Chris Hodges - who leads the forty five thousand member Church in the Highlands in Alabama - has been speaking to Premier as he launches his new book 'The Daniel Dilemma'.
He says the church was never supposed to be just for believers.
"We've got to make sure the church understands what the church exists for," he said. "We don't exist to be a little club that we have just for us - too many people think the church is for church people.
"I personally believe the church is a place where people who don't agree with us can come."
Hodges says he's had to work hard in his own church on this issue.
"We've had to train our church people and teach them how Jesus lived his life and how he ministered to people.
"That's why I wrote the book - most people feel ill equipped and don't know how to both stand firm and love well."
You can hear more from Chris Hodges on Premier Drive at 3pm on Monday or listen again at premierchristianradio.com
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