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April 21, 2018
Dear Bishop and Pastor Joan,
After moving to Upstate NY back in 2010 we were soon looking
for a church home. I believe it was
Google that first pointed us to The Love Church. With a name like that, images of hippies passing
the bong around a sweat lodge wearing nothing but their ponytails first came to
mind. But marijuana wasn’t legal yet,
and the doctrinal statement on the website was reassuring, so we decided to
check it out. The smoke-free atmosphere
coupled with spirit-filled worship helped deliver the most refreshing dose of
holy joy I’d experience in a long time.
When that was followed up by a whitest rendition of TD Jakes complete
with gold cross on a chain and that purple gemstone bling ring, the combination
was enough to make a Southern Baptist’s eyes water.
Bernie cornered us after the service and talked me a few
laps around the sanctuary before Jesse and Lianne swept in as catalysts to
divine intervention. Soon we were off to
lunch and initiated into the family via Old Country Buffet style communion. Over the next two years we would go on to
worship and serve with fellow Christians of your small flock from
Elmira-Horseheads, to tornado-flattened Joplin Missouri, to the orphanages of
Haiti.
There were a few things in particular that impressed me
about The Love Church. Family is one. Not just the fact that we felt like family
there, but that there were a quite a few actual family members of yours in
attendance. It takes a special kind of ‘prophet’
to maintain that kind of respect in their own hometown. Auras tend to evaporate with
familiarity. You have to be above
reproach to maintain the reverence of people who know you far better than those
who just show up on Sundays when you’ve naturally got your best foot forward.
There was the sending.
I’m awed by how many times TLC has fearlessly blessed the evangelical
aspirations of members eager to plant a new stake in the ground in the name of
Christ. From the branch in Tacoma,
Washington to the birth of Pine City Church (which seemed to siphon off half of
the congregation at one point.) The Love
Church was more selflessly open to spreading love, rather than keeping it
bottled up in the name of financial security, than any other church I’ve
attended.
And then there’s y’all. A couple of the most kind hearted shepherds
I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.
Thank you for your focus on the best aspects of God as we attempt to
understand Him— mercy and grace, generosity, spirit filled worship, the care of
orphans and widows, open hearted community and deep fellowship. I was never lacking in hugs or friends during
our two years at The Love Church. Thank
you for making us feel like part of the family during our time there.
Love to you both,
Daniel
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