While denominational churches are notorious for offering social and recreational programs to our communities, many churches of Christ set aside special times during the year to offer the only thing that the Lord's church is authorized to offer the community - the Gospel. A Gospel Meeting is the result of a lot of hard work. A lot of thought goes into planning for a Gospel Meeting. We invite a preacher to travel and work with us during the week. We spend time and money advertising and inviting people to attend. During the week we rearrange our personal schedules and often make sacrifices so we can be present for every service. After the meeting is over, we follow up on those who visited with us. Gospel Meetings are our special events.

Attendance during a Gospel Meeting will come from three sources: members, visitors from the community, and visitors from surrounding congregations. We certainly expect our own members to support our Gospel Meetings with faithful attendance. The number of visitors that we have from the community will correspond to the efforts we have put forth in extending invitations. However, there is not much we can do about the number of visitors from surrounding congregations. It is just discouraging when they do not show up.

While we cannot do much about other Christians attending our Meetings, we can discuss our support of their efforts. With high gas prices and greater demands being made upon our time, I wonder how many of us even consider attending Gospel Meetings in other places. At the close of worship services we hear the announcement: "There are some Gospel Meetings in our area this week." Some of us listen with interest for the location and the name of the preacher, but how many of us seriously intend on going? Let me ask you a question: When was the last time you attended another church's Gospel Meeting? Have you ever? I think you should. The following are some reasons why.

1. It is an opportunity to worship God. "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the LORD'" (Ps. 122:1). As a Christian, I should be excited about any and every opportunity to worship God in spirit and in truth. A Gospel Meeting gives me an additional opportunity to assemble with saints of like precious faith and lift my praise and adoration unto God.

2. It is an opportunity to hear Gospel preaching. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matt. 5:6). Every Christian should have a hunger and desire for the Word of God. A Gospel Meeting is an opportunity for us to fulfill this desire.

While the above points are obvious, and should be enough to motivate us to attend Gospel Meetings, there are other matters that I want you to consider.

3. It is an excellent family activity. We hear a lot of talk about the need for families to spend quality time together. Our schedules can easily send family members in different directions all hours of the day. What can we do to spend more time together as a family? Instead of going to a movie, ballgame or to the mall, might I suggest that your family attend a Gospel Meeting? Instead of family game night, why not start a tradition of family Gospel Meeting night? When you hear that a neighboring congregation is having a Gospel Meeting, make plans to attend as a family. The car ride there and back will be time spent together, and the worship will do you more good than any trip to the mall.

4. It is an opportunity to encourage other brethren. We are encouraged by those who visit during our Meetings. When we take the time to attend Gospel Meetings in other places, we are an encouragement to them. However, our presence does more than lend support to the effort they are putting forth that particular week. All churches thrive off of the momentum that can be caused by a good Gospel Meeting. Encouraged by such, they may become more zealous in their local work. This point is especially true if the church is small in number. There are faithful brethren in small churches all across this country who are struggling to carry out the Lord's work. Attendance by other Christians in the area sends a positive message to these saints. It lets them know that they matter, that their efforts are worthwhile, that their light can be seen, and that other Christians care. The call from the Macedonians was, "Come over and help us!" (Acts 16:9). If you want to do something that would help brethren, consider attending more Gospel Meetings.

5. It is an opportunity to see old friends (and make new ones). Our lives are busy, and we rarely make the time to travel just to visit friends. Do you have friends who attend faithful churches in nearby places? How long has it been since you have seen them? Wouldn't it be great to see them again? You can, during their Gospel Meeting. Some of our older members have friends in these places, and would love to attend Gospel Meetings like they once did, but they can't see to drive at night. How about inviting them to go with you?

You don't have any friends who attend these churches? Would you like to? Let me tell you how - start showing up at their Gospel Meetings. Some of the best friends that my wife and I have were met while visiting other churches during their Gospel Meetings. We started "showing up." Soon our faces became familiar and we were being invited over to someone's house after services to get to know them. The next thing we knew - we were friends.

6. It may generate better attendance during our own Gospel Meetings. The purpose of Gospel Meetings should not be to attract the biggest crowd. We should not judge a meeting's success by the number of visitors we have had from surrounding congregations. However, we know how discouraging it can be when we plan and announce a Gospel Meeting and few Christians take the interest and time to travel from surrounding areas to attend. However, can we complain about such poor support when we are just as guilty ourselves? The local church where we are identified as a member does not lie at the center of the brotherhood. The works that are going on in surrounding places are equally important. The road that they travel to attend our Meetings goes both ways. If we would like their support during our Gospel Meetings, shouldn't we be willing to take the time, drive the miles, and support them in their Gospel Meetings (Matt. 7:12)? Who knows, perhaps our example may encourage them to attend more Gospel Meetings themselves?

Conclusion: While I believe strongly in the points that have been made, this article should not be understood as a blanket endorsement of every Gospel Meeting that we may have the opportunity to attend. I would not encourage Christians to attend a Gospel Meeting at a church that has shown that it is no longer abiding in the doctrine of Christ, and I certainly do not encourage Christians to attend Gospel Meetings that are conducted by men who are known to teach error. As stated above, our very presence at a Gospel Meeting is taken by the members as support for their efforts. We can not lend support to those who are not abiding in the doctrine of Christ without partaking in their evil deeds (2 John 9-11). Although a willingness to attend Gospel Meetings should be our first impulse, discretion must be exercised.