Hello friends,

My friends Renee and Mike are adopting. (If you didn’t know, the process to adopt in America is both extensive and expensive.) A couple at my church offered their house as a location for a garage sale to raise money (they live on a busy street that has easy accessible parking).  The people at my church were asked to donate items to be sold.  To say my church showed up would be an understatement.  So many items were donated, additionally many people made themselves available to help, especially for opening and closing all three days!!!  My friends sold a lot of things, and many people gave extra for donations to help them raise money to adopt.

Renee and Mike are an amazing couple who love Jesus and have dedicated their lives to serving God.  We are very fortunate to have them serving at our church.  We also are fortunate to have such a loving church, who would come together like they have for this garage sale to help raise the money needed for the adoption process.

Once again this shows why we need a church to call home.  When I first moved from my childhood home to where I am now, I visited many churches. Some were ok, just too big for me. Some felt a friendly but not “like home.” One we went to for a few years trying to create a friendlier environment (it’s where Marie met Shawn). We later realized the pastor’s beliefs didn’t align with our own (he believed after you die you get one more chance to repent, which is unbiblical).

About two years and three months after we moved here, we finally found a church that really felt like home.  We stayed there for over 10 years.  I loved that church and the people in it, but the church started leaning towards beliefs I felt were unbiblical, so I had to change.  I was heartbroken to leave that church, the people were some of the most kind and loving people I’d met since leaving my hometown.  But when we feel the Holy Spirit tell us to move, we move.  By this time my mom had passed a year prior, my sister had stopped attending church services and just went to Sunday School. I was sitting in church alone and talking to people before and after church felt forced.  So I researched churches and shortly after found the church I attend now.

The first time I went, I was welcomed immediately as two people introduced themselves. They made sure to introduce me to others in the room (it was a Sunday Night service). A couple weeks later I went back on a Sunday morning, where a very sweet lady took me to a ladies Sunday School Class. It only took about a month for me to feel I belonged there.  Two months after that, the church hired a new pastor.  Then three months after that, Covid started. Masks and social distancing became the norm.  Our sanctuary was large enough that we could social distance, and Sunday School classes were encouraged to meet separately if they were able.  Mine met in our new Pastors’s backyard, where we could socially distance by household, but still gather as the Bible tells us to do.

My church worked hard to ensure our elderly and shut-ins were taken care of during that time.  I honestly can’t speak for everything, since I was still learning about ministries of the church, but I do know I called some shut-ins to check on them.

Fast forward to now, our church continues to be loving.  About 18 months ago they secretly collected money so a family in my church could travel to the wife’s hometown in another country. She hadn’t seen her family in almost nine years, but they got to go visit.  The wife was so happy to see her family and meet family members she had not met in person before.

Another group of women have a card ministry and they write and send cards for people who are going through struggles, physical or otherwise.

Loving the church doesn’t have to mean money (although it’s needed to keep the church running).  Loving the church can be cards, words of encouragement.  A hug and a prayer.  Taking an hour out of your schedule to spend time with them listening or doing an activity.  Letting someone know they are seen, and they are valued.

If you do not have a church to call HOME, one you can go to every week, please start looking.  Find a Bible believing church (check what they teach against scripture). Find a church that has fruit (“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬a ESV‬‬). Lastly find a church where you can grow.

I am a follower of Christ, I am not perfect, but I love Jesus.

Until Next Time,

Liz Allen