NewSpring Church. Since attending my first service there almost a year ago I have accepted Christ, become a member, and have become involved in the church through volunteering my time to help various programs within the church. I wouldn’t say it has been detrimental, but it has put more stress in the logic problem that is my life. You know the logic problem where there is a farmer on an island that has a dog, a chicken, and a bag of seed with him and the only way to get home is in a boat that only 2 object can fit in at a time and the dog and the chicken can’t be alone together, the chicken and the seeds can’t be alone together, the dog can’t be alone by itself, and the farmer is the only one that can row the boat… how do you get them all off the island alive and intact? Lots of times I feel the same way: Kristin and I have to get child A to activity A and child B to Activity B at the same time, as well as child C needs to get to activity C 30 minutes later, how do we get to all activities with our sanity intact? Now throw into the equation that some weeks either Kristin or I are at church 4 or more days a week, so one of us has to do all activities with the all the children. We have had to get help from friends and family a lot, but we feel like we are working towards a larger, more important goal. We feel we are helping our children build stronger foundations by letting them see we are involved in the church and believe in it. The children have actually started asking if they can go more often than just Sundays. Although Nathan is almost old enough for FUSE (the teens and tweens), Kathryn and Emma have a little ways to go.
All of my time going to NewSpring I have enjoyed the attitude, message, and really the atmosphere as well (even though I don’t like crowds I like people watching… oxymoron?). I have invited several co-workers, friends, and family members and I’ve always gotten the usual, “let me check my schedule…” or, “I can’t this week, ask me again later” but the ‘later’ never seems to be available or sometimes even to come up again. Well, my brother finally took me up on my offer; he and his wife brought their children for the Easter service. Since it was their first time, and expecting a large crowd, I recommended they get there an hour early so we can get their children entered into the system, checked in, and off to their appropriate rooms and still have time to give them a quick tour before heading off for the service. Kristin is volunteering this service, but she was almost giddy they made it to church with us and basically pushes them around the children’s building, introducing them to half a dozen people. A lot like me on my first visit they kept looking around the facility and, I wouldn’t say gawking, but were interested, or impressed by several things, and kept running into people they knew. The doors were opened by the time we got back to the atrium so we headed on in; I let them choose the seats as I wanted them to feel the most comfortable as possible. Again, NewSpring isn’t the typical church environment: bright lights, loud music, rock music at that, jeans and tee-shirts, no program telling you which song to turn to in the hymnal, no hymnal. When the service started Ben and Destiny were a bit put off by the music. Well, not put off exactly, more like confused as it’s not a choir singing traditional hymns. We take our seats and more bright lights and loud music is thrown at them. Deathly afraid they hated their first exposure to NewSpring, the first 5-10 minutes I kept asking Ben if he’s alright.
Perry came out and started the sermon. I noticed that both Ben and Destiny laughed when they were suppose to and seemed to be taking it all in, not wanting to break the spell I tried my best to not look at them, or even touch them if I could help it. It wasn’t until near the end of the sermon that I finally realized that something Perry said had hit home with them and they really, really got the message. I dared a glance over and saw their hands clasped. Not the polite, “let me hold your hand to be proper” kind, but a white knuckled, “I need you” kind of clasping. I also realized (once again) that I’m a lot stronger when I have my Kristin near me. A few moments later I saw Destiny put her head on Ben’s shoulder, her back shaking a little with a few sobs, and Ben put his head on top of hers.
The band started playing their last song and, even though no one was asked, the whole congregation was standing before the end of it. Again, Ben and Destiny were holding each other. After the song was over Perry came out and gave an altar call. I’m happy to say that Destiny was one of the first to try to make it to the altar. Unfortunately we were sitting in a row that has a false aisle, Destiny had to back track a little and walk down an entire row before making it to the front. Ben was at her heels walking down the aisle as well. People around where we were seated were clapping, everyone except me. I was about to burst out my skin I was so happy, but all I could do physically was tear up. Eventually I got it together and started clapping like everyone else for all the others. Perry had to restart the invitational several times as more and more people started walking the aisles. Finally, the invitational was given, prayers asked for and received, and the rest of the congregation dismissed. I know it was an emotional roller coaster when I finally accepted Jesus, I know my head was swimming and I was exploding with joy that I finally found a path to walk down; I just didn’t realize I would feel the same way when my brother took the same path.
