When I get back to campus, I’ll be leading a house church community known as the Southside New Life Team. Last night, Hannah (a sophomore in our community…and yes, I got permission to use her name) sent out an impromptu e-mail to our family/team sharing some of her feelings regarding what she’s found at New Life (and specifically in Southside). I met her in the dorms the second night she was on campus, and she has become a dear sister and co-worker in the Gospel since. The bolding is hers, not mine. Enjoy.
Earlier today, I was listening to a podcast and the pastor was teaching on how the church isn’t a business, it isn’t a product, it’s a family. As he was teaching I found myself incredibly moved and tearing up, because you, my dear brothers and sisters have become my family. Last year I came to U of M knowing nobody. I met a few of you my first week here and since then I’ve developed incredibly strong and deep relationships with so many of you. I’ve lived my life with you, I’ve “worked” with you, shared possessions [sometimes even a bed...Bowens] with you, learned from you, opened up to you about things I thought I’d never tell anyone and experienced freedom & healing as a result, been loved & served by you, and gotten to know what makes you come alive. My heart is so deeply intertwined with some of you that I know we will continue to have a relationship rooted in Christ’s deep love for the rest of our lives. Some of you I barely see, but when I do, it truly is like seeing a long lost brother or sister. You guys have become my family. I love you and I care about you deeply.
Part of what made the moment so special for me is that I grew up in a really broken family- one of divorce, neglect, and emotional/verbal abuse. Until I came to college, I never really wanted to have a family of my own because what I knew family to be was conflict, hurt, and pain. God has tremendously redeemed relationships with my family members, but also through this church, God has shown me that a family [His body] is incredibly beautiful and it’s something that I long to be a part of.
It was so awesome for me to reflect on the beauty of our church [the Southside NLT...last year Southwest] and how we have become what Christ longs for the church to be- a family. I just wanted to share this beautiful moment with you 
your sister,
Hannah “I really feel like crying now…too bad I’m at work” Wilson
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Cool blog. Definitely agree that at the end of the day, church is family (not an event or show or even gathering). Well said.