Mar 06, 2013 Learning To Live In Community…
I’ve been at Grace for 5 years. During my senior year of high school, I went through a church split which made me want to keep my distance from involvement in a church community. I found myself confused as I watched Christians (who had set an example of what Christian maturity is supposed to be) act in ways I knew were contrary to Christ. Over the next 8 years I kept my distance from church by occasionally going but keeping my distance most of the time. I still loved God but I wanted nothing to do with opening myself up to Christian community again.
In the fall of 2007, I was pointed to Grace’s sermons online. Those sermons drew me in as I found a church digging into what scripture really says and focusing on God’s Word. I started attending Grace and God began to heal wounds from my past experiences. Over time, I found a community I have grown to trust and love. A community that has been with me through the many ups and downs of life. A community that has challenged me to grow closer to Christ. What I found was a community of imperfect believers seeking to live as Christ called us to live – not only among each other but also in our city and the world. This is an example I have continued to learn and grow from to this day. In fact, God has shown me the responsibility to not only live in community but to draw others into community, whether in Community Group or just by sharing my life with other Christians. During these 5 years at Grace, God has taught me that Christianity is not something you do on your own, but He has given us a community to bear each other’s burdens and to help push us to grow closer to Him.
– Jeffrey Leegon