There are times in a person’s life that bring about feelings of isolation, disconnectedness and need for community support—that time came for me after an unexpected job loss. A great deal of my focus had always been on my work and losing my job was upsetting for me. I reached out to Friends Church to help me through this difficult time and to build community for myself and my son.
I had expl
ored other churches in the past but rarely did I feel that connection to church and community. At Friends Church, I am getting reconnected and I’m learning about myself again. Our pastors have a way of confronting you on how you are in the world that is refreshing. It has helped me to reflect on my spiritual needs and brought new meaning in my life. My relationship with my teenage son Ashton is improving and he too is learning in this new community of ours. I am pleased that he wants to be in church and feels a need to return when he has missed a week. He is building new friendships with kids his age, joining activities like the ski trip and just recently he went on the Mexico mission trip through the church—he came back beaming with excitement at all he had done, the connections he made and the things he had learned.
There are so many things about Friends Church that speak to me. Our pastors are not there to tell me how to live, how to think or how to be, yet, I am learning through this church how to do these things better—I’m learning without judgement!
Friends Church has really brought me out of my shell, I find I am more present with my friends and family with a refreshed way of taking on the challenges of life. I have started volunteering at the Food Bank as my way of giving back or “taking water”. It feels good to be reaching out more, connecting to others, and learning and sharing with people from different backgrounds with different views than mine.
I think the people in my circle are seeing the changes in me and are intrigued—when I share about Friends Church they are asking me if they too can attend with me.