The Local Body

Hey guys. What's going on? I'm going to attempt this blogging thing for the first time in a very long time. We'll see where this takes us.

Heather and I are living and working in Florida now. We work for a sending agency called NMSI. Many of you have heard of them. We live in a type of campus community called the Center for Global Outreach. Basically, most of the people who live state-side and staff the office live on an area of Fort Myers that is just bigger than a city block. There is a house full of guys and a house full of girls and some apartments for all of the couple and the families. So, Heather and I have an apartment (that fits us quite well, I might add) and we work with most of our neighbors in the office. We get to do some pretty interesting jobs while we make plans to go overseas in a little more than a year from now.

Right now I'm kind of frustrated with trying to find a church. I'm torn between trying to find a church that Heather and I really love and connect with, or just settling with one that we just like. Finding a church to call home while we're here in Florida is a process that could take the whole length of time that we are in Florida! Do we just settle down in one and pour ourselves into it? Or do we hop around looking?

Part of me thinks that no matter where we are or how long we would be in that place, the thing we should always do is pick a place and just pour ourselves into it. Should we really be picking and choosing the place we like the most? Ultimately, the decision I make concerning a church would be based on the people that are there. Is it my place to make that judgement? It seems like I shouldn't. It seems like I should just pour myself into the people regardless of what I want.

On the other hand, I do want a church that I really like. One that I get excited about going to be a part of. And so I want to be exclusive and have the chance to pick and choose.

One thing I am feeling sure of is that no matter if I like a church or not, it is my choice to love it. No matter where we end up, it's up to Heather and I to love it.

One more thing, Heather and I aren't even sure we understand what role a "church" has for us at this point. I mean, we live and work and worship with these people at the CGO (Center for Global Outreach). In my current understanding of a church, that most definitely is one. So is there much of a need to conduct this search for a seperate community in Fort Myers? What role does the "Sunday morning gathering" even have in our lives?

Pray for us in this.

Later guys,
Matt