Four years of waiting…at times the frustrated “arghs” and
“grrrs”, church shopping like I’m looking for the right shoe to fit, lonely
times and trying to find contentment for where I was as a 30-ish singleton lead
me to where I am today.
2012 literally started out flying on a jet plane home on
January 1st leaving behind a failed relationship. And then another during the year. I kept being reminded to keep my focus
on God no matter what. A friend
kept updating me on their involvement with Resound then…Facebook stirred my
heart.
Yup, sometimes social media isn’t so bad. In March, the new lead pastor posted on
my friend’s page that 30,000 Easter postcards were being mailed out for Resound
Westside’s 1st Preview Service. I got uber excited about this news -
for a church I had never been to.
Thus began my 3 months of praying about Resound.
During this time I lost my job. And I was excited!
I know that’s an “un”typical response but I’d learned through other
painful experiences that I needed to TRUST in God’s path that would be greater
than my own. My 10-day notice of
budget cuts and combining of positions gave me this uber-joy of an
I’m-now-released-to-go-anywhere perspective. The very next
day I was offered a restructured job at the same company. God was stretching and growing and
molding me. Teaching me that HIS
plans are better than my own and to let go of any bitterness for His
goodness.
It was during these three months of prayer that I wanted to
know without a doubt that I was doing this for the right reasons and it was
confirmed in various aspects but mostly with a sense of PEACE. Deep abiding peace that surpasses
understanding. I knew before I
even went to a service that I was supposed to be a part of Resound’s
church-plant and move closer to the metropolitan Portland suburbs. I’m so thankful for this period of
waiting because I’ve had some difficult times but I have NEVER doubted that God
has called me specifically to church-plant in the mist of a everything else
going on.
Of course I had to attend a service to doubly confirm what
God was showing me. The first
Sunday I went to Resound I immediately sensed God’s spirit of love. It was so evident. I went to the service on my own and
came out having amazing connections.
The second Sunday I was nervous that it’d be hard to walk in
and not really know anyone (I’ve had that sinking feeling many times before
during the beginning stages of attending a new church…and it’s horrible). I had to literally pray in my car
before getting out. I asked God to
have me meet somebody. Yes, even
an outgoing person can internally be shy.
Then God answered my prayer. As I walked into the church movie
theatre (Hillsboro, OR) another lady was walking in at the same time. She turned to me and asked if I had
anyone to sit with. It was such a
relief to make a new friend.
Simple things. God
things.
Being on mission is exciting yet joining a new church takes
work. But it is worth the
sacrifice. I feel alive when I’m
thinking outside myself. When I
get to serve alongside others who are sacrificing too. There’s no pew or movie-seat warmers
here. We aren’t starting a church
just to have another Sunday option.
Church is to seek and save the lost. To be community.
To love others.
Over the last several months over 100,000+ postcards have
gone out! We’ve gone door-to-door
on Saturday mornings hanging flyers.
We went to a mall to talk to people. We put on a Halloween kid event. We celebrated our first R2 baby’s arrival. We had an awesome Christmas Eve
service. Our firsts also come with
lasts. We ended our preview
services. We had our last Monday
night team gatherings. Yet with transitions
come new things that God has in store.
I get excited about church. It’s not a building.
It’s the people. The focus
on Christ. We are in this
together.
Join us! Tigard Regal Cinema, 10 AM every Sunday
starting January 20, 2013. (or
come at 7 AM to help us set-up!)
Pray for us! The little d ain’t happy…that’s for
sure. We’d appreciate your prayers
as we reach the Portland-metro area with HOPE.
