Why I Landed at a Nondenominational Church

I am not a typical church-goer. Having served as a pastor for nearly thirty years I know how easy it is to lose focus on why the local church exists. Julie and I come regularly to worship, unless we are out of town. We don’t do this out of a sense of obligation but rather, we do not want to miss the way God is proclaimed in the teaching, and experienced in the relationships that are formed at Vintage. We also find rest and restoration through shared communion and the worship that is authentic and real.

In February I took early retirement. Much of that decision had to do with the needs of my family and our grief from the sudden and unexpected death of our son. Grieving is difficult work, and as a pastor, it is a challenge to grieve openly. We felt accepted and loved the first time we attended, and never felt judged.

Sundays are different for me now. My focus is no longer on the pressing needs of the church, but on finding God in the midst of my brokenness. I needed to find a place where God’s love is central and where truth is taught. We have found that at Vintage. God has blessed us by leading us into such a place.

Brian Zahnd wrote, “It is forgiveness alone that has the capacity to break the chains of injustice and give us the possibility of a new future- a future unchained from the past and free of bitterness.” Grief is a demanding companion. Bitterness is often the fruit of grief. Forgiveness is central when working through loss. We have had to forgive our son, ourselves, and even God for allowing such pain. It is too easy to feel the injustice of such loss. It is challenging to find a place where one can be honest about all these feelings and be accepted despite them. Vintage, through Deacon’s leadership, has become our safe haven.

All of us face challenges. We all need a place that doesn’t judge us, but accepts and loves us in the brokenness of our humanity. We came to Vintage to be with our children.But we found much more. Unexpectedly, Vintage emerged as a place
of rest and restoration for my family. But it is also so much more. Deacon consistently challenges us to live into our vocation as followers of Jesus, to be image-bearers of Jesus Christ in the world. God is good. God knew what we needed, and now we are part of what God is doing at Vintage.

Until next time,

DP