When I moved from Boise to Stevensville (besides my friends and family) I missed the church I attended the most. Calvary Chapel and Pastor Bob were very good to me. I loved the church service, I loved the college classes I took, and the women's bible study was amazing!
I've searched since then (7 years!) to find something that comes close. I found an okay church in Missoula, but at the time, we were driving to town 5 days a week. So a 6th day into Missoula (they only had a Sunday service) wasn't feasible.
Now that I'm home all of the time, I've continued my search. And I've just prayed to learn the bible. That's what I loved so much about Calvary Chapel...they taught the bible. I also put on my vision board "read the bible". It's also on my bucket list to read the bible cover to cover. I have an awesome bible app on my phone and I found a 90 day reading plan. I'm on day 33. My reading habits are terrible (I skip until there is conversation...it's really bad, I know) so I've had the audio read it to me. Haven't missed a word!
And now...I'm searching for sustainable employment in Missoula and telecommuting. And I have found a church to accommodate either option!
When Patrick married Elizabeth, I realized just how much of a church-goer she really was. I knew that when she moved here, she would find a great church and she did. Christian Life Center (CLC) is the one she told me to check out - it's the one she really likes. I did and the following week was the start of the women's bible study after being on summer break. I went and LOVED it. Nicole goes with me also and it's great sharing that experience with her. We are studying Beth Moore's "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place". It's an in-depth study and I really enjoy the ladies I've met and the lessons I've learned.
The first meeting, I met Sherry. She talked about her path to CLC and it started at a church in Stevensville. She said she attended for over 7 years and really loved it. And now she's attending CLC after trying over 20 churches in the area. I immediately perked up. What church did she love for so long and why did she leave? We were in a group of women and I didn't want to be too nosy the first day. Yep, I waited until the 4th meeting. LOL Sherry, Nicole and I were the only ones at our table so I asked her about it. She said the church was Jesus' Community Church (JCC) and it is fantastic. Her and her husband live across the street and they were very active. They are both being called to move to Missoula so she decided to find a church family there while they prepare for the move. It's a very amicable departure and she suggested I try it.
That day I wrote on my facebook page: I wish I could do a bible study with my Grandma Gummerson.
I went to church at JCC on Sunday, October 20 for the first time. This really nice woman came up to me and asked, "Are you Laura?" I said, "Yes, how did you know that?" She told me that Sherry called her to let her know I was coming. Kristy then introduced me to her husband, Pastor Glenn. How NICE! The pastor and his wife were so welcoming and kind. I really enjoyed the service, too. I found out they have two women's bible studies. One on Wednesday morning and one on Thursday evening. I couldn't attend last week because we went to Idaho for my Uncle Dale's service. So I went this morning. They are studying Revelations. And they have been since March of 2010!!! We learned about Revelations 17:8-10. In two hours...3 verses. They joked that they are really moving along this week. For a brief second, I wished I could go back in time and start the study of Revelations at the beginning. But it quickly passed - I am right where I'm supposed to be. The leader of the study is crazy smart about the bible and I look forward to the wealth of knowledge from these sweet women. And most of them are elderly. My kind of gals!! Today I had the thought, "This must be what it would be like to have a bible study with my Grandma."
I feel like I have just hit the bible study jackpot. At both churches.
No comments:
Post a Comment