Addressing the Pain

“Because being Catholic was not the norm in my community, I was often teased about our non-contemporary music and the liturgy, and I was accused of worshiping Mary. Mostly, I was told over and over again that I wasn’t a Christian. The latter happened all the way through college. I was so boggled by this because I knew I had what the Baptists liked to call a personal relationship with God. Yet I was told by children and adults alike that it wasn’t valid if it didn’t fit their formula.” “The irony is that I would eventually become a Baptist pastor myself, albeit not the kind one might typically imagine. Still, I bring my story along with me, hopeful that it will shape the way I lead and reimagine sacred community in a post-church world." “People need space to hurt. They need space to heal. Most of all, people should have space to evolve and expand. And at times, I have learned that many people need healing outside of church and how important it is to bless them, not judge them, as they go.” “Deep in the heart of central Texas, we have managed to create a small oasis of people, many of whom were done with church until we found each other. This is relevant to our work of rejecting an autopilot kind of faith.”