THE COMFREY CONGREGATION

December 9, 2025

Jason Bonnicksen

THE COMFREY CONGREGATION

365 DAYS OF THANKSLIVING — DAY 9

I veered ever so mindlessly off the road into the parking lot. There’s morespace than usual today, I thought. The place wasn’t completely sparse, but still, I wondered where everyone was at. Not thinking much more of it, I turned off the ignition and walked inside.

This morning’s greeter, Bob, welcomed me when I strolled inside. “Good morning, Pastor,” he said. “Good morning, Bob,” I replied. Tyler was there too, chatting with Bob.

Like me, Tyler’s been under the weather for a week or two. He’s had the same crud that’s been keeping everyone up and night. “How ya feeling?” I asked. “Not bad,” Tyler responded. “I think I’m over the worst it; I’m able to talk again.” It was good to see Tyler up and on his feet again.

I rounded the corner toward the inner sanctum and saw Scott quietly sitting in his pew. A couple of others were seated beside him. Yet, their silence was noticeable, I mused, as though they’d been talking about somebody, until another somebody walked through the door. Theirs’ was a break from the routine. No laughter, no jokes, no nothing.

“Good morning, gents” I said with a grin. Indeed, the place felt barren this morning. Hardly a soul had shown; their pews empty, almost lonely. Rick, Darald, Brian, Brad, Jonathan and a host of others —their absence was noticeable by all.

Scott finally spoke, “I think it’s just the fog, Pastor. I think the weather is keeping everyone away.” He was probably right. Our counties were covered with a blanket of fog in the early hours.

Most of Comfrey’s “C-Store” Congregation hadn't gathered this day — most definitely a break from the routine. If you’re not from here, ya might not know; but the Comfrey congregation isn’t a church in the normal sense. The C-Store is our town’s only gas station and convenience store. Yet every morning, rain or shine, there’s at least two “services” of men who gather to do life. Sometimes I feel like an outsider, so I don’t gather most days. But maybe I should—for them, for me, just to do life.

The C-Store might not be a “church” in the traditional sense. But what is a congregation anyway? Their faith practices (or lack thereof) aren’t what brings them together. Yet that commonality we find in our churches does bring them together. Camaraderie, community, coffee, and an overwhelming sense of commonality are the bonds that draw them and keep them near. They know each other, love each other (in a brotherly sense), and while they may joke about it, they deeply care for one another.

The C-Store congregation is committed to another and our community, and for that I am thankful. Truly, I thank God for these men and for the men and women around our nation who gather in coffee shops, gas stations, and even bait shops to do life together. In small towns across America, men and women are gathering in places like these to keep the bonds of life strong.

Perhaps people living in our nation’s cities could learn a thing or two from our country’s C-Store congregations; for theirs is a form of church that most churches can’t even replicate. If only our churches could be like the C-Store Congregation, then maybe commitment to God might grow again as it was in days of old.

“And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:44–47, NLT

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