Redeeming Love Gospel Church

As I mentioned in my last post, I believe I have found my new church! Let me back up and start from the beginning.
I do love Grace Fellowship, I believe it played a huge part in my life while I was there. However, I started to feel lost in a sea of 2,500 people. I was involved in small groups, but I still just feel like I had reached a dead end spiritually, and I want more...I want much deeper. I am looking for something more Spirit-lead. I also want something much smaller, with a family feeling. I want to feel like I belong.

I've always hated going to new places by myself. Don't know why? Maybe it's an underlying confidence issue? Anyway, doesn't matter I'm not here to talk about my insecurities right now. LOL So over the weekend of the 24th, I went to Grace on that Saturday night. I really had this desire to check out Redeeming Love Gospel Church in Troy, but I had no one to go with me. So I woke up that Sunday morning, I was determined to go, no matter what. I made myself go, alone. God has been stretching me in many ways lately, and I've been growing considerably, so praise Him for that!

I pulled in, it's like 1/8th of the size of Grace, and there wasn't a thousand cars. I walked in, was warmly greeted, and immediately asked if I was new there. I said yes, the woman welcomed me, and started talking to me. She asked me if I was a front or back row sitter. And as you all know, I'm a VERY last row sitter, for everything I go to. She walked back with me, I chose this seat over to the side in a row all the way to the back. I was completely out in the open where I sat, but I was OK with it. People were coming up to me, welcoming me, introducing themselves to me, talking to me. WOW! I was SO shocked, I'm not used to that. I guess in a smaller congregation they know who's new there. I had such a warm feeling.

Then this older woman in her 80's came in and sat in the same row as me. She came right over to me, hugged me, welcomed me, it was amazing. Her name is Eileen, and I'll never forget that, because she introduced herself as, "Hi, I'm Eileen, and I lean on Jesus". Then Eileen's daughter started talking with me, and she also was sitting with a woman that had just recently received Christ as her savior and had just started going there within the past month. So they asked me to move down next to them, and I did. YAY, now I wasn't sitting alone!

The praise and worship started. WOW, it was AWESOME! It was about 45 minutes long and SO powerful. They had a full band up on front, with awesome singers. The anointing was so strong, I was definitely touched! The message was by one of the three pastors that they have, Pastor Paul. The message was wonderful and the congregation was interactive. Love it! Then as he was closing, he was just about to start praying. You could tell he wasn't done. My heart started pounding, sounds crazy but I KNEW what was about to happen. He asked the sound booth if they'd be able to still record if he walked over to the side. I KNEW he was coming over to me. And He did. He shook my hand, asked if I was a visitor, I said yes. He asked if I was familiar with prophesy, and I was like YES I AM, and I receive!!! He had a word for me...WOW. It was entirely accurate and God spoke to me hugely. Then the congregation prayed over me.

So then the service ended, there's prayer up front if needed, and everyone stays around for coffee and snacks. Everyone was coming up to me again, welcoming me, and they were telling me that Pastor Paul doesn't do that often! Wow I was SO blessed, SO touched. I stayed for about an hour. I met a bunch of people who know my parents from a church they went to years ago. I felt like I belonged there. I was so comfortable and felt part of a family. I'm not used to that! But that's exactly what I was looking for. One of the woman went over to the sound booth with me so I could get the tape of the service with my prophecy on it so I could listen to it again.

I left, and was ON FIRE from the prophecy, and just the overall experience. Then I started to feel a little discouraged. (isn't that typical to get attacked after an experience like that?) I didn't see that many teens (as that's the area I feel called to serve in), and there was NO one my age there. There was tons of younger kids, I think more of them then adults. Then it skipped a generation, right up to like 40 something's. But I felt the Lord say, Well maybe you can do do something about it then! Wasn't too sure at that moment what that meant, but I think I do now.
However, I had to keep in mind, that it was Memorial Day weekend and I remember Pastor Rex once saying that's the week with the lowest church attendance.

