The first thing that impressed me about the Gainesville area when I moved here from Savannah in 1972 were the wonderful churches in the city, the suburbs and in the county area serving every portion of the community.

As time passed, I observed how these churches helped families with religious holidays, the death of their loved ones parishioners and their families, celebrations of marriage, births of children, wedding anniversaries and honoring parents and grandparents for their lifetime contributions to the churches and the community.

In short, the churches have been the glue that holds society together and preserves the values of the majority of the people in our area. The significance of this value system has become so important when you see what is happening in our community, like the recruitment of American citizens to the Islamic State or the Taliban (6,000 U.S. citizens have been taken by IS), the criminal rise of gun violence, family violence, gang violence and drug addiction causing vehicular homicides or serious injury by vehicle.

As long as these churches stay alive and well, and continue to influence our lives we shall have the kind of country our children and grandchildren will enjoy by preserving our good values and the guarantee of the good life that results from faithful adherence to the bible and especially the words and life lessons of Jesus.

As we drive by our churches, we need to bow our heads and whisper, “Thanks for keeping us on the right path.”

We have a new reminder of a Christian’s duty by Tim McGraw: “Be humble, be kind.”

Troy R. Millikan
Gainesville

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