You're the Church

I just want to say thank you! Thank you for being what my parents had in mind. It was never about money to them! My father used to say, "Jesus didn't get paid to preach! We are here to serve the folks of the community. We are here for them and their times of need. We are here for them when they have questions that need answers or a light bill that needs to be paid. 'The congregation is the church,' is what he said. Translation - You don't need a building to make a church. YOU'RE THE CHURCH!" - Pastor, Marlon Stafford A patriarch dies and leaves behind his wife and child, along with a hand built legacy now in jeopardy. His son is asked to leave his own budding dreams and success by the beloved matriarch to save the foundation of their family... the church! Marlon, the son of the recently deceased and respected preacher, Pastor Marlon Stafford Sr., has gone off and made a name for himself in the world of professional sports as a star in the NFL. In one day, it all comes to an end when his beloved father dies. His mother asks him to come home to save the family church that was built from the ground up by his parents. The church was special to all those in attendance, because the pastor saw the PEOPLE as the church, not the building itself. When faced with this great dilemma (or opportunity), Marlon does not instantly accept the responsibility (or burden) placed upon him. He returns home to take care of the funeral arrangements. Almost immediately, he makes the decision to stay because of what he witnesses in his father's church. In order to keep the church in the family, Marlon has to become an ordained minister. The clock is ticking! Compared to the mega churches, the small mom and pop church realizes it can't compete with the sudden pop up and popularity of mega churches. The building is old. There's gang trouble with some of the members' kids. The leaders left behind are stealing and planning to find a way to take the church away from the people and follow suit with the mega church model. At the same time his mother is attempting to convince him to take over, Marlon witnesses this deterioration and decides to do right by his people and stay. It won't be easy. Doing his due diligence, he learns the best way to help the church is through the babes of the church. In hopes of a spiritual cleanse and church re-imagining even though the pastor has recently died, it's decided to continue with this year's annual fast. The children of some of the members begru