"church shopping": third time's a charm

three sundays, three different churches. and i think that ended today.

i decided to go to gospel lighthouse church today, thanks to my boss, david, running into the associate pastor at walmart. the associate pastor and his wife used to work for david a few years back and although joel is only 22 he is now the associate pastor of an assembly of god church in hudson falls. his wife brittany is 20. david was talking to them, catching up, at walmart and they were talking about their church and david instantly thought of me.

so i went.

you see, the past couple of churches i've gone to, people weren't, well, very friendly. i tried to smile and make small talk with people, but it didn't go over that great. here, a lady greeted me in the parking lot. the pastor introduced himself. they had a period in the middle of the service where you're supposed to go around and greet your neighbor and all that, and i met so many people, it was insane.

and it wasn't like some places, where people are nice to you just because they want something from you (like a church membership). they were just genuinely nice, which for new york is pretty amazing. i met brittany, and we hit it off from the start. she's like me, looking for people close to her age to connect to, looking for some friends. i was invited to the ladies' ministry pasta dinner tonight, i actually just came back from that. i chatted with brittany and a few of the other ladies, i felt really welcome and really at home.

and the best part? these people are serious about god. that's why they are there. they honestly believe jesus when he said to love the lord god with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. the pastor spoke about love today. how it's an action, how we have to move and sacrifice ourselves and realize our lives are about other people. and he meant it. he's trying to live it, encouraging others to do the same.

so thank you god, for leading me here. thank you god for new friends. thank you god, just for being you.