Intense thoughts and memories from Lindas head... (shocker - its long) So excited for Hidden Valley Community Church Richland Center to have its first Sunday Service at our new location. So many memories from the past 7+ years. This last Sunday got emotional as I stood in the back and looked out over all the people that attend HV. We had 183 people at the auditorium and so many of them new faces. I look around and see people that have had their lives completely change because of what they have learned about Gods love and grace. I stood there and thought about how much I am challenged each and every week. I have Learned SO MUCH over these years. As I stood in the back with some of the others that have been there with us from the beginning I cried and cried. I wondered if I would cry because of being sad to leave the auditorium because of all the memories. Instead I cried because I am completely and utterly humbled that God has allowed me to be part of His plan.... I cant even tell you how often I tell God that I dont understand why He blesses me the way He does. If you dont know I cant explain the feeling of knowing that the God that created the universe loves me and knowing that when I listen to His promptings and follow Him.... there is no other feeling like that that you can ever experience. One other thing that impacted me so much on Sunday was looking up on the stage and watching my son worship. The thought of it brings tears to my eyes. I have a son that is one of the most tenderhearted compassionate males I know. And yet he is also one of the most strong willed individuals you will ever meet. The teenage years took its toll on our family. We went through trials that made me question everything I did as a parent. Those was some of the darkest years I have ever had. And yet... through those years I prayed harder for my boy than ever and so did others. And to say that God showed up in my sons life is an understatement. During those years I didnt even have the words to pray for what God did in His life. I remember the screams coming from my son saying that He was sick of all the talk about God... that He didnt believe in God... and it just got worse from there.... I didnt even vaguely think to pray for my son to eventually be a Worship Leader I just wanted peace in our home. God gave me a greater peace than I could imagine. So now when my son isnt home and its late into the night and I finally get hold of him and he is at the church making sure everything is set up for church. Or if he gets his anger out by beating his drums to Christian Music blaring out.... I am overwhelmed. sigh.... When his week consists of meeting with our church leadership and worship practice or going somewhere around the state with his band Unite to lead worship at a concert. I am reminded to never give up praying. And to pray God sized prayers... That is just a portion of one of the countless and countless stories from what has happened because of Hidden Valley. I grew up in church. I have been a part of church all my life. Never in my life have I had the opportunity to be part of so many lives changed like this. It was said the other day that because of Hidden Valley Richland Center alone (not including Dodgeville or Platteville) well over 200 people have committed their lives to God.... That is not something I take lightly at all... That is not signing up for some program. That is acknowledging who is your creator and accepting His love and knowing that because of that you will forever have a relationship with your Heavenly Father. So if 7+ years ago if you would have told me that the lady that kept stalking me around town and calling me saying we should get together about starting a church would help me to make one of the most important decisions that would change our lives for eternity ... If I knew what would come out of that I might have even been a little more freaked out than I was.... Because at that time I had no idea what was ahead... We had no idea the responsibility... the heart aches... the tears.... the struggles... ... the time and energy that was going to be involved to get us to the point of gathering at a new home on Sunday Morning. That is why God doesn’t allow us to see what is coming ahead. Fear would get in the way. Now we look back and the things that happened all brought us here. They were all part of His plan. God uses everything for His Good. Well that was a trip down memory lane wasn’t it? I could write a book about what we have been through over these years and yet this week we begin a new Chapter. A Chapter that excites me like you can not even imagine. Am I scared and nervous about what is ahead? Of course. But in a way that I just wonder what amazing things God has in store for the people that come in contact with Hidden Valley. I know I have said many many times that HV is not a traditional kind of church. We realize that we don’t appeal to many traditional Christians. That is not who God has called us to minister to. To put it simply, our target audience is males ages 18 – mid 30’s. Although our attendance is a very wide variety of ages. That fact may help you to understand why we do what we do. Most males in that bracket would not feel welcome or even have interest in entering the doors of a traditional church. But does it mean that they don’t need to know God? No… And we know that if we can get those males in the door that it will change future generations. If we can be a place that is safe and comfortable so that they can just listen to what the Bible says each week. Then God will do the rest. But God has called Hidden Valley to do our part to make that happen. So if you wonder – that is why my son wears a cap and blue jeans on stage leading worship. That is why our minister dresses in casual clothes. That is why our music sounds like something they can listen to on the radio not a hymn. That is why we don’t hold hymnals in our hands and why the minister puts the verses on the screen. So the audience doesn’t get sidetracked by feeling out of place by not knowing where the book of Titus is….. I would absolutely love to have you visit HV either for our run through Wed night at 7pm or on Sunday mornings at 10 at the White House. We would love your honest feedback. I will leave you alone and let you rest your eyes. Have a beautiful day!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:00:08 +0000
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