Lonely Church

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” -John 15:12


“We don’t know anybody.” Grace complained.

Grace recently decided to follow Jesus. She got married and joined a church. They attended faithfully for three months. “We like the pastor,” she admitted.

Catherine and I have been worried about Grace for a while. We knew she had committed to follow Jesus but also knew she stopped going to church. Tonight, she admitted why.

Six of us gathered together for our I am Second group. Grace came as well. We ate some food, commemorated Jesus, discussed the Bible, and prayed for each other. We did church I am Second style.

“I have never felt so loved as I did tonight, and I just met these people.” Grace said. “Pat and I have not been to church in three months. We like the pastor but we don’t know anybody else at the church.

“I never wanted to say it. I thought it was my fault. I thought there was something wrong with me. But I don’t like church. I hate going. But tonight was different. I have never felt so loved or learned so much than I did tonight.”

Grace loves Jesus but she hates going to church. Why? Because church is lonely. The programs and pastor got her in the door but it was the lack of love that sent her back out. Nobody prayed for her. Nobody listened to her. She was told to come and sit.

When she came to Heath’s house she found friends. We sat around a meal, shared life and told stories. We discussed the Bible openly and humbly, asking questions, and listening for opinions. We shared hurts and prayed for each other and the people in our lives. Quite simply, we loved each other.