Finding a New Church Home

We recently made a 1000 mile move and I think this has been both the hardest and easiest move for us. For the past 3 months we have went to several different churches and had an abundance of suggestions on different churches to try out. I was looking for the right one for us. Even though for the past 3-4 weeks we have been attending one church in particular it still just didn't feel like our place to call home.

Right before the new year I was praying about church. A church family is something my daughter and I both needed in our lives again and something we were seeking. I told God that even though we have been going to this church I didn't feel like its where we were supposed to be and that I felt like we were just going to be going. I told God that I didn't want to keep doing this and that He knows how much having a good church family meant to me.

The next morning I decided to go for a walk, which I haven't been able to do because of my knee and well a little bit of depression as well. As my daughter and I was on our normal walk in the neighborhood, there was a gentleman in his yard taking down his Christmas lights and playing music. I took out my ear pod to get a better listen and proceeded to ask the gentleman what he was listening to. He said, "Christian music." From there we started talking and I found out that he was a Pastor at a church not too far from our neighborhood, well its a little drive in the mountains, but everything is a little drive for where we are located in the city. I told the gentleman, now known to me as Pastor Tim, that we would probably visit the church soon.

As we were finishing our walk my spirit just felt joy and peace. Come Sunday, which was New Years day, we (my daughter and I) decided to go visit this new church to see how we would like it. Let me just say that all obstacles were there that morning for us to not actually go! Literally right before we left a fog came through and not just a little. I couldn't even see the red light until I was right up to it, and did I mention its in the mountains?! I love the view of mountains, but I get so much anxiety driving through them and now there is fog!! At this point I would have turned around, but I prayed and I said, "Jesus, this drive is literally in Your hands because you know I can't see and how much anxiety I get driving in the mountains." Not even a mile down the road the fog completely cleared!! Thank you Jesus!

Did I mention that Pastor Tim said that the congregation was small? Well, when we pulled in there was only about 6 cars in the parking lot. At this point I would have normally just left because I don't like being center of attention and with so few people all eyes would be on us walking in. But, I didn't even think about it, parked and we walked in.

Pastor Tim was very happy to see us and asked if it was okay to mention our interaction during service. Again all eyes on us! I said sure. Service was great and my daughter seemed to really love it. She had so many plans to want to get involved in the church already. I knew before service was finished that we would be coming back again.

Leaving church that day, my spirit was still filled with joy and peace. Sealing the deal though, was when I received a letter from the Pastor that following week. It wasn't just a regular generic card or letter that is sent out to every new guest at a church; it was very personalized and by far meant the most to me that time was taken to personally write a letter and mail it out to us.

I know that our presence in the church means a lot to our new Pastor, but it means so much to me and my daughter as well. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for everyone there!

Originally wrote 1/10/2023

Published 3/2/23

B Nicole Baxley