You Can Always Come Home!
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
Bryan and Alyssa were a young couple with two small kids who lived across from us in our apartment building. Although they kept to themselves, I had the opportunity to talk to them in passing. I had mentioned a few times about my church and all the activities I was involved in while I was coming and going, making sure to invite them to Sunday services if they ever were interested. Although the answer was always a polite no, I could tell that Alyssa seemed interested in the activities I told her about.
One Saturday afternoon, I got a knock on my door from Alyssa. She was asking to borrow a cup of milk to finish a recipe she was making. I invited her in as I poured some milk into a container for her. She spotted the weekly church bulletin that was on my refrigerator.
“Is this the church that you are involved in?”
“Yes, it is!” I replied
“Going to church reminds me of being little again, I had a lot of fun with my friends there. It was nice to be a part of that kind of community, where everyone is looking out for one another. I wish I could give my kids the same thing I had”, She said.
“Well, I said, we have quite a number of young and old at my church. Even a special Mom’s group that meets every week.”
“I didn’t know that…since moving here for Bryan’s job I haven’t been able to make many friends” She said, “but I have been away from church for so long, I’m not sure I will belong anymore”.
She glanced down at the ground and I couldn’t help but feel for her. Being an older woman myself, I was once in her shoes. Trying to find my place in this chaotic world, while trying to be a mother at the same time was exhausting.
“The only way you can come back…” I told her, “is if you leave. Jesus always loves to see you return, and he is so happy when you do! Please join me tomorrow morning, and I would be happy to be there for you in whatever way you like.”
She thanked me and said she would love to have a place to go with her family, and we decided to car pool the next morning. I was overjoyed the whole rest of the night, as God showed me again what a little persistence could do. Sometimes just a regular situation and a little love can turn more hearts toward Christ!
GrowthPartner’s Easter Product Highlight:
One way you can prepare for giving this Easter is by providing your congregation with ribbons! Pick from our selection of pre-designed ribbons, or even have one of our friendly designers create an Easter themed ribbon for you! Pass them out to your Easter service guests for them to take home and use as a bookmark!
