What are some of your favorite memories? Do they involve family? Special occasions? Of maybe a journey?

Last Sunday reminded me of some precious memories involving all three of those. This may surprise you, but it was at Life Bible Fellowship Church’s 50th Anniversary that those exceptional times started coming to mind. And, the significance of them may impact you like they have me.

Why Church?

For years, I’ve been developing relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ. As a new believer in Christ, these relationships began giving me a stability I’d never known. Watching and listening to older Christians, who had not only survived trying times but made their suffering count convinced me that I’d get through my struggles too. They modeled the way for me as I witnessed their obedience to God’s Word, the Bible, even when it was tough. Now that I have more life experience, I can encourage younger believers, too. God made my suffering count and He used His people to help that happen.

In church, the sermons taught me truths that comforted my soul when there seemed to be no hope. The worship songs lifted my heart and often come to mind while I’m driving somewhere. I’ve also met people who cared about me when it felt like no one else did. Not only did they show their care in tangible ways, but during a particularly difficult time, the people in my Sunday School class helped me remember to laugh. A fellow class member talked his employer into hiring me when I badly needed a job. That turned into an incredible career opportunity that changed my life.

Becoming Family

As a child and young adult, I wanted a family. More than anything. I didn’t care about money or fame or travel. I wanted to live in a home with a mom and a dad and kids, who loved each other. However, my family was broken. My mom and dad divorced about the time I was twelve. Even before that, my dad lived in New Mexico, while we lived in California. He wasn’t there when I needed him. My mom had many issues from her past that made life challenging. So when I married, like my grandparents and my parents, I ended up divorced. Not once, but twice. Often I felt damaged beyond repair.

But this past Sunday reminded me of how my Christian family has filled a huge gap and the biggest desire in my life. As soon as I arrived at the anniversary party, I was reminded of some of the exploits of my youngest son when I ran into Bruce Erickson, one of LBF’s founding pastors. Years ago, while walking us through a rather daunting camp experience, Bruce’s wisdom gave me some. On another occasion, his daughter, Charise befriended my son in ways that made us all happy. How fun it was to chat with her about the early days and my son’s first overnight trip with the youth group where they served others in multiple ways.

Photos posted around the church campus brought to mind other sweet relationships that developed over the years. Pastors Bob and Edna Myers are both gone now, but I could always count on them for wise counsel, whether about my own struggles or for recommendations badly needed as a single mom. When my heater went out not long after my husband left, Bob arranged for someone in my church to take care of it. Dick and his wife Maureen went above and beyond all expectations making me feel cared for during a very difficult time.

Special Occasions

Seeing a photo of Betty Rose, who once ogranized a choir at Christmas that I was part of, made me think of that challenging song she taught us to sing. At the time I wasn’t aware of how profound the words are. Even so, the discipline of singing it and being part of a group was good for me. At a special luncheon one Good Friday, when I was going through a particularly difficult time, she also taught an unforgettable lesson on Hebrews 11 that confirmed the importance of living by faith.  Betty’s been gone for a number of years now, but like family she’ll always have a very soft spot in my heart.

Through church, we celebrated many Thanksgivings by giving of ourselves. A few days ahead, I’d cook a turkey to donate to those less fortunate making me extra thankful that I could do that. During another Christmas season, when my sons were younger, we went with church friends to take sleeping bags to the homeless. I was so proud of my older son as he spoke Spanish and handed out Spanish Bibles even though I couldn’t understand a word being said. The church taught my sons invaluable lessons, they wouldn’t have learned otherwise.

Easter at church has become one of my favorite parts of the holiday. Singing “He Lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today” with other believers reminds me that we celebrate the Living God. Bcause He’s not dead but alive, we no longer have to fear death’s sting. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The Spiritual Journey

Seeing Tim Peck, a former LBF pastor being interviewed, as well as listening to current pastors, Dan Franklin and Gary Keith, reveal the plans for our church’s future made me think about the adventures of a lifetime. It’s a journey that caused me to think deep and learn and grow as a human being who cares about God and others. Years ago, I thought church would be boring. Maybe irrelevant. Time better spent otherwise. Now, I know better.

There’s no other experience like staying in a church for the duration. To be appreciated, church must be shared–in person. Although they can be important elements, it’s not a building. Nor an online service. After we enter into a vertical relationship with Jesus Christ, we need horizontal relationships with His people. We need face-to-face conversations, hugs, and time to grow together and develop a meaningful history that transcends this world. One of my favorite all-time memories at LBF was worshiping the Lord in song outdoors under a tent in the rain during the pandemic. People kept coming and we kept singing as volunteers rushed to set up more chairs.

We also need church to demonstrate God’s grace and mercy to one another when things aren’t exactly to our liking. Developing an attitude of gratitude is easier when we’re around others who practice that too. For me, this past Sunday was a little taste of heaven.

If you’re not attending a church that you’ve decided to make your church home and if you want to develop relationships with people who might just become family  — some whom you’ll relate to, others whom you may not–I’d encourage you to make going to church a priority. And, if you can’t find one nearby where you believe God wants you, you might check out mine. Even online, it’s a great place to call home.