thrive community

The word “thrive” is full of meaning. But through the spiritual journey of my friend, Brian, it has come to mean so much more to me.

From Brian – November 2008:

     “I never considered myself a religious person. I believed in God but I wasn’t into the whole organized religion thing. I didn’t believe in church at all and looked at it as some kind of scam. I felt that they wanted higher headcounts so that they could produce bigger collection baskets.

But Tiffany really loved what she had found in Christianity and church. I would find it odd that she wouldn’t blow off church. She would make attempts to get me to come to church every few months and I would always shoot it down quickly. At the same time Tiffany was part of a community group that I would also opt out of except for the couple times a year when they would just get together for fellowship. These were meals where we’d sit around and talk and it wasn’t “churchy” at all. 

As I got to know these people it broke down some of my outer walls and allowed my mind to be open to church. But I still stayed away until February of 2008 when a good friend of mine asked me to come to his church because a professional athlete I loved was going to speak. I accepted and Tiffany and I went.

I left telling Tiffany that I enjoyed it and she immediately offered to start going there if that’s what it would take to get me to go. I considered it. But I didn’t want to make her leave Southlink because she really loved it. So the next weekend, I was sitting at breakfast with just the kids as Tiffany was getting ready and something came over me. I decided to go to church that day. Everyone was shocked and excited. I really couldn’t tell them what made me decide that I was ready to try church, but I did.

I attended Southlink while convincing myself that it was short-term deal because I was very skeptical. I met Jason, Scotty and quite a few others that Tiffany already knew. Everyone was very nice but I just figured it was people just being polite.

In the weeks that would follow, I was surprised that I was forming relationships with people that were truly happy. I was leaving in a much better mood than when I arrived. Over the first few months, I was still looking for the cracks. I was waiting for that moment when I could say, ‘Ah ha! I knew this wasn’t real!’ But that moment didn’t come.

The people at church were really great. I found Scotty’s sermons enjoyable, interesting and relatable to me. He never appeared to look down on anyone, which is something I expected from a pastor. I found that Jason and I were forming a friendship and that we were both really getting something from it. I found that church wasn’t a business that it was a community of people, and I just needed to see it first hand. It allowed me to break down my pre-conceived notions of what I thought a church was. So for me, I really had to believe in the church before I could truly open my mind and heart to hear the message.

It was May 2008 when I finally opened my mind and heart to the message and to Jesus. I don’t know exactly when, I just know that one day I realized that I was there. I felt like a new person. I felt like a better person and I couldn’t wait to get out and start ministering to others. I wanted to tell them what I was feeling and tell them that the negative ideas that they have about church might be wrong. I’m still working on many of my friends and won’t give up. I hope that when they really notice the changes in me and in my priorities that they will at least become curious and explore what got me here.

We allow really bad examples to define what church is. Whether it’s televangelists or scandals, we make it really easy for people to say ‘no thanks’ to God sometimes. It took persistence and love from Tiffany along with a lot of prayer. It took slow building relationships with Tiffany’s community group and other friends. And it took a church that didn’t feel like a business for me to give God a shot. It’s still a bit hard for me to believe but God was working on me.”

I was given the privilege of baptizing Brian a few months ago as he publicly declared his faith in Jesus. There is no doubt that he has given his life to God and is following Jesus with all of his heart. 

Tiffany sent me a card recently. Here is what she wrote:

“Dear Jason,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for going out of your way to welcome Brian into our church and getting to know him. Thank you for organizing the guy’s night out and for including him. Doing these things has motivated him to attend church regularly, volunteer in our kids ministry, participate in our missions events and look forward to getting to know others in our church.

I see God at work in his heart and it’s a beautiful thing! I am thankful that you use your God given gifts to embrace and encourage others in their walk.

I believe God lead me to Southlink for this purpose – I have been praying for Brian to attend church for over 4 years and it is such a blessing to see him THRIVE. Thank you for everything you do!

Love, Tiffany.”

Her word THRIVE reinforced what God was calling me to. To help people thrive in their faith. I share this story to celebrate the wonderful grace of God, for Brian, Tiffany and for me. What Brian and Tiffany didn’t know was that God was using their journey to teach me profound truth through their fresh faith. To remind me of how much He loves people and how much He still loves me. To encourage me to continue to invest in others who need His life and grace. God may have used me to touch their lives in His name but it was me who was touched and blessed beyond words. God was fully orchestrating a life-transforming work for us all and we are all still amazed at what took place and what God is continuing to do.

This is the heart of Thrive Community – that we may become more fully alive as we give our lives away for the mission of Jesus and the glory of God! 

More to come…