It can be hard being new in any setting, including walking into a church
where many people already know one another. Even if an invitation has been extended, there are often questions: Will I feel comfortable? What will this church be like? What is this community of faith all about? Is there a place for me to grow in faith and live the faith?
Marty, despite asking at least some of these questions did indeed show up.
All of the questions weren’t answered right away, but he did discover that St. Philip might be a place to grow in faith and live the faith. “Pastor, this congregation seems to really have a strong sense of truly living through faith. Sometimes that means with each other but a lot of times that means with people all around us. I really want to be a part of sharing God’s love, whether that’s by sharing food, or sharing care, or even trying to share that love with the kids on the school bus I drive.”
Well that sure feels like you want to Live Like That (like Christ). That first
courageous step into St. Philip has grown faith. Faith enough for Marty to
invite friends he knows to see if they might discover how to live out God’s at St. Philip too. “Pastors, I want you to meet my friends – I want them to feel the grace and love here at St. Phillip and meet some of my new friends.” St. Philip is a community that is called by God to be God’s love in the world. People want to share in the mission – so we together continue with faith to Live Like That.