new members

Today 22 of our brothers in prison became members of our church.

Sacred days in the past, groups from Wellspring Church have joyfully witnessed their baptisms, conquerors by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Washed in the water, washed in the blood….all of us, because of You.

Wednesdays they gather for round table, drinking Wellspring coffee in mismatchy chairs and learning from our pastors faith and theology and Word and action and truth.

By Jesus they have churches and brothers on the inside, and by Jesus they have brothers and sisters and a church on the outside. One body, many parts.

We’ve added new members lots of times and it’s always sweet to echo “with God’s help, I will be the church with you!” But today hit different.

I stood between two murderers-turned-as-only-He-can Brothers, and “One in Christ”, we said to one another. “One in Love”, we next committed. “One in mission”, we all marveled. All around me, my church family hewn from adoption in Christ.

Then all of our new members stood in the front, just like new members do at home, facing the congregation and promising that with God‘s help, they will pray and carry and give and serve and love us. And we promised the same, and God was in the middle.

Wellspring’s newest guitar player strummed as Wellspring’s newest ushers directed, and the newest and oldest members alike dipped the bread broken for you, cherished the cup poured out for you.

Daniel beside me had a line of teardrops tattooed down his cheek, but true tears washed them over as he handed me a brown crumpled napkin for my own cheek.

The church is not perfect, not even close. But it is a gift. And being a giving and taking and praying and faithful part of one is to be carried heavy, with joy.

Christians are not perfect. Let each other down all the time, me worst of all. But being a Christ-follower is Grace. Being adopted by Him is none but mercy.

We follow the only perfect One, follow Him to a cross, and find there men and women who have also been forgiven, east from the west, who have also been transformed…miracles!, who have also found in Him the Only Thing.

Our church grew 22 today and we are rich for it.