So here’s a fun story about God.
So I did two interviews for the Race and in the second one, which was at Moe’s (Welcome to Moes!), we got to talk about some things that really just got me thinking a lot. At one point in our conversation I articulated that I wanted revival. So at the end of our meeting, my interviewer articulated in his prayer that we desired that God would bring me revival. So then that was just kinda in my head for a while.
A couple weeks ago I saw a sign on the street I drive on every day in my neighborhood. It was for a revival being held at a Methodist church that was apparently down the road in my neighborhood, though I had never actually seen it. I thought it was interesting and even thought of going, but when I looked at the sign closer I noticed I wold be working each of the nights they were holding the revival (over a weekend). This Monday I saw another sign for a revival at the church, but it had just ended the day before.
At this point I was pretty curious. I’ve been living at this house since last May, these are the first signs for revivals that I’ve seen and that prayer was still in my head.
So I got out of my car and, since the revival was already over, took the poster off of the pole to which it was stapled. Then I set out to find the church. I got there and proceeded to find the office. The main door was locked and a woman came to open it for me. She told me she was the Pastor of children and youth at the church. I told her that I had seen the posters and was curious to see and hear more about the church. We talked about the congregation and the church that was there. She told me it was an old congregation that was at its largest in the 60s, but has dwindled to a faithful few and is beginning to be re-infused by some young adult members. The head Pastor has been there three years and this young woman is in her second year working at the church out of the University of Georgia.
I told her I’m going on the Race and she got pretty excited. She said that their congregation truly has a heart for mission. She said that one of the young couples starting to assert leadership in the congregation served abroad and she even had a friend serving in Peru with AIM. The Pastor, who for the congregation is still “new”, has committed to reviving the congregation through ministering to the immediate community, which is filled with apartments that house a large hispanic population.
She said that she and the Pastor would love to meet with me and share stories. I think I’m going to attend church with them on Sunday and then take them up on it.
For a while now, I’ve been thinking about community and where it lies in the Christian life. This is due in no small part to a well-timed discomforting conversation initiated by my brother. I was concerned because I have been going to a big church. I got involved in a small group there, but I think possibly getting involved at this Methodist church could provide a cool picture of community that I either haven’t seen/experienced before or at least haven’t seen/experienced in a while.
I put the REVIVAL poster on the wall over my bed.
I love the way God works. I love to see his fingerprints when things come together. And I love when His love made evident in His people reminds us what being a Christian can truly be.
