It is a real blessing when you find a church you can really call home. When we are looking for a church, all of us first want to feel the presence of God of course, but then we want to feel comfortable and accepted. Well I had found my church or so I thought; that was until God intervened with His plan. His plan turned out to be quite different from mine, but soon I was to see (again), that His plan is ALWAYS perfect.

There are thousands of churches today which are biblical, spirit filled and Christ loving churches, but each of us need to sense a connection in order to feel we really belong. After months of going from church to church every Sunday, I attended this large church with signs in their parking lot everywhere saying “no perfect people allowed.” I found this to be rather strange, but I knew they were talking to me, so I felt it was worth a try.

I instantly felt the connection. The music was nothing like I had heard growing up, but I enjoyed it. It was upbeat and exciting, yet it was all about praising Jesus and God. The preacher began by telling how he, like me still sins at times, but through salvation, like him, I am forgiven by the grace of God. It was nice to hear a preacher who admitted he too was human and nice to be reminded of God’s grace. He paralleled his own life and today’s times to the biblical stories. I found myself excited to get up on Sundays to go hear the word of God. In no time at all I had found my place in ministry, made some friends and was really feeling the touch of God in my life, especially on Sunday mornings.

Well it wasn’t long with gas prices soaring and my having to drive seventy miles a day to work, an opportunity came to move closer to my work. A financial blessing yes, but I had to leave my church; the church I called home. Finding a new church was not something I was looking forward to.

With sadness in my heart I was back to square one in search of a new church. With my prayers known to God I began to look. This time my son and I went to a church that had been recommended to us, but they appeared to have already started their service so we left. The Refuge was my next stop. I had seen their sign in passing and had searched them online. From what I could tell they seemed very much like the church I had just left.

As we walked into The Refuge, the aura was very soothing and inviting. The presence of God was definitely in the house! The people were genuinely friendly and I felt a sincerity that was beyond any I had ever experienced. Pastor Dallas spoke with clarity and with such a passion it drew me in. He too related the biblical scriptures with our lives today in a way I could easily understand and apply.

The similarities of my previous church were ironic, but I immediately knew God had heard my prayers and He had answered them. Not only was it a place I could feel the presence of God, learn and grow, it was God’s perfect plan revealed. I knew I had found my little church; the little church I now call home.