AUBURN - There is a passage from the Bible that Eddie Piper has based much of his extensive ministry on. Colossians 3:16, Piper said when he stopped Sunday evening to bring his ministry of songs and prayers to Auburn Alliance Church, is a verse that sums up what he tries to bring to the people that listen to his sermons.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” the verse says. “As you teach and admonish each other in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your heart to the Lord.”

And that is exactly what Piper has been doing for 32 years, traveling the churches all over the East Coast and into Canada from his home base in Lewistown, Pa.

Pastor David Richter said that he has known Piper for many years and that he tries to open the church up to guest speakers and singers as much as possible.

“It just adds some variety,” Richter said. “It lets us open up to the community and bring in people who belong to the church and sometimes we get other people that don't already belong, but want to stop and listen.”

Richter said that Piper has visited Auburn Alliance Church on many occasions.

“He has a strong message,” Richter said. “He is very focused on what is going on today in the world and he is very relevant and he presents it in a nice way both through singing and speaking.”

Many members of the church have had the opportunity to hear Piper speak in the past and were eager to hear him again.

“I've heard him before,” said Stacy MacDonald, of Auburn. “It is truly a blessing and there was no way that I was going to miss seeing him again.”

Piper sees his ministry as an opportunity to share a larger message with as many people as possible.

“I try to encourage Christians,” Piper said. “I try to encourage people in their involvement and how people honor the Lord.”

Being February and with Valentine's Day rapidly approaching, Piper hit on the theme of love, not only from one person to another but the love both for and from God.

“We are sharing the message of Jesus,” Piper said. “This is love month and we are thinking about love. I'm not much for buying gifts and cards for every holiday on the calendar, but Valentine's Day is something special and it is also about the love of God.”

With songs like “Love Lifted Me” and “Jesus Loves Me,” Piper got his audience involved, singing along with him.

“That song (“Jesus Loves Me”) everybody knows,” Piper said. “Everybody thinks it is a song for children, but think about what it says. It says that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves everyone, isn't that great to know? What a profound song, a song that is for everybody.”

Piper's combination of singing and speaking and getting the audience involved was an experience that many could relate to and appreciate.

“He has such a good message,” said Dee Sergi, of Auburn. “We all come to church to praise the Lord, that is what we are all here for. And he does this in such a nice way and he incorporates all of us and gets us involved. It is very nice.”