I am convinced today, that our churches are in need of cheerleaders.

The job of a cheerleader is to tell everybody “we’re going to make it.” No matter how bad things look on the scoreboard, there is still hope.

Cheerleaders cheer all the way to the end of the game and will act like the team is winning by a big score even when there may be no way that a victory is possible. They just keep doing their job, offering encouragement.

In our golden text, Paul tells us we gain encouragement by the words of others. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between finishing well and collapsing along the way.

Look around you. Be sensitive to others’ needs be supportive with your words and actions.

When people come into our churches with broken lives, they need to run into some cheerleaders, people who are willing to show support and tell them that they are going to make it. “We want YOU!”

Guest columnist Willie White is pastor of Greater Saint Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church in Brantley.