NATCHEZ &8212; The Bible states that when two or three are gathered in Jesus&8217; name, He is there in the midst.

So you can imagine what the Rev. Raymond Riley Sr.&8217;s den was like Sunday afternoon, when it was packed full of church members from 2 years of age on up.

&8220;This is how it usually is on Sundays after church,&8221; said Riley, pastor of Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Vidalia.

&8220;All the young people just gather here and fellowship.&8221;

Sometimes the crowd is closer to 20 people, with some spilling out onto the lawn of Riley&8217;s Pine Street home to talk, laugh and have a good time.

On Sunday, the youth were inside watching the Disney Channel, while other teens and young adults were discussing the morning&8217;s service.

Monica Skipper of Ferriday said she thought before the church service that her back hurt too much to move. &8220;But then I felt the Spirit&8221; and began to dance, she said, to the laughter of her fellow church members.

Alicia Williams even gave visitors a sample of her church dancing, with her friends encouraging her on.

Williams, a Vidalia native, said he now lives in Jackson but joined the church two weeks ago and is committed to returning each week with her daughters, ages 2 and 3.

What brought her to that church in particular, she said, &8220;was the Lord. When the Lord speaks, you&8217;ve got to follow.&8221;

&8220;For me, it was the Word (of God). I&8217;m learning that,&8221; Skipper said.

And in the process, Minister of Music Kejuane Bates of Natchez said, &8220;we have a good time.&8221;

For his part, Riley believes it&8217;s the Spirit of God and love that had brought his church family together.

And as long as God allows, he said, he&8217;ll continue to keep the doors of his home open.

&8220;They&8217;re more than welcome,&8221; Riley said.