Why Grace Alive is My Favorite Part of Florida
In 2017, I was given the opportunity to move to Orlando after graduating from college in North Carolina. Being a Pennsylvania native, Florida was not only far from home, but a place where I knew no one. However, I was fortunate enough to come here with Grace Alive, which quickly became my family. If I could it break down into three tangible avenues that God has blessed me through this church, it would be these: Serving, Community, and Sincerity
It has been an honor to serve on the worship team at Grace Alive since 2017. I have been able to grow close with so many great people on the team, as well as spend a few hours of my week utilizing a specific gift God has given me. My time serving has also been a weekly reminder to remain humble, and to serve where God puts me (not just where I am comfortable or an expert). Through the highs and lows of serving, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have an opportunity to make an eternal impact – helping to give people a space and time to encounter God through worship. In addition, Grace Alive provides opportunities to serve the community by partnering with local ministries doing incredible work. It is a blessing to get to support them through service opportunities and tithing.
Secondly, community is of high importance at Grace Alive (just like it is in the Bible). I have been a part of the same Community Group for the past few years, and it has opened my eyes to so many new perspectives. I can say in all sincerity that our conversations have transformed me into a different person than who I was a few years ago. Getting to eat together, laugh together, cry together, and talk about topics that are off limits in normal social circles has been edifying and pruning to say the least. Mix that with an incredible message from Pastor Cam on a difficult topic, and you have a challenging community group! I also am fortunate enough to be a part of the young adults community at Grace Alive, which is a great group of people where we can enjoy life together, witness together, and be able to relate to one another. As a young adult, lack of community or difficulty making friends seems to be the most difficult plight amongst our generation, especially this past year. However, Grace Alive has provided a group of incredibly fun, honest, and loving people in the same stage of life as me. I am so thankful for them.
Lastly, Grace Alive has an incredible level of sincerity to it that I think is often glossed over in churches that are trying to achieve diversity. Many churches say, “come as you are”, but the sermon, worship, announcements, and so many other things suggest “come as you are but change to be more like us.” At Grace Alive, you will find people of varying age groups, socio-economic statuses, skin tones, cultures, affiliations, and any other differences you can think of. There is no expectation to mold to the “church culture”. People can truly come as they are, hear the word of God, and see people who have nothing in common but their identity in Christ come together to be a part of one another’s lives. I have recognized this past year how uncommon it is for people to have relationships with others who are different from them. At Grace Alive, I am fortunate enough to have deep-rooted, Christ-centered relationships with people who a few years ago, I might have been uncomfortable even approaching because of a cultural difference. On a grander scale, that can change the world.
Grace Alive is my favorite part of Florida. It is my favorite part of my current chapter of life. Through the many jobs, people, good times, and bad times that I have experienced over the last 4 years, God has been gracious enough to give me Grace Alive as a loving community, a place to learn & serve, and a space to grow closer to Him.
