Who We Are

Have you ever had one of those moments when it feels like time stops and God says, “Hey, pay attention! This is it!” It’s very rare that I can stand inside a moment and really see what is developing. At our Visioning meeting last night, this absolutely happened.

I had been listening to Henry and Erin’s presentation of the data of Edgemont’s surrounding area along with how we see ourselves. Our survey results showed our core values as Love, Community, Service, and Faith. It was exciting to hear the conversation of ways we can share those values with our neighbors. Then, God tapped me on the shoulder and told me to listen. He allowed me to step back and look at the meeting and conversation from a distance. Here is what I saw.

The meeting last night was already accomplishing what we are working to build. We don’t have to do crazy things to connect with a specific group. We just have to be ourselves. This was a meeting held for a specific reason and included Edgemont members along with new faces. Edgemont, being the relationship-building people we are, created an environment that connected with others on a personal level. Because of what was being said and by “Edgemont being Edgemont,” someone (probably multiple someone's) who are not members had such a connection that they got chills! I am 110% positive that those in attendance now feel comfortable coming to Edgemont because of that personal connection and relationship that is already growing. Did you catch that? Relationships were started last night during a normal (heavily data-focused) meeting! We communed together, had heart-felt discussions, shared God’s love, and started new relationships by just being ourselves.

As we look to craft our vision and reach our community, this is the type of atmosphere that we are looking to create. And the exciting thing is, it doesn't have to be hard. We can share our love of God through frisbee golf, gardening, quilting, food service, book clubs, and even what we thought was going to be a standard visioning meeting!

In 1 Peter 4:10-11, we are told, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”

May we find ways to share God’s love with others this week by being our unique selves!