There's a Seat for You

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

Arise and shine, dear one! God is with you!

I remember that sunrise distinctly. After driving all night from California, I watched the sun peek over the horizon as we approached our new home state of Oregon. As light spread across the sky, I wondered what lay ahead for us. Would my kids make new friends? Would I?

I thought of the church family we were leaving behind… the relationships I'd formed in our women's ministry. The world had shut down because of COVID, and I never got the chance to properly say goodbye. I held back tears as I prayed for the hope of a new community, unknown to me. What did God have planned for us in Salem?

Thinking back on that memory now, I imagine Jesus smiling down on me, knowing exactly what He had planned. He'd already gone before me, laying the foundation of what would become Arise… already knowing the church family I had yet to meet. He was at work in ways I couldn't see, and He knew exactly what my heart would need.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He knew exactly what His followers would need too. He told them to wait together for the promise of the Holy Spirit, who would come on the day of Pentecost and birth the beginning of the church. In the book of Acts, we see the remarkable fellowship those early believers shared… gathering daily, breaking bread in their homes, and praising God as they welcomed new believers into their midst.

I remember what it felt like to be starved for Christian community, and how I was welcomed into my new church home and the earliest beginnings of what is now Arise. God gave me what I longed for in fellowship with other believers, and He can do the same for you. It's worth the risk to try something new, whether that's showing up at a new church or joining a small group. There's a place for you, dear one. Join us at Arise, or wherever else God may lead you. The church that was formed two thousand years ago is still alive today, with a seat just for you!