Growing up I always considered the church to be a building where people went on Sunday mornings. I took this understanding with me into adulthood. When I first accepted Christ I didn't fully understand what it meant to be part of the "Body of Christ." For the past 4 years I have been a member of Northwest Bible Church in Dallas, Texas. This is where I came to know Christ as my personal savior, where I was baptized and where I met my husband...so it holds a very special place in my heart. However it was not until I left Dallas that I truly began to understand God's intent for community.
When I moved to Dominica my idea of what "church" should look like changed dramatically. The first Sunday I was there Scott and I attended Lighthouse; a small house church that several of the students started. There were 20+ people gathered in a living room singing, sharing a meal and talking about Jesus. It was not what I was used to. During the 8 months I lived on that tiny island I struggled with my definition of church. I loved the people I met at Lighthouse but somehow it never felt right. I still equated church with a building, organized programs, and structured worship.
When we arrived in Miami I was excited to attend a big church again with a class for newly marrieds and organized community groups...things I felt I had missed out on the previous 8 months. The first church I visited was Mosaic. I walked in on a Sunday morning (alone because Scott was in class) hoping to sneak in the back, check it out, and sneak out. Instead I was greeted warmly at the door and walked in to find 30 or so people sitting on couches and folding chairs...there was no sneaking in. At first I was disappointed. I wanted something bigger and more established. For the next 4 months Scott and I visited church after church. Some big, some small, all lacking. I was saddened to see how the truth of the Gospel was skewed by some of the pastors. We returned to Mosaic where we knew the teaching was accurate and the church members were passionate. It was at Mosaic that I began to understand that church is not a building, it's not about fancy programs or over produced worship services...it's about believers coming together to worship the one true God, encourage one another and hold each other accountable. The local "church" is an expression of the global Body of Christ. It's about believers coming together to live life.
The New Testament makes it very clear that we are not intended to live alone. We are meant to live in community. We are to lift each other up, encourage one another, pray for one another, and hold each other accountable for sin. Living in isolation does not allow God to be glorified. This week I have been encouraged to see the body come together. 3 weeks ago a college student named Alyssa arrived in Dallas to intern with one of our church's local missionaries. 10 days after she arrived she was hospitalized for what seemed to be dehydration and in less than 48 hours she was in critical condition with many of her organs failing. Her gallbladder was removed and she was placed on dialysis and put in a medically induced come. On Thursday she was diagnosed with Wilson's disease, declared infection free and placed at the top of the liver transplant list. In less than 24 hours 2 donors were found and she received her new liver. Throughout the week family and friends flew in from Pennsylvania and Tennessee to be with her. The members of Northwest Bible and other local churches have been present every day...offering places to stay, cars to use, providing meals and snacks, and showing up to sit with the family and pray. For me it was been a beautiful picture of what is meant by "the Body of Christ." Believers coming together, giving their time, and resources to love on brothers and sisters in need. Scott and I were privileged to meet this family today and to see the love they have for this young woman and experience their sincere gratitude.
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| Alyssa and her boyfriend |
I am grateful to be called a daughter of God and to be part of His family. To be part of something bigger than myself and to see the way His love is poured out by His children. Alyssa's prognosis is great which is nothing short of a miracle. Her body responded to the transplant extremely well. She was awake for a few hours last night and this morning and recognized her family members and responded to questions. She had to undergo another surgery today to repair an artery. It is amazing to see how God works...His timing is perfect and His plans are good. Please join us in praying for Alyssa...for her recovery and rehabilitation in Dallas, for her family to receive help to pay for the medical bills and expense of traveling, and for God to use her story to bring people to His kingdom.
