Pastor Peter Millington praying for a church member.

AS you walk up the stairway to Shades
of Black any Sunday morning, you are aware
that you're entering
a building generally
used as a nightclub.

Once inside you will notice the bar on the left. On the right, seats are carefully placed. A keyboard stands in the corner and four worship leaders wait patiently behind microphones. A drummer also sits, awaiting the start of service.

A portion of the nightclub is thus transformed into a sanctuary, and it is within this setting that the members of Worship and Breakthrough Centre hold their 9 a.m. services each Sunday.

Soon, gospel music emanates from within these walls and
for about 50 minutes the congregation, seemingly oblivious of the various "spirits" across the room, worship in song and
dance as they soak
in the harmony
of the worship team.

Worship and Breakthrough Centre was established four years ago by Pastor Peter Millington. Today, his assistants are Pastors Clyde Butcher and Margarette Wilson. The church has gone through its share of challenges but today is experiencing significant numerical growth, thanks to a faithful congregation.

While Sunday service is held at this Roebuck Street nightclub, Wednesday and Friday night services take place at Grazettes Community Centre.

When the Altar Call team visited recently it was to hear a brief but clearly expounded sermon and experience a wonderful time of worship. Only Pastor Millington was aware of our visit, but the warm welcome we received was indicative of the reception everyone who enters the church experiences.

Millington balances his roles as keyboardist, worship leader and preacher admirably. And as we sang You Are Awesome In This Place, he reminded the congregation about the importance of giving God thanks before any blessing.

Examining the parable of the wheat and the tares, taken from Matthew 13: 24-30, he insisted that the good and the bad must grow together in the church as directed in the text.

"There are demons
who come to church every Sunday. They look like Christians, sing like Christians, put in their offerings, say "bless you pastor", but they are not
of God.

"We come to church
to hear God's voice, but Satan also sends people
to the church to bring down the church. His angels are transformed into angels of light," Millington said.

He stressed, as in the parable:

"While men slept the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. Satan's plans are always to destroy what God is doing. You have to know who is your friend and who is your enemy. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

He advised that in order to distinguish the wheat from the tares, one must look at the fruit of the Spirit.

"We cannot separate the wheat from the tares, the Lord does. Make sure you are not a tare. Be vigilant and be careful what kind of people
attach themselves
to you," he added.

Millington summed up by paying attention to the important role the intercessor plays in the church by helping to diffuse the works of darkness.

* cherylharewood@
nationnews.com