So I grew up going to church and I was saved and baptized about seven. So really young. I remember the night that I asked Jesus into my heart. I had been asking questions about salvation to my parents. They called my grandmother, talked to her, and decided that yes, this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to accept Christ, and I know that I did this out of fear, and I was afraid of hell. I was not excited to burn for eternity. So the answer was Jesus.
That is how that came about. I did not understand, however, the responsibilities of my choices at that time. I did not understand the ramifications of what I was choosing. I do know that looking back on the last years of my life, you know, I’ve got regrets. And I have lots of mistakes that I’ve made. But I do believe that had I not accepted Jesus, the number of those mistakes and regrets would be much higher. I can think of some times, almost vividly, that the Holy Spirit led me away from a situation, led me away from a person or a place. It was a tug on my heart, you know, like, you don’t need to be doing this. You don’t need to. This is not for you. And, you know, obviously as a human, there were some times I ignored that tug and I did it anyway and wished I hadn’t. But I do know that without the Holy Spirit leading me all these years, I would be much worse off. And I know that I believe that with my whole heart.
I did have a time where I was away from the church. My dad, once I had gotten married and moved to Ada, he had gotten remarried as well. And the church that I had grown up in and going to, he and my sister still attended, and he decided to go back to Church of Christ, which is how he was raised, not how I was raised, but his new wife and her family were Church of Christ. And so he and my sister left the church I had only known and went to this new church, and it caused quite a rift with my father and I because I didn’t understand the decision. I didn’t understand how it was a biblical choice. I was confused. I was worried for my sister’s salvation. I was worried for if something bad were to happen, what would happen to them because I had believed for my whole life that the select people out of the church I grew up in, we were the followers. We were the true believers, and everybody else, you know, was kind of an iffy. So I was very lost and I was angry. And I didn’t go to church for quite a while because I, I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t know what to trust, who to trust.
I was very lost, and I was angry.
And I didn’t go to church for quite a while
because I didn’t know where to go.
I didn’t know what to trust, who to trust.
And then I became pregnant. And my son was my top priority. And I knew that I wanted to raise him in church. I knew that I wanted him to know God and love God. And so I had seven months to figure out a church home for him, and I had no idea where to start.
And then, you know, God works in mysterious ways.
And so my dad, not knowing I was pregnant called me one day. And he said, “Hey, my church here, they have a affiliation with the college minister in Ada, and he attends church, you know, somewhere there.” My dad is awful with names. He said, “But I’m going to come get you all tomorrow. We’re going to go to church. Be ready.” And I said, “Okay, well what time?” And he said, “Church starts at 9:30. Be ready at 8:45.” And I was like, “Oh, that’s a problem. I like to sleep in!”
But anyways, so they picked us up and we pull into Central, and I was at first a little put off by how big the building was, because I had never been in a church with that big of a building. So I walked in; I didn’t feel any discomfort. I didn’t feel like it was going to be scary.
Now, this was 2020, so the congregation was a lot smaller at the time. We were all wearing masks. So when we walked in – and don’t know if you know this – but I sit in the back section of the church now, like the sixth pew from the back. My dad is not. He would like to be up-front. So we were in the front section first day. Don’t know anyone here. We’re in our mask and Bennie Cope comes up to us to introduce himself. And I know he did this on his own. No one told him to. No one elbowed him and told him to go. He did this of his, of his own volition because he recognized a new face, even behind the mask. And he was so kind.
It was thought-provoking.
And I learned something.
And then I realized that there was a big projector up front. And I got nervous because why is there technology at the church? I was really confused.
But then when Ben started talking in his sermon, I don’t know how else to say it, but it just clicked. It made sense. There was Scripture. There was a dive into what does the scripture mean. There is a breakdown of the Scripture. But there was also a real-world application put to it to us. There was a call to action to us. It wasn’t just a lesson on our sins. It was thought-provoking. And I learned something.
Now I can’t tell you what the sermon was about. I can’t tell you what he said. But after it was over, my husband, who was unable to go with us, I called him and I said … I loved it here. I said, “I really want you to come visit it with me next time you can.”
So the next time he was off work, we went, and he said the same thing – that this just felt right. He felt comfortable there. He loved the sermon. It made sense to him. And you know, his brain and my brain work in completely opposite directions. So for Ben to get to two people on the opposite end, I mean, wow!
And that is where we’ve stayed, and we’ve been there almost four years. And I can honestly say that when I moved here, I didn’t know a soul, and I didn’t like Ada. I wasn’t happy here. I wanted to move. And after being at Central, I have a community. I have friends. I have a ladies group. There’s so many opportunities for someone to find a place, and I’ve never heard of such before. The dedication that Central has to families and individuals and finding them a place where they’re comfortable and they’re at home and they have someone to turn to and someone to call is unbelievable. It’s beautiful is what it is.
The dedication that Central has
to families and individuals
and finding them a place …
it’s beautiful is what it is.
And my son is growing so much. He’s still feral because he’s three. And something about these three year-olds, there’s something, something wild in them. But when we’re out and about in public and in town and Walmart or wherever, the amount of people that he recognizes from church that I don’t even know that he knows, it’s crazy. And the amount of people that recognize my son from church and come up to him – it’s crazy!
And I love it! And I love it! I want him to be around so many people that love him and will show him Jesus in the world. And that is what I wanted for him. And we’re getting that at Central, and I am proud to call it our home. And I know that we will forever be proud to say that we are members of the Central Church of Christ in Ada.