J. Garrett Kell has served as a pastor of Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia since 2012. Before this he served several different churches, including Denton Bible Church and Graham Bible Church in Texas, and Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He is also the author of author of ‘Pure in Heart: Sexual Sin and the Promises of God’. Garrett is married to Carrie, and together they have five children.

”It seems like the Church is to Christianity what silent letters are to words. Everyone knows it is necessary, but very few people know why.  Garret does the job of a good teacher—or maybe even a good mechanic. He takes apart the pieces that make up the church (one by one),shows their importance and necessity and puts them back together seamlessly.The end result is that the reader is more than just convinced of the church’s necessity, they become captivated by its beauty. Such a helpful resource for everyone who finds themselves walking through the front doors of any church.“John Onwuchekwa(Lead Pastor, Cornerstone Church, Atlanta, Georgia)”There are few living pastors I respect more than Garrett Kell. His writing always helps me because it brims with sharp biblical insights and seasoned pastoral instincts. Church: Do I Have to Go? is no exception. I wish this book had existed when I was younger; I’m thrilled it exists now. Buy several copies and hand them out liberally.“Matt Smethurst(Lead Pastor, River City Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia; author, ‘Tim Keller on the Christian Life’; cohost, The Everyday Pastor)