“It Related to our Real Lives”

An Interview with a New Family at SLWC

 

By

David Drury

 

In July SLWC Connections Pastor David Drury sat down with newcomers Bruce & Sherri Bradford-Royle to ask them about their experience at SLWC so far.  Listen in on their conversation here:

 

David – Sherri, why did you guys come to SLWC?

 

Sherri – When our oldest, Catherine, was born just over 4 years ago we visited some churches but remained unchurched.  Last summer we came to the place where decided we wanted to find a church. We came for the first time this January on the second Sunday of the 40 Days of Purpose.  We didn't put the kids in childcare at first since we didn’t know anything about it.  But a kind woman was in the lobby and told us all about the children's ministry and took me on a tour of the downstairs kids facility.  In the van on the way home we thought we might have found our church—and never went anywhere else.  It was pretty emotional at first for me.  I’ve wondered at times if I am ever going to get through a service without crying!  I never felt comfortable and at peace in the church growing up.  When Jen Kilbry shared her testimony one Sunday shortly after we started attending I could relate to it so much.  At this church we found a place to call home.  When we leave church we discuss together what happened in the service because we always walk away with info we can apply to our own lives.    Even though we did not have a church home till the past 6 months, we still knew we wanted our children raised in a church that was grounded biblically.  But we thought we would just go though the motions and get our kids in church; we didn't realize it would become such a big part of our lives.  But at this church we had no choice but to apply it to our lives.  The way it was presented demanded that we respond and change.

 

David – Bruce, what things did you notice about our church in the first few weeks?

 

Bruce – What really baffled me is that there are so many young people in our church because they want to be there… the 15-22 crowd.  They are rocking to the music, praying, smiling, and engaged in the service.  I never had that.  I also love that it's not about legalism—it's about your relationship with God.  You can't build that bridge yourself; he built it already we've just got to cross it.  The music is a big part of what I love too.  It makes me think about God.  I know now that music is a way to celebrate God and even a way to pray.  I also loved that the messages are about things we relate to and think about on a regular basis.  The message series connect with us – they are almost like a TV series so it's always new and refreshing.  There's no monotony in this church.

 

David – I saw that you guys crossed "the bridge" on Easter - what was that all about?

 

Sherry – At first I thought, I don't need to go up.  I was baptized as infant and went to parochial school.  But I never felt comfortable with all that, and dropped out a week before my confirmation.  I had questions they couldn’t answer, so I didn't want to fake it.  So I had a foundation of belief, but crossing the bridge at Easter was about making a decision as an adult to accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior.  And when I did it a ton of weight was taken off my shoulders.  I wasn't forced to do it—it was my decision.  I was crying hard afterwards.  It was easy to make the decision.  And we did it together!

 

Bruce – I made the decision to follow Christ 9 months before the Bridge day.  Walking the bridge was a reaffirmation and thank you to God for me.  And I wanted to make that commitment public.  I was saying to God “I'm not going to stop going after this.”

 

David – How did you first get connected in our church and what did you think of the 101-401 classes you took in the spring?

 

Bruce & Sherri – The Sacred Parenting seminar in February was great for us.  We started to recognize people we had seen in services there.  We have appreciated that the staff knew us and connected with us – even though we weren’t members yet.  Pastor Dennis and others on staff have gone out of the way to talk with us and hear our stories.  We found that we took something different away from each of the 101-401 classes.  We really enjoyed being there.  It was an effort to get a sitter but it was great to sit, relax and do something for ourselves!  A lot of times we'd sit after the class at home and talk about the class issues longer together. It was great to find out what I might do best for God in the 301 class.  It was right up my alley.  I wish I would have had the information from those classes years ago.  Like everything else in the church, it related to our real lives.

 

©2004 David Drury

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