Do We Pursue Those Amongst Us?

Church Family:
Often when people move to the Hampstead area, they email us as a church to determine what kind of church we are. They read our website and say: I need some clarity on who these GCT people are. Many times, they want to know where we stand on certain doctrines or theology, and then there are times when they simply want to know if we will welcome them into our GCT church family and love them well. I want to share with you a portion of an email that we as GCT received this past week that communicates a real heartfelt concern of a sister in Christ. I want you to hear her desire for a loving church community and feel her need, so that we are all quickened to see people amongst us like this and run after them with Christ’s familial love. This email is for all of GCT. She asks us all this question:    

“Hello, I moved here a few years ago by myself. I’ve attended a few churches in the area, but as soon as they realize I’m single without children, and a senior, somehow, I’m sidelined. This is strange because it wasn’t my choice to not have children. Years ago, I was married, and we just could not have them and we soon divorced. After that marriage ended, I went back to graduate school and there I became a Christian. Yet somehow now, I am isolated from church here in NC. The Christian church today comes across like a country club that is about bringing in families, and up to a point that is good. Yet what about those of us who are faithful followers of Jesus Christ, who are not married (for whatever reason) and without a family. I am well received in my world outside the Christian church. Yet it feels quite lonely to walk into a church and try to engage with others, only to be passed by when they find out you are single without children or grandchildren, still working and do not fit the typical grandma role. So, it has been easier to attend church online. It would be nice to find a church family in NC. ---Are you a church that embraces all Christians and includes them as part of your church family?--- Many of us stopped attending church because we feel isolated there. I used to blame those who don’t attend church for the reasons stated here before I moved to NC. Yet now I am one of them and fully understand.”

I am sure your answer to her is that absolutely we embrace every Christian no matter if they are single or married, children or no children, working or not working, etc. But the real heart of her question asks if we will see her and pursue her with tangible efforts toward relationship and conversation, welcoming her into our church family. She and other people moving to Hampstead desire to find GCT to be a church family who generously and relentlessly shares life with them. They want us to eat with them, pray with them, read the Bible with them, celebrate accomplishments with them, and discuss what it looks like to follow Jesus together. They want to learn about Christ and pursue sanctification together. They are seeking reliable, consistent comfort and hope within a church family.

The writer of the above email is simply wanting what Jesus desires for all His children, no matter their life situation: a church characterized by genuine, loving, familial relationships. From what I read and hear, this picture is becoming increasingly uncommon in churches. Let us commit to each other that we will do our best to not let this be someone’s testimony of our body of Christ, GCT. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).

P.S. This is not the sermon topic for Sunday.

See you Sunday, worshipping and loving as a family of God: Steve