Our Search for a Church Home

Andrew and I have been searching for a church home since we got married. As Andrew and I began dating he resigned as the youth director of the church he was serving so he joined my family at my home church.  He would drive down from Bel Air Sunday mornings and then he would spend the entire day with my family and me.  So when we got married and I moved to Bel Air we did not have a home church in our community and we realized that it was not possible to continue to commute to Calvert County every Sunday for church.  It would also be really hard to serve at a church that is an hour and a half away and Andrew and I have talked about serving in a church together since the very beginning of our relationship. 

Needless to say over the last year our search for a church home has been very difficult, partly because we grew up in two different faith traditions and finding the happy medium was difficult.  We had also visited many different places but weren't feeling that any were a great fit for us and our gifts.  We have been part of an amazing small group though through a local church that is a great positive support and community for us during this time of transition.  After finding out that we were expecting we both felt very pressured to find a church home were we could begin to raise our family.  In October our small group and the affiliated church began a series called "Greater" by Steven Furtick at Elevation Church.  As we began this study Andrew and I prayed that the Lord would really make it clear to us where he wanted us to go for a home church; at the time we felt like there were 3 options.  1- Fully get involved at the church affiliated with our small group and make that our home.  2- Begin working with LINC Baltimore on a unique church planting model called Missional Communities.  3- Find another established church. 

The first week of the Greater study on our way to church Andrew and I were talking and he said he felt like the Lord was telling him that He has given us a child so quickly (much quicker than Andrew was expecting) because it was going to put us in the position to meet many new people and it would be a great mission field.  As he said this I knew he was then leaning towards working with LINC to begin a Missional Community.  I on the other hand was not really feeling that way and my initial reaction was we are going to be interacting with a lot of new people until the baby is a toddler so that would be 2 or 3 years down the road.

That day in church the pastor began preaching on the Greater study and it starts with the story of Elijah and Elisha and how Elijah was a prophet of the Lord and he went to go get Elisha to begin training him up in the way of the Lord.  When Elijah got to Elisha at first Elisha was not sure about leaving and then the Lord had quickly changed his mind and directed his path so Elisha decided to slaughter his cattle and burn his plows because he was not going to need those things any more.  He was no longer going to be a farmer he was going to leave with Elijah answering the Lord's call to go share God's word.  The pastor challenged us to burn our plows and take a step of faith to do what God was calling us too.  He then proceeded to give a list of examples of ways that we could burn our plows; and he gave many standard ideas like building a faith focus in your home, or leaving/starting a job that the Lord wants ... but then part way through his list he says "Maybe the Lord is calling you to begin a new ministry and serve your community."  Andrew was then very convicted that we were being called to begin this new ministry with LINC.

That afternoon as we discussed things I was not sure that I was on the same page and I told Andrew that I had 3 reservations about Missional Communities.  1- I am an introvert, although I can lead and take charge with the best of them I get drained from people and it takes me a very long time to develop relationships with people.  Once I know you I can be very outgoing but at first I am very reserved.  The Missional Communities is all about building meaningful relationships with people and I did not feel that it was one of my strengths.  2- This is a Lutheran church plant and I did not grow up in a Lutheran church.  Although all of the main doctrine is the same there are two big theological differences and so I might not necessarily answer any questions people would ask the way that a Lutheran would.  3- I was not sure about leaving the traditional church setting because that setting was so influential on me growing up. 

Over the next week we continued to pray that the Lord would lead us where he wanted.  Through that week Andrew felt more and more called to go plant a Missional Community through LINC and I was holding tight to my 3 reservations.  That Friday as I walked into a professional development training with a co-worker she got stopped by someone to chat.  I kept going and when she caught up to me she said, "You are going to meet so many people and know people everywhere you go once you have kids.  That lady's daughter is in dance with my daughter."  As the words came out of her mouth I cringed and though to myself, "No Lord, I am not going to meet people until the baby is much older and I don't think I can do this."  Her words kept replaying in my mind through out that entire weekend.

Then, Sunday at church for week 2 of the Greater study the pastor continued to talk about Elisha who was now a prophet himself and there were 3 kings were headed into battle but their armies had gotten lost in the wilderness and were thirsty and near death.  They called on Elisha to get help from the Lord.  In the end the Lord tells Elisha that the armies will have to dig ditches in the bottom of this valley in order to catch the rain water to help them survive.  The pastor then challenged us to dig our own ditches.  He challenged us to obey where the Lord was leading us to and burn our plow and dig our ditch in order to serve him.  Through this entire message I really felt the Lord leading me to let go of my reservations, trust in Him, and follow in his path.  He made it very clear that the statement my co-worker made was because it was the truth and there would be many new people coming into our lives. Although introverted, I am a leader and have lead many of things in the past.  He also challenged me by reminding me that I do know how to build relationships with people in order to share the gospel (that was my mission when I went to Kazakhstan).  Also, Andrew and I have different gifts for a reason and he is very much an extrovert so he can bring people to us.  Which meant I needed to dig the ditches and trust that the Lord would supply people.  Finally, this Missional Community model would not be a house church model forever so traditional church could be something that it turns into down the road.  Which meant I needed to burn the plow of traditional church and trust that the Lord will take care of us.  I was very convicted during this message and really felt led to go and serve on the Missional Community team with LINC. 

During this same time frame Andrew was praying for the Lord to align our calls. He said he really felt like the Lord was directing him toward Missional Communities but he did not know it if was his own will or the Lord's will.  So he prayed that the Lord would burden his and my heart with the same call.  That way we would clearly know it was where He wanted us to go.  Five minutes after he prayed this prayer I had fully processed the Lord's call and turned to him during praise and worship time and said, "I think the Lord wants us to serves as missionary's in our community and work with LINC to develop a Missional Community."

After church Andrew and I shared our inner thoughts that were happening during service and realized how amazing our God is.  He was working on both of us in our own ways and we rejoiced in how prompt the Lord was in answering Andrew's prayer!  We had been looking for direction for a long time and we are very excited to now know what path the Lord wants us on and see how the Lord's plan will unfold moving forward.  Please pray for us as we begin leader's training tonight.