So, I went back this Sunday, ALONE. Sat with Eileen again off to the side in the back. She's my new adopted grandmother. I walked in, and everyone remembered me, and was warmly welcomed again. There was a lot more people this week, including teens. But still no one my age (unmarried). But that's OK, I have all the friends I need right now. Again, praise and worship was so powerful and someone came forth and spoke a powerful word during it. Pastor Tom spoke this week, loved his preaching. Right before began his message, he started off saying how they want to start reaching the next generation more fervently, and how they want the 20 and 30 something's to stand up and start leading. Right then...I was like OK God, I get it. It's time....it's my time to start giving, and using the gifts you've given me. So after the service, I actually asked someone to introduce me to the person in charge of the youth. They brought me over to him, his name is Matthew. I was nervous, I was actually stepping out and doing this. That was huge for me. I know I feel ready to step out and do this, I guess I've just been afraid. So I've overcome this spirit of fear and have been doing all these things in obedience. Like I said, He's definitely been stretching me.

OK back to Matthew.....I asked him to tell me about their teens/youth group. He told me right now they have anywhere from 15-20 kids ranging from 13 up to about 18. He said they're in the process of trying to reform things and are open for new ideas. They get together on Wednesday nights starting at 7. He told me to come by and hang out with all of them. AWESOME!

Right before this conversation, I sat and talked to the woman I mentioned earlier, who is the very new believer. I got to minister to her and share part of my testimony. Before you know it, scripture was just flying out of my mouth. Ever have that happen, then after you're like, oh wow, I didn't even know I knew that? (obviously it's Him) She started going around telling people that you're going to see me preaching to woman and leading sometime soon. LOL

It's just so hard to believe. Less then a year ago I was sitting in bars, stupid drunk, night after night. Now He's calling me to step in on a youth program and work with teens and also to be a mentor to hurting woman. I feel like He's calling me to step in and reform things, and I strongly feel He wants me to suggest an outreach into the inner city in Troy. WOW! God has changed me SO much SO quick and has done so much work in me. I'm totally amazed and sorta feel like, wow who am I???

Tonight I'm going to meet with Matthew and Jason and sit in for their youth group. I can't wait. I'm kind of nervous but I know it's going to be awesome. I can't believe it! I'm stepping out, I'm finally doing this! Part of me is going to miss Grace Fellowship, as that's where my mom and sister go. But that's OK, I never really felt rooted there anyway. Another part of me keeps worrying about the fact that there's not a good number of young adults at this new church. I can't let these things discourage me though. God has provided many amazing friendships that I have right now so I'm all set in that area. He'll continue to provide all the people I need, I trust that.

So everyone, here's my church story. A lot of you have been asking, and I haven't had a chance to meet up with many of ya's, and it was way too much to email. I figured this would be the best way, to post it on here for you all to read. Thanks everyone for all of your prayers regarding this. I'll let ya'll know how tonight goes with the teens. And I've also had people ask if I was going to blog my prophecy, so I'll add that on here too. I typed this whole thing up really quick and it's super rough draft, so I hope it makes sense.

I'm just so excited about what God's doing in my life right now. I probably shouldn't be speaking too soon since I've only gone to this church twice, but I really feel a peace about it. But I am still praying to make sure it's where He wants me for 100% sure.


Here's the word I received that Sunday:

I Feel like the Lord has given me something for you.
I feel like there’s some pages turning in your life and some new chapters about to be written for you
And God’s given you real endurance in your life, you have to weather some storms. You’ve been through some storms but there’s a renewing of your life. That’s really what I sense, is that Gods saying, "I’m going to pour fresh life into you." You’re not to look back, don’t look at the wind and the waves. Right now you’re still walking something out that’s very real, but Jesus is saying, "Fix your eyes on me; I’m going to give you things you don’t have right now. I’m going to give you fortitude I’m going to give you strength I’m going give you determination, I’m going give you focus, I’m going to clarify your focus so that you can see me in a new dimension, and in a new way."
And from that, there’s going to be tremendous comfort. I see the comforter just coming to you and bringing…there are some things that your soul just needs right now. And God’s just going to pour into your life, dear sister. God’s just going to pour into your life with renewing. And I just see in the days to come, such a trophy of grace in your life, and a testimony. Kind of like the chapter 11, you being able to say, "I came through this, and you can come through this." I see you as a coach in the spirit of the Lord. As an exhorter and coaching and mentoring and speaking with tremendous faith and with line upon line of principles in your life.
I don’t know if you see yourself doing that now in any capacity?
But I see maturity and growth and refining coming into you. And I see in a relatively short amount of time your life is so changing that you’ll back and stand amazed at what Jesus is doing in your life.

AMEN!