I have been fumbling for words since Sunday. On Sunday, our church celebrated Kristi and myself for 10 years of service as pastor of this wonderful family we call First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi. It is hard to believe we have served here for 10 years. I am still processing the day and the love that was shown to us. So, there will most likely be other posts in the next few days about the experience.
But for today, I am thinking about how important community is for each of us. No one on the planet is immune to difficulty and struggle. Here is another statement that is just as true: not one person was created to go it alone. We were designed for relationships. Granted, some are more social than others, but each and every person on earth was created for relationship. The most meaningful relationship available to us is a relationship with God. That is why we exist, to have a relationship with Him.
And because we were created as relational beings, were are crafted for other relationships as well. There is power in relationships – in community. We never need to feel we are alone. In reality, if you feel alone, more times than not, it is because you have chosen to be alone. Community is available to all.
As I sat on Sunday morning and experienced the support and encouragement from our church for our service here, what overwhelmed me most was the sheer power of relationships in community. Our church truly is a family. Ten years ago, we went to work creating a culture of “home” in our church. We even hung a huge banner on the side of our building that says, “Welcome Home.”
Some weeks the sense of family and home is more noticeable than others but this past Sunday it was clear. What a powerful expression of love and connection. Community is important – even crucial to our existence. If you are not part of a Christian community, seek one out. And if you are in the Corpus Christi area, stop by and experience family with us. There is no reason to walk this journey alone.
Clay in the Hands 