there’s something about belonging

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to spend a lot of time just talking with people.  Lots of lunches and coffees getting to know you all and your stories, hearing about the ways God is working in your lives, rooting for you through your struggles and celebrating with you in your victories.  You are some pretty amazing people.

I’m always really encouraged in these conversations when I hear people talk about what being part of Restoration means to them.  Things like:

• “This is the first church I’ve been to where I don’t feel like they’ll kick me out when they really get to know me.”
• “I’ve never asked people to pray for me before, but I asked my small group to pray for me and it made a huge difference!”
• “Serving at Restoration feels like the fast track for challenge and growth.”

I’m not tooting my own horn here — or David’s or the rest of the staff, wonderful as they are.  Because what all of these statements reflect is the power of the Holy Spirit at work through the community of Restoration.  The New Testament makes it pretty clear that God intends for people who follow Jesus to do it in the context of a community of faith — a church.  Church isn’t just a group of friends, or people to sing with on Sunday morning.  It’s (one of) the means God uses to stretch us, grow us, challenge us, comfort us.  It’s part of how he makes us look more like Jesus.

So we offer the opportunity for people to commit to this kind of culture of community by becoming members of Restoration.  Can God work in and through you in this church if you don’t become a member?  Absolutely.  But as with most of our relationships in life, I think you’ll find that the meaning of what you get out of  and put into your relationship with this church will increase as your commitment to it increases. Becoming a member is a way to deepen that commitment.

You can read a lot more about what membership entails in these two blog posts that David wrote last spring.  And we’re having a dinner this coming Tuesday, May 4, for people who are interested in becoming members or would just like to meet people and learn more about who we are as a church.

Would you join us?  We’d love to have you.  Just RSVP in the comments below so we can be sure to order enough food!