I am thankful for my...church

When we stepped into Christ's Church back in 2003 (I believe), Kellea and I both knew that was the place for us. We were looking for a church home and had been attending Christian Family Chapel on Old St. Augustine. About halfway through the service, we both looked at one another and said this was it. Sr. Pastor Dennis Bratton seemed to speak directly to us in each of the services. The worship music, then led by Aaron Pelsue, was the perfect combination of familiar songs and upbeat music. The people were friendly and the programs were just phenomenal.
Once we got into a small group, the final piece was in place. We got connected in ministry with me volunteering in the sports ministry and Kellea dabbling in Meals on Wheels and the photography ministry. We even both spent some time in the Suite B with the 2-year olds.
My wife emailed Dennis one day to tell him about our tithing story and he asked us to stand before the congregation and tell them our story. That was tough for me but Kellea was a pro. Public speaking is a gift for her and she is awesome at it. I was just a bystander as she told 90% of the story and it's good thing because I was a bundle of nerves. She carried the family that day!
I would go onto work at the church as the Adult Sports Director and then Kellea would eventually work for the school as the Director of Marketing and Development. Just as important for Kellea's connection to the church was her involvement with the family ministry as a small group leader for 9th grade girls.
I remember Dennis talking about how the goal should be to have the body of teh church be a major part of your daily life. That day I had no idea how that could ever fit into my life as it was that day. Now, I can't imagine not having the involvement in ever facet of our daily lives.

I love my Small Group...

At Christ's Church, there is a strong push to have all our members get into a small group. This is where "real life change happens." In a church our size, it can be very easy to just sit in the pew and leave each Sunday, feeling like you can now check that box off your list. Being actively involved in a small group changes that and allows you to make connections to people you might otherwise never meet.
Without sounding like a "yes man," everything these small groups are advertised to be is true. When we came to Christ's Church (known as Mandarin Christian Church then), Senior Pastor Dennis Bratton told us to give it a try and don't stop if it's not the right match the first time. Well, that rang true and our second group was MUCH more successful and those relationships we built are some of our very close friends to this day. Janet, Dell, Clay, Donna, etc....people who God put in my at just the right time.

Mark Tyre and the rest of the Small Group ministry tell us that being in a home study group helps you make connections which makes this large church not seem so large and intimidating. As someone who grew up in a Church of Christ (non-instrumental) with about 200 people, coming to Mandarin Christian was a shock of sorts. I can't tell you how nice it was to see those faces of my small group friends each and every week.

And over the years as we have joined different small groups, the relationships and friendships have grown. I probably have 20 dear friends that I have as a direct result of being in a small group with them. Connections like that don't come from an ABF class. Or a basketball team. And it sure doesn't happen from just coming and sitting in a pew every Sunday.

Now my current Small Group seems to fit like a glove. My wife and I were just thrilled that each of the 13 people in our group seemed to mesh. What's so awesome is we have singles, married with young kids and married with adult kids. Some in our group are in their early 20's and some in their 60's. Some are in their first small group and some in their 5th. Some are brand new to CC and some are pushing 20 years of attendance.

Now this assortment of folks will offer variety and perspectives that will make this group flourish.

Please comment to my blogs if you'd like...

I have set up the blog to allow for comments to be added by anyone regardless if you are a "user" of the site. It's easy actually. Just click on the comment icon at the end of the blog and it pops up what you need to add a comment. It even allows you to post it anonymously. Of course I will have to approve the comments before they are listed but I promise to post even negative comments as long as they are not "nasty" in nature. I will not spread hate for the sake of freedom of speech or "accountability" as some like call their flaming (posts that are deliberately hostile and insulting) messages.

Here is a question for you to think about or even post a response to. How is God using you in your present situation for His purpose? Now, this could include your job, housing situation or even a small group you are involved with. Really dislike the people you work with? Is God putting some people in your path to witness to? How about that new small group you joined last month? Is that annoying know-it-all guy just sucking the life out of the group? Is it just easier to bail and let the next unsuspecting group have to deal with him or has God placed YOU there to deal with him? Like our Senior Pastor Dennis Bratton told us a while back, "don't just look at a situation and say you will pray for them. Ask yourself how YOU can be used in that situation." Maybe God keeps putting difficult people in your path for a reason...