March 31, 2022—Leanne Lee

Picture This: A Place Where Sinners Are Welcome

TRULY. A place where you know everyone is broken like yourself.

TRULY. A place where joyful noises of conversation are happening all around you.

TRULY. A place where you hug someone you haven’t seen in a week because it makes your heart happy to see their smile again.

TRULY. A place where children are able to be children.

TRULY. They are singing and dancing in freedom from adults telling them to shhhhh. A place where the leader shares his own brokenness weekly so we don’t forget the power of Jesus and what He can do in our lives. A place where we come to the table, weekly, to keep our relationship with Him in check. A place where there is an occasional cell phone ringing and that person doesn’t want to crawl in a hole and die because we all laugh and consider it Jesus calling. A place where the music feeds your soul and some hands are in the air. A place where if you’re hot, you just stand up and go open a door and no one thinks twice. A place where the teens can wear leggings and tennis shoes and they still feel the love. And my most favorite thing that drew me in years ago, a place where the Holy Spirit is alive and well. You can feel Him. TRULY.

THIS ISN'T A PLUG FOR THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. This IS my church and my heart, but it’s not a plug. In this place, some 15 years ago, I found rest FROM church. I was burnt out on “playing church”. I was burnt out on getting all fixed up and making sure my kids were dressed to the nines. I was burnt out on leadership and committees. I needed a place to rest and be.

We meet in a glorified garage and you never know who will walk through the doors. We don’t know who is a member or who is just passing through. (Ps. We don’t have a membership at all.) We don’t know what you did last night and truly, we don’t care. Because the devil didn’t get his way with you. You came through the door to hear of the greatest love story ever told. One of grace and forgiveness. A story that makes you better. A story that propels you to walk out into the week with your head held high because you know, you’re a child of God. Deeply loved.

It starts at 10:10 a.m. and I just LOVE THAT TOO. John 10:10 says,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

If that isn’t TRUTH, I don’t know what is.