A glimpse of Heaven

3 years ago Redeemer Church had it's first service as a church plant from Southcrest. For my first few college years, I attended Southcrest and went to the University service there. During my junior year of college, Dusty Thompson announced that he would be leaving Southcrest and starting a church called Redeemer; which would be part of the Acts 29 church planting network. I followed Dusty to Redeemer. Redeemer is the first church that I have known and loved as my own, the church that has grown me unlike anything else, the church that I willingly became a member of, serve at, and give to on my own apart from my parents or any other influence. Redeemer holds such a special place in my heart, and tonight I was able to experience a special celebration with our church home. For 3 years, Southcrest has financially helped Redeemer get on its feet. They have prayed over us for years, and are faithful in their support of our church. Tonight, we celebrated being financially freed from Southcrest! This was not a celebration of cutting ties, but rather a celebration of the gospel increasing among the people in Lubbock because of Southcrest's willingness to send out some of their best to start Redeemer.

We met at Southcrest tonight for a celebration service. I went to Southcrest for 2 1/2 years, but I had never actually been in their main sanctuary. I never interacted with anyone other than the university students, and I never got to know the church that parented Redeemer. Southcrest is a Southern Baptist church. Redeemer is not. Southcrest people say "Amen" after things they really like in the sermon. Redeemer does not. Southcrest's congregation has LOTS of people over age 50. Redeemer is primarily 35 and under. Southcrest claps when they sing worship. Redeemer does not. Southcrest loves the Lord, believes in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and teaches from the Bible. Redeemer does too. Tonight I saw something so special. Right down the street from one another are two churches who are completely different in personality, but we have the most important thing in common: a love for Christ and to make his name known. For a little bit, I saw a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. A diverse group of people all loving and worshiping the same God.

Thanks Southcrest and Redeemer for the love you have for Christ and the church body.

www.redeemerlubbock.org
www.acts29network.org
www.southcrest.org

Kim