Church is a place where we come to grow, worship, and support one another. Yet because we are human, it can also be a place where we occasionally feel offended, intimidated, or misunderstood. Many people have stepped away from church because something “didn’t resonate,” or because a comment or moment hurt their feelings. These experiences are almost never intentional; they often arise from stress, miscommunication, or simply not knowing someone’s full story. When they occur, we are called to respond with patience, forgiveness, and grace. Small offenses should never overshadow the greater purpose of gathering in faith. Dismissing these hurts and choosing unity keeps our eyes on Jesus, who teaches us to extend grace as freely as we receive it. We are called to forgive others just as Jesus forgives us.

Being part of a congregation—worship, Bible study, fellowship—brings countless rewards. Scripture reminds us that we are meant to gather together, to learn, to grow, and to encourage one another. None of us are perfect; we all need a Shepherd. Attending church shows others that we depend on Jesus for everything, not on people. Some individuals may be instruments of God’s peace and help us through difficult moments, but our focus must remain on Christ alone.

Find a church near you. Become part of a higher calling. Even if you feel out of place at first, keep your eyes on Jesus. Leave emotional burdens at the door. Stay humble, stay committed, stay open. Relax your heart and let Christ in. Without Him, we are nothing; with Him, we can grow, prosper, and find purpose. Seek Him. Your future depends on it.

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