Before
I came to First Pres in June of 2012. I liked it so much that I decided to take the membership class. I attended Sunday school, got hooked into Morning Glories, helped at Neighbors aRe Us, and got involved with a house church. On June 1, 2014 I became a member.
In 2013 I had my hearing checked and found out I needed hearing aids. After that I found it very difficult to be in Sunday school classes. I just couldn’t focus on any one conversation. Shortly afterward I found myself backing away from everything except church service, Morning Glories, and house church. This behavior continued until I received a call from Mark Phillip Jen in the fall of 2015 asking if I was interested in being a Deacon. That was my “wake up” call. Mark sent me the Deacons hand book to look over. I asked my daughter if I even qualified. Her answer: “Yes, you do. The question is, are you willing and able.” That did it. I read the hand book and started fervently praying. Finally, I called Mark and said yes!
By invitation from Lana, I attended the April and May Deacons meetings this year to get a feel for them. I was appointed to the communion committee. Finally my eyes were opened. I could see some of what God wanted of and for me.
After
That’s when I started falling in love with the congregation! I got into conversations with people I did not yet know, went back to Sunday school, engaged in Wednesday Bible Study at church, and started building relationships with people I already kind of knew.
Recently, I was assigned my In Touch People. As some of you may already know, the Deacons are given people to visit often to care for them and make sure everything is ok with them, especially if they are not able to attend church. It gives us a chance to get better acquainted with them and let them know that they are loved!
What a great assignment: being a Deacon! Then I heard about the Stephen Ministry training coming to town. You guessed it: I signed up.
Becoming a Deacon has been a life changing event for me! I am now loving life and, above all, loving our great God even more! If you want to kick your walk with God up a notch, consider saying “Yes!” when you get the call to be a Deacon. You will be glad you did!
God Bless,
Charlene Henry