Jan and I were driving from the airport to a meeting several years ago. Driving between meetings was a great connecting and creative time for us. We were asking God for a name for the church we were soon to plant. We tried to come up with several clever names on our own. Simply, they were all pretty cheesy. We were stinkin’ the place up!
It was all of a sudden when the name (The Gathering) came… and simultaneously the slogan (Where You Belong!). We were so excited and knew we had heard His heart for our new church. Immediately we knew it would be a place where people would meet Jesus and it would become their spiritual home. We love to see people come to the Lord! We were also aware of countless Christians who were staying home… unconnected… wounded… disillusioned… no place to belong. Sure, there are countless healthy churches… but there is nothing like finding “your” church… a place where you connect… a place where you discover gifts and talents you never knew existed… a place to use your gifts and talents… a place to love and find love.
God is so good! Our first meeting was in our home. Immediately we decided to move to a hotel meeting room… then a school… then a bigger school… now to our permanent location on 10 acres on a major thoroughfare. The Gathering (as a church) is glad to have a place ”where we belong”… no more setting up and tearing down equipment every service. Those were exciting times… and we would gladly do it again! Here we are a few years later and are simply blown away at the wonderful people who have found a place “where they belong”.
Have you ever had a time where you were searching for the right church? You tried out countless church services… most of them outstanding churches… but you just didn’t connect? Please don’t give up the search. When you find it you will know it. It is worth it!
Maybe you’re someone who has found where you belong. How did that feel when you found it? How does it feel when you find the place “where you belong”?
