One thing I always liked about the retreats, mission trips, camps and fellowship events I have participated in, is when everyone sits down and shares their story. I mean their faith story.
Everyone has a unique one. They are vastly different and some are quite surprising. Some can't remember when they exactly became believers because it was at such an early age. Some have sudden epiphanies that lead to faith. Some have a long slow journey with ups and downs. Some are sprinkled with pitfalls and some are blessedly peaceful.
My own story started with a Catholic upbringing, which I failed to build into a relationship with Jesus. In mid-life, I felt a yearning to awaken my spiritual life. I needed a welcoming and accepting place to foster my new life. I found that place here in Libertyville.
Which brings us to our own church's story. It started in 1977 when a small group of believers had a vision of serving and educating neighbors here in Libertyville. They took a leap of faith and put the wheels in motion that resulted in the place where we worship today. They were obedient, prayerful, and patient. God heard these people and answered their prayers. What a wonderful story to tell!
Everyone has a story, but how does your story fit into God's story? We are embarking on a journey starting this fall that will help answer that question for you. This year our focus for preaching, Adult Sunday School and small groups will be "The Story." Dwight explains the details of our journey in this month's newsletter.
Hollywood has called it "The Greatest Story Ever Told," and the hymn writer Katherine Hankey proclaimed “I Love to tell the Story":
I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
The Bible truly is a wonderful story. I am personally looking forward to learning much more about God's story. Does my own story appear in the Bible? Does the story of our church match Bible stories? Can I get new understanding to help me grow, love and serve my brothers and sisters?
My hope is that by participating, we can better tell "The Story" while we continue to write our own. Please pick up a copy of the book and join us.
