ANNISTON BIBLE CHURCH

Over the past several years, I began to realize that I was not getting what I needed at my "home" church. There were times when I would leave feeling like I should've just stayed at home because there was no SS lesson taught that day. Nothing but chit-chat about what happened during the week.

Beginning last year, a couple friends of mine from Texas began to "bug" me about changing churches. They surfed the net and found a church that was near my last job and told me I should try that. It was so hard for me to even consider leaving. But there was one Sunday where I had had enough. It was announced that we were starting a new parenting class for our group. I was not thrilled whatsoever. Mostly because I am not a parent. But, also, because I had an idea of what the class would be like. A bunch of psycho-babble that had nothing to do with learning the Bible. I found out later from a friend that it was a "round table discussion" type class. I KNEW IT!! Don't get me wrong, it's good for parents to get help in gaining parenting skills, especially in areas they feel they are weak in, but save it for a week night, don't use up time that should be spent in serious BIBLE STUDY!!! Some people may disagree with me, and that's fine, but I don't go to church for self-help, psychological group discussions....I want Bible study.

So the next Sunday I went to Anniston Bible Church where my Texas friends had suggested. I was VERY apprehensive. But I sucked it up and walked into that church and as soon as I walked in the door I was approached by one of the Elders who introduced himself and asked me my name and right off the bat began telling me what classes they had and took me to the class I was interested in sitting in. As soon as I sat down, the teacher (another Elder) came and sat down in front of me (we meet in the sanctuary) and began talking to me. He introduced himself, asked me my name, asked me how I picked their church, etc. etc.. I confessed to him that I was apprehensive since I didn't know what to expect, but he laughed and said "don't worry, we don't speak in tongues, or handle snakes"....LOL. Wow, he read my mind.

I can truly tell you that I have NEVER been in a church that put SOOOO much emphasis on Scripture. There is no Sunday school material that they buy.....they use ONLY the Bible. And because of this fact, those who teach the classes REALLY HAVE to study!! No "canned" lessons as my friend, Mark, calls them. Those who are asked to teach, teach out of the Bible...book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. The man teaching right now is teaching out of the Book of Luke and we're in chapter 2. And like I said earlier, they HAVE to study. No skimping, no skimming. But deep, serious Bible study. In the few months I've been there, I have been fed like I've never been fed before. And I'm not talking about food....I'm talking about being fed God's Word. And it makes me wonder, why doesn't EVERY church do that???