Don't Just Go to Church

September 17, 2019 | Carol Senour

In the last year, I have learned the importance of community. After all, Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

 

For many years I attended church with my daughters, but I didn’t have the connection with the pastors that I expected. As a result, I felt less valuable and often times, invisible.

 

During one service, I heard the announcement that said everyone should attend Celebrate Recovery because we all have something to work on. I made the decision to press in and attended my first Celebrate Recovery to focus on past hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Through a small group, I became close with a few women from the church and we spent almost a year together working through the 12-step books. We lived out Hebrew 10:24–25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” 

 

As we talked, many shared similar frustrations and we became close. I finally felt like a part of the church family. 

 

Continuing to stretch myself, I attended the membership class and started serving on the Hosting Team. My community (family) started to grow. Next, I signed up for a Vineyard FIT membership and began my classes to learn more about God. 

 

With every class that I take, I meet new people and my circle has grown to where I no longer feel invisible when I walk into church. Greetings and hugs are just a part of arriving for service. 

 

I realized it takes doing something different, putting yourself out there and pressing in, to experience a different world through community. 

 

I’ll leave you with 1 Corinthians 12:25–27, “So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 

 

Press in and experience community, where we all grow together, as one team on fire for God.

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