5 /5 Richard Toulson: I’ve been attending Door to Hope Church for nearly seven years and can honestly say that Pastor Barry is the best pastor I have had in my 50 years of being a Christian. He really cares about the people God has given him responsibility for. He calls and visits the members of the church when they need it, and sometimes takes some out to dinner just to get to know them better. He is a man of God who bases his life around the Scriptures. He and his wife Anita have been a real blessing to me and my wife since we joined the church in 2017.
The church is not large, about 35 – 50 people, which makes it a very friendly body. Most everyone knows most everyone else, as this is encouraged by a monthly meal at the church. Before and after the service, there are always snacks and beverages where people fellowship together. In addition, there is a monthly men’s meeting at a local restaurant and a monthly women’s meeting at the church.
The music during the Sunday morning service is a nice mix between contemporary and traditional, with a small worship team that encourages congregational participation. The team doesn’t consider themselves as worship leaders; they are lead worshipers, inviting others to join them as they praise the Lord.
The services are relaxed and Pastor Barry often lets others bring the message. He is humble enough to recognize the gifts God has given others to minister to the Body of Christ and gives them opportunity to share with the congregation. The last Sunday of each month is Family Sunday, where the children stay upstairs for the main service and the message is geared to specifically include them, often with activities the whole family can enjoy together.
The church also offers a Wednesday evening gathering with a half-hour of Bible study followed by a half-hour of prayer for various needs. They recently instituted a special session on the first Sunday evening of each month called Salt and Light, which is a study of Christian principles in American history and in current events, often with lively discussions.
I can highly recommend this church to anyone who wants solid Scriptural teaching in a relatively small and comfortable setting.
