But then, as often happens, life happened. Perhaps it was a busy career, a move to a new country like Portugal, or simply a slow drift away from the habits of worship. If you find yourself in this position - someone who has Christian values but has perhaps lapsed in their practice - you are far from alone.

There is a common fear among those who have been away from the church: the fear of judgment. We worry that if we walk back through those doors, we will be met with questions about where we’ve been or “what happened”. We might feel a sense of guilt for the time that has passed or a feeling that we are no longer “qualified” to sit in the pews.

The message we want to share with you is simple: there is no guilt, no shame, no condemnation, and no judging. The church is not a museum for saints; it is a hospital for the soul and a home for the weary. Jesus represents truth, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. That grace is “unmerited favour,” meaning it isn’t something you have to earn by having a perfect attendance record or a flawless life.

Think of the invitation to “come and see” as an invitation to visit an old friend. You don’t need to explain your absence to a friend who truly loves you; they are simply happy that you are there. No matter how many times you might feel you’ve walked away, the door remains ajar. There is a profound sense of fulfilment in returning to a place where you are known and loved just as you are.

The power of Jesus is eternal, and that power is just as available to you today as it was the day you first believed. You don’t need to have all the answers, and you don’t need to have your life perfectly sorted out. We invite you to simply come and see. Visit your local church, experience the warm and friendly welcome that has been extended to so many visitors across the Algarve, and see if that old sense of joy and hope is still there waiting for you. It is never too late to find your way back to the peace that passes all understanding.