Church=Family

We have been here a little over a month. Now let me be real for a second. I have had several break down moments over the last few weeks about being out here: the heat, the purpose behind being out here,  missing everything about the Springs, my family etc. I thought moving out here would mean escaping the old and starting something new. In ways we have started something new, but Christ has this perfect way of allowing us to face the "stuff"in order to grow and move forward. HA! I feel like moving out here my fears and insecurities were brought to the surface and I had to process. Which process is NEVER easy, it is not comfortable, it sucks, but it's how we grow.  As I look back over these last few weeks I am brought to tears at how faithful God is.  Before moving out here God gave me a prophetic dream. In the dream we were moving out to Redding and throughout the entire moving process we were always surrounded by people. When I woke up from the dream the Lord spoke to me and said we would have community around us every step of the way.

Before leaving the Springs Andrew and I got so connected to a small group of people. We would meet every Sunday afternoon in a little house off of Yampa St. We would fellowship, worship, and just encourage one another. I have never been so impacted by such a group of authentic and real people. It was most definitely difficult leaving such an incredible group who did church so well. Being alone was my biggest fears, not having anyone and not knowing anyone out here. God has literally provided relationships galore since our very first day out here. Last weekend we had 5 people over to our apartment for a pie and movie night. As our friends left after the movie I just sat there telling Andrew we hadn't even been here a month and we are already opening our home up to people!!! This is just one example of how God has completely and UTTERLY surrounded us with community out here.

Alright so some of you saw the photo that I posted a week or so ago on Facebook and Instagram of Andrew co-leading worship for a church. Holy crap. Ha! What a whole other can of goodness. So one of the main reasons we moved out here was because we both see ourselves serving and working for a church. Maybe, possibly, even starting one of our own one day. A church that does not really look like the 21st century church but more like the church of Acts.

Along with his passion and desire for worship, more than anything Andrew has such a heart for the bride of Christ and people, like I have never seen in anyone. As for me, the way I adore expressing worship to the Lord is through dance. There is so much packed into that sentence. Because I feel called to call people into worship and social awareness through my dance.

So back to why we are out here? Well, we both don't really understand the fullness of it yet.  Anywhoo, we had heard about the Stirring (a church out here) through several different people. Andrew ended up getting into contact with the Worship pastor and the second week we were out here we went to one of the services. I cannot explain in words on a blog the way I felt that first Sunday walking in. It has been so very long since I have been in a church where I felt a sense of belonging, of community,  and a part of a family. To make a long story short the worship pastor met up with Andrew that second week for coffee and really connected....So some of you are thinking "Well what about Bethel?!" "I mean gosh isn't that Why you moved out there?" Yes we did move out here for Bethel. In fact we are still attending Bethel as much as we can on Friday and Sunday nights to get some of culture etc. But we both feel like the Stirring is like our home away from home. The place where we feel "a part of the family".

I am consistently overwhelmed by the way "church" is done out here. I feel like Holy spirit is doing something so new and so fresh. The churches out here are no where near perfect don't get me wrong, but by what I can tell they encourage, honor, and work together. There's not really a competitiveness. It is different. I never really understood the several sects/denominations the church has. We all believe there is a Savior right? Why Are we not working together? Unity does not mean conformity. We all have something to give. There is nothing more beautiful, in my opinion, than churches coming together and working together. Im done ranting  =)

In closing:
 YAMPA fam-We miss all of you so so SOOOOOOO Much x100000000. Thank you all for showing us that Church is more than just a building, more than a person, a rock band, that church is about Christ and a community that strives to do life together. Food and Fire =) Love you all!

Bethany


http://thestirring.org