Our Experience With Grace Alive
Grace Alive holds a beautiful tension of truth and grace with an uncompromising center on Jesus. It has created a space of invitation and welcome for all different kinds of people that I felt and saw the first time I was ushered in to worship a couple of years ago. As the second Church we visited after moving from Minnesota, it exemplified the community we desired to worship alongside and the leadership to be shepherded by. We just simply didn't want to try out another Church! Each Sunday, I felt a tug to be closer to our brothers and sisters there- to rub shoulders with them in their work to propel the gospel further in the community that we were growing more and more burdened for. We wanted to be known by our Church and to know them, so we decided to become members and joined a small group! The commitment to this body helped us to ground ourselves and settle in. With small group, the proximity to others like-minded in Christ provided room to ask questions in grace, to learn, to express, and to share. I could feel my roots deepening and my love growing for the people that we now call family.
As we continued to grow in relationship to the people in our small group, we were challenged to serve with our time and talents. I love ensuring someone is seen and heard, that they are well cared for and feel comfortable. Thinking and praying on this, I tried out serving at the First Time Guest tent. I genuinely feel that God’s gift to me has been to serve others in this way- to express gladness to see someone, to ask them sincerely about where they’re coming from, and to let them know they have someone who they can come to if they have a question. We have to remember the Lord distributes different gifts and passions to His people. It is our responsibility to steward those gifts, to use them with the natural willingness and joy it brings out in us. When someone understands the value of being welcomed, they will welcome with earnestness. When someone understands the value of leading people into worship, they will shepherd people well into the throne room. When we are impassioned, we care for people with a liveliness and sincerity that people feel. Out of serving I have received so much joy and have felt a place of belonging for who I am.
All in all, I serve at and attend Grace Alive because I see a sincere group of people seeking God’s face in humility and action. I see a leadership team of pastors and ministry workers who prioritize God’s Word, people, and authenticity who I can relate to. And, I see and experience the love of the Father through the redemptive work of Christ and the Spirit’s movement in and through this body of believers. I pray that we can continue to walk together as salt and light, of one-mind, and with praise and encouragement on our lips in worship, always. A thank you to the body of Grace Alive, and all glory and praise to God for His work in and through us!