We’re Everywhere

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:” John 17:20-22

It has been a bittersweet week. My wife and I are in Little River, South Carolina to visit her Mom before she moves away from the area. For the past eight years, we’ve traveled from Michigan to South Carolina twice a year to visit her parents.

Eight years ago, her parents lived in a small condo in North Myrtle Beach. I was blessed to meet her loving, Christian family. My father-in-law was a Pastor in the same New Jersey church for 35 years, and my mother-in-law was his faithful companion through fifty years of marriage and ministry. They retired to South Carolina due to his MS diagnosis. It was then that I met my wife’s siblings, who are good Christian people raising good Christian kids.

When I first met them all in South Carolina, we attended her parents’ church. Anchor Baptist Church in Little River was a great place to get spiritually fed while away from our home church. Five months after that first visit to meet her parents, we were married overlooking the ocean on a beautiful day in December. Her Dad married us, and many of the church members from Anchor Baptist were in attendance, including Pastor Carl and his wife. His son even filmed the video of our wedding.

A year ago this month, Dad passed away from brain cancer. It was a hard loss, and the ceremony was held at Anchor Baptist. I was honored to give the eulogy for this great man who I still miss every day. During that funeral service, I got to know even more members of Anchor Baptist Church, who shared their love for Dad and Mom and our entire family. We were showered with Christian love.

This past Sunday, we attended church with Mom at Anchor Baptist Church. It’s still the same. The preaching was good, our souls were fed, and we got to talk to a lot of brothers and sisters in Christ. This was going to be the last time we’d be at Anchor for a long time, since Mom is moving four hours inland next month. It was a bittersweet morning for me, my mind was swimming with memories. I could still picture Dad scooting around on his motorized wheelchair, talking to the men of the church and teasing his grandkids.

Yesterday, my wife and I drove with Mom over to his gravesite. It was a beautiful day, and we were finally able to see his finished headstone. It’s almost as beautiful as the one buried beneath it, but not quite. As I looked around, I could still picture those faithful church members gathered in that same place a year ago, shedding tears and showing love for a brother in Christ who had meant so much to them.

They say that death and taxes are the two certainties in life, but there are many more than that. One of those certainties is “Christians”. No matter what happens to you in this world, there is a gathering of Christians somewhere who will walk with you through life. They will share your highs, endure your lows, and encourage you to carry on through the mundane, the pain, and the insane episodes of life.

Mom will have to find a new church when she moves next month. We plan to visit her in December and meet her new church family. We expect to make new friends at her church and make new memories with those members. We expect to pray for their needs, and we know that they’ll pray for ours as well.

How do I know this? Because Christ prayed in the verses above that future believers would walk in unity with each other and God, and it has happened that way…believers share life and glorify God and Christ in the process, all over the world, everyday.

We’re the family of God, and we’re everywhere. And when it’s all said and done, we’re going to have the greatest family reunion for all of eternity.