Church Shopping

I grimace a little bit even as I type out the title to this post because there is something just not right in my mind about the whole concept of "church shopping." It is crazy how much our consumerism has seeped into our Christian culture- into my own heart- that church has become another place where we believe that we are entitled to have it "just the way we like it." I saw that so much in my heart in college, and have seen it resurface some in the past few weeks, and want so desperately to fight against it- that we might once again see the church as a worshipping body of which we are a part- to serve, to love, and to by God's grace, extend his kingdom.

But before I get carried away on a little soap box, my real intention of this post was to let you know that I believe today I found the church that I believe God is calling me to be a part of during my time here in STL, and I couldn't be more excited- South City Church.

I was initially so excited about the looking for a church or "church shopping" process but after only a few short weeks found myself so weary of it. As someone described to me this week, "I needed community like yesterday." Um, totally. And I also really needed a place to serve, to pour my life out "like yesterday" as well. And thus, I didn't want to spend my entire semester visiting all the 25+ PCA churches in STL plus all the other amazing churches up here. But after today, my second time at this church, I don't think I will even visit the remainder of the ones on my narrowed list and I am so thankful.

South City seems to be really be a church that exists in the city for the city- with its aim, by God's grace, to restore and redeem South City-St. Louis with the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God! I am excited about the the community of believers that seem to be there and about all the opportunities to do life and ministry in South City.

* Today, they even announced a new ministry to STL which for those of you who know me will know how much it stirred my heart- a Safe House for victims of Sex Trafficking. (This has been such a deep burden on my heart for a long time and I am so anticipating how the Lord might allow me to get involved in his ministry of compassion to these girls through this church!)

I know there will be much more to say about the church, and what is doing and how God is allowing me to be a part over the next months and years. But I wanted to say thank you to all of you who have prayed for me and counseled me in this area. Please pray that I would truly grow through and give myself to the ministry of this church, and that God would this particular manifestation of his church to radically transform my heart and radically transform this city of which we are a part!

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."