View the original article by Associate Press writer Patrick Condon at theoaklandpress.com.
I would love to live in a world without judgment.
And, of all places, I have found that many people consider churches to be the most judgmental of them all. It is a new year -- time to look forward instead of back. But it's hard when there are people who keep bringing up your past.
It was reported that over 91 percent of people who stopped attending a given church, stopped attending because of conflict and gossip.
Minnesota resident Chris Fletcher is looking to change this trend by creating a place people can go and not be judged.
He created a "Bar Church" a few months ago at Dunnigan's Pub & Grub where he has been leading weekly service. Fletcher is a paramedic, part-time bartender and seminary student.
This is not a place people would normally think of a church to be -- at a bar. But why not? Fletcher said he likes the informality and, he believes, if Jesus were alive today, these would be the kind of places he would share his message at.
I feel like we could learn from Fletcher. No matter where we go, whether work or school or the corner bar, we should make those around us feel like they belong.
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