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Ministry in a Fallen World

In 1983 the First Presbyterian Church of Concord, California was in the headlines. Pastor Leon Thompson had convinced his 500 member congregation to purchase the pornographic theatre adjacent to the church. The community was thrilled by the church's gutsy move. The only catch was that the theater proprietors still had another several months on his lease. For the better part of a year First Presbyterian Church was the landlord collecting rent on a theatre that showed X-rated adult films.

Willing to be misunderstood and criticized, the church took the heat in order to guarantee that the theatre would be closed down. Within two years the old Galaxy Theatre was the Presbyterian Community Center. Where once degrading sexual fantasies flickered on the big screen, Bible studies and recovery groups now met.

In the actions of First Presbyterian Church we see a reflection of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. To battle sin head on, he entered into our sinful world and risked rejection and being misunderstood in order to pay the price of our redemption.

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