The Church What Helps People

If you were alive and at least somewhat acquainted with the church of Christ prior to 1984, you probably remember a man by the name of Ira North. Brother North was probably best known as the preacher for the Madison (TN) church of Christ. During his thirty-two years there, it grew from about 400 to over 5,000. 

Along with his normal preaching duties, he also was the speaker for a weekly television program called The Amazing Grace Bible Class. He was also a faculty member at what was then David Lipscomb College (now Lipscomb University). He was an author and served for a time as editor of the Gospel Advocate. 

While actually doing some research for something else, I came across something written by brother North after his death by his wife of forty-three years. Along with other things, she wrote:

Ira frequently related the incident about the “Church What Helps People.” One afternoon he was in the office after everyone else was gone. There was a timid knock at his outside door. He went to the door and there stood two frightened little girls.

“Mister, is this the church what helps people.” they asked.

“Well, I’ll declare!” Ira quickly replied. “There are 750 churches in this town and you have found the right one! What can I do for you?”

“Our daddy’s sick and we are hungry,” they said.

“Well, we’ll fix that. Come with me.”

He took them to the food room and found the door locked.

“Well, what do you know – somebody forgot and locked the door.”

He picked up a hammer and broke the lock and sent the little girls home with their arms filled with sacks of food. Before leaving them he invited them to Bible school the next Sunday.

It has been observed by people who are much more in tune with things than I am that, over time, every congregation of God’s people develops an identity and/or a reputation. It is my observation that this is rarely limited to one description. For example; a congregation can (and should) be known as both “sound” and “evangelistic.”

Wouldn’t it be great to be known (among other things) as “the church what helps people?”  What are you doing to make that a reality?

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