The late Rev. Dr. Allene Gilmore, who was the pastor of the Gilmore Memorial Tabernacle Church in the City of Paterson always touted the local church.

Rev. Gilmore would often remind her congregation that there were various and sundry benefits to belonging to a local church.

Relationships that bonded the body of Christ was just one such benefit. I suppose I write this as many churches and individuals are getting ready to head for Atlanta, Ga., to Megafest, a gathering where a sea of humanity will come to hear preachers, teachers, performers and motivational speakers espouse what God's people need regarding both their secular and non-secular lives.

I attended this massive confab last year. It was wonderful. It was spiritual. It was thought provoking. It was anointed. Then I returned home as a pastor of a church that cannot be defined as a megachurch and to people whose needs are great nevertheless.

The buildings that housed Megafest, last year, were filled to capacity with families, churches and individuals who trekked their way there at the behest of America 's prominent pastor, Bishop T.D. Jakes.

He is arguably the most well-known minister in the nation, outside of Evangelist Billy Graham.

Truth be told, a megachurch is a phenomenon that isn't likely to happen in every congregation I don't care how much you tithe or turn over your plate (fast). And, believe it or not, some folks aren't necessarily comfortable in a church where a pastor may not know their names.

And, a man or woman may not be equipped spiritually to pastor such a large congregation. In any event, those unnamed pastors who work tirelessly within the confines of the ministries God has given them, fortunately, can be assured that the their crowns in heaven won't be any less diminished.

The Black community is not only plagued with the AIDS crisis but also is being affected daily by Black youngsters killing each other. What's up with that?

The men and women who pastor local churches need the help of not only the law enforcement community but residents as well to protect this village that folks like to talk about but sometimes not be about.

The Black church, under the tutelage of the late Rev. Floville LaGarde and his dynamic wife, the Rev. Claudia LaGarde was where I learned much about public speaking, poise, and the meaning of community and the Great Commission itself.

My parents along with the parents of the Rev. Calvin McKirmey, pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Garfield, Deacon "Cap" Manuel, a relative of mine, along with countless others put their arms around this writer and my peers to demonstrate what Christ and church life was all about.

I readily concede that I didn't appreciate such guidance until I had become of age and could then look back and acknowledge the wisdom of those old saints.

I don't think Calvary Baptist Church , that old Garfield landmark housed more than 150 congregants. It didn't matter. We were all insulated with the love of God, commitment Sunday School teachers, devoted parents who took us rather than sent us to church, a church program that stretched us and helped us to grow and most of all a feeling of belonging.

Yes, there is something to say about the local church. Megachurches will continue to be part of the spiritual landscape. And thank God for that. But the local church, where a specific group of people come together just because they love the Lord and the comfort of being with people they know and can get to know better on a weekly basis is joy unspeakable.

It is serving God in the beauty of holiness and sameness. And in this case sameness and familiarity is a good thing.