For the last six plus years I have been going to this great church in Charlotte. There is nothing grand about the structure, we started in a gym and we still meet in a gym, although a nicer one now. Our pastors don't have huge followings on Twitter or are asked to headline the national day of prayer breakfast, but they do attempt to shepherd us by the grace of God. We don't have famous people that attend, drawing huge crowds; we are just a small group of sinners that have come together to worship the One who is transforming our lives. So what is so great about this small little church called Hope Community Church? Well the name states it all. It is a community that offers Hope when the world and life disappoint and fail us.
I was at a birthday party last night for a sweet friend, Jen, celebrating her life and the new chapter she is entering. We were standing at the bar when she leaned over to tell me about how her husband was asked to fix the light of another friend. Damon, her husband, fixed the light in the kitchen where I live a few weeks ago, free of charge. When my roommate asked about compensation, both him and Jen said don't worry about it, he was happy to help. My roommate couldn't understand it. In the two and a half years we have lived together, she still doesn't get how people could care for others without wanting any compensation in return. She questions me every time I make dinner for the family of a newborn or why I make it a priority to go to community group. She didn't get why they helped me get a car or why a friend would give up their day to sit with someone at the hospital after an accident. It is because of community. It is taking the picture of the first century Church and bringing it to the twenty-first century life. It is using the gifts that God has graced us with to bless those around us. It is getting into the messy areas and walking with the person instead of running away from the hard issues. It is living life together, warts and all.
I love the fact that my community isn't perfect, but it is grace-centered. I love that my community is loving, but trying to gracefully bring Truth to each others' lives, so that we can grow in Christ. I love that my community is depending on Jesus to change them because it allows me to fail without the judgment of being a failure, but the freedom to keep going on my journey with them helping me through the messy patches. I love that we are come as you are and we rarely start on time because it allows you to come real, emotional, raw, to receive God's soothing balm in our wounds. I love that my community is involved in my life because it means I have people to look to for wisdom, strength, prayer, hope, and anything I may need when the world is grim around me. But my favorite part about being in each others' lives is the ability to use our gifts in each others' lives. If I have a medical question, I ask the doctor in our community and barter something I am good at, like babysitting, if I need more than just a consult. My financial counselor is in my community, so if something were to happen to halt my cash flow, he can help me reach out and get assistance. My hair stylist is in my community, the same one whose husband fixed my light.
Being a part of community helps you through the valleys and celebrates the mountaintops with you. A great example is how my community met me in the last 3 years, when my world was turned upside down. They stepped up with a place to stay, gave me emotional support, offer odd jobs to provide an income, and just loved me through the mess. Now as I get ready to turn the page to a new chapter, they are there, offering guidance, cheering me on, even helping turn the page. The community of sinners becoming saints is God's hands and feet as we navigate this crazy fallen world, looking to our Guide, and I am privilege to be a part of a small chasm of His community here at Hope.
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