Why We Love Missouri Valley!
Posted on January 12, 2012
Church family, we hope you know how much you are loved by your church leadership, and how much joy we experience in serving alongside you to reach our community with the hope of Jesus! Missouri Valley is filled with people that are easy to love… you exhibit the love of Christ clearly and readily!
A couple weeks back, we received some feedback about this. A first-time visitor to our church shared some observations about how they felt in their first experience with us. They sensed God’s presence among our people and in our worship, were welcomed with open arms, and it was a huge blessing to them.
In case you’ve ever doubted what we’re doing as a church, or whether our church is making a difference in the lives of others…. STOP. Believe it. All of you ARE a blessing, and you’re making a HUGE difference.
Here’s an excerpt of the feedback we received. Read it and be encouraged!
The next day was Sunday, so it meant off to church. I think of all the days, this was my favorite. As I had said before, I was extremely nervous about going to church (it had been over four years since I had went to church). I met up with D to carpool to MoVal (I had heard a lot of good things about it and had watched their YouTube page – check it out here!), and we pulled up to a small church. By then, I think I looked calm on the outside, but on the inside… I was freaking out… hard-core.
We walked in a little late, hearing the worship music playing before the doors were even opened. I took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold… And I didn’t burst into flames… So far, so good.
After going through the aisle and finding a pew to sit down in, I stayed standing, while listening to everyone sing these verse to a multitude of songs, all of but one I didn’t know. So I just stood there, not singing, just listening to band play, the congregation singing and reading the lyrics. Of course, every song was amazing, the band was awesome and the feeling of… you know… God. After the service, I met the pastor (he is so nice!) and he told me to come back to “God’s Country”.
You know, I could try to explain what all happened while I was at church, but it would do no justice. It was just awesome. The message good, the pastor was passionate (more so than any other I had seen during my life), and the people looked genuinely happy (and they sure were friendly– Never been greeted by so many strangers). At the old church I used to go to, if someone looked happy, something other than church must have been on their mind. These people were genuinely happy and in love with God. It was just awesome. This church… Just absolutely amazing. It was just like God was there, saying “You were gone for so long, but welcome back, and I still love you.”
Thanks to ALL of you at Missouri Valley! We’re SO proud of you, our church!
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