Church and Community

So many of you have said how much you wished you could have been there with us when we were in the hospital.  The strange thing is, I never, ever felt alone.  You aren't going to believe this.

I was in the emergency surgery and Mark, his mom and Landrie were in the lobby of the small, Florida hospital. Many of you sweet friends were at home, praying like crazy!  A hospital employee asked Mark if she could help them with anything.  He may have been a bit short with her, thinking that she meant they shouldn't have Landrie and her stuff spread everywhere!  They packed up all the baby stuff and found a new location.  The same girl, Denise, found them and clarified that she didn't want them to move, she really wanted to help them!  In a matter of hours, Denise and her church got Landrie new clothes, toys, 

pizza for Mark and his mom while they waited for me, 

and booked a hotel for Mark so he could stay near me!!!  Are you kidding??  She was even ready to line up ladies to bring home-cooked meals to the hospital!!  We were complete strangers, and like I said, my husband may have been a bit short with her.  Well, maybe not. Maybe she walked into the lobby and a ray of light shone down from Heaven onto Mark.  Then a dove sailed in the front door with a parchment scroll that said, "My child, Denise, please use this list so you know what to purchase for the man in the light. "  I'm not sure, I wasn't there. :)

I am amazed how God used the Body of Christ to take care of our physical needs when our local church was an unreachable 20 hour car drive away.  Denise came to visit me and in my very groggy state I thought, "How nice, there's a local mega church that has a hospital ministry.  Maybe it's called 'Hospital Helpers' or 'Hugs and Quiches.'"  Guess what?  Mark visited there the next Sunday, and Atlantic Coast Community Church is a small church.  Denise just saw a need and she and her fellow church members were able to show God's love to us when we needed it the most.  Want to tell the pastor what you think of their example of God's love?  Send him an email: jerry@discoverthecoast.com

Well, since most of us don't live in Florida, I wanted to tell you about some more amazing examples of God's love.  Before we even got home, friends from our local church were planning how to take care of us.  When we first joined Keystone church, it too was a tiny church where most people knew a lot of others and could help with their needs.  We met our very first friends by taking a leap and joining a small group that met in our friends' home.  We were nervous to go and hang out with strangers, but I am SO thankful we did!  The people of our community group became our friends and when we shared about the pain of our infertility, they prayed for us for YEARS before we welcomed Landrie Grace into our lives.  When we were racing to Wichita Falls to be there for Landrie's birth, we called some friends.  It was the first night of fall community group and they put us on speaker phone.  How AMAZING to be able to laugh and cry and scream with friends who had seen us through the tough times and were now celebrating with us in the happiest times.  

They  organized meals, celebrated with us, and we were so loved.

Fast forward to 11 months later...
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Once again, the community of our church has overwhelmed us with love.  Our community group, together with friends we met through serving and Bible studies and our family organized a Care Calendar to bring us meals and organized child care for Landrie.  Once again, are you kidding me??  Without the small community group to be "in charge," it's easy for needs to get lost in the shuffle, or to even go unknown.  That is not God's desire!  Look at this from Matthew 25:40

³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 ³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 ⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

SO, if you live around Keller, and you don't have a church home, then listen up!!  THIS WEEKEND at our church, we are having kind of a Community Group Expo.  It's called The BIG Community Group Event!  You know those wedding extravaganzas where you can go meet and talk with all the vendors instead of just looking at their website?  It's just like that!!  You can meet the leader of each Community Group, find out where they are located, and whether or not they provide childcare.

Here's the common denominator that I see.
Denise stepped out of her comfort zone and offered to help total strangers in a BIG way.
We stepped out of our comfort zones and went to community group for the first time.
We stepped out of our comfort zones and opened up to our new friends.
YOU can step out of your comfort zone and come to The BIG Community Group Event!  You might just find a group that you really connect with.  You can grow closer to God, make new friends, and show God's love to those around you.

Hopefully we'll see you this weekend!!!


**UPDATED: This post is from last summer, so the Big Community Group Event is not this weekend.  I just love our church so much, I couldn't resist posting about it on SULY!  If you are anywhere near KELLER, TEXAS and looking for a church home, please stop by and visit!  Check out what Easter Sunday will be like.  You won't want to miss it. :)

Our AMAZING pastor, Brandon Thomas and his sweet wife, Susan



Love this place!!


Keystone Church: "Leading everyone to experience a passionate life in Christ!"