Lori and I take our three grandkids to Church every Sunday and we decided that the needs of our grandkids were more important than ours. So, since Covid restrictions have been eased at Churches, Lori and I have been visiting churches that have programs for young children.
One of our grandsons has special needs, and during Distance Learning due to Covid, we made a decision as a family, that Lori would homeschool our two grandsons. That meant that there was little time for them to be around other little people their age. So, we decided to look for a new Church Home with lots of kids.
We visited Eastridge Church of Christ in Rockwall and we were very impressed with the congregation. It is quite a bit larger than congregations we have been members of over the last 40 years. I already knew how awesome the congregation was, having worked with them after the tornado that devastated Rowlett and Garland the day after Christmas in 2015. However, our impression meant little, unless our grandkids approved. So, one Sunday several weeks ago we took our two grandsons who are 8 and 9. After class was over came the moment of truth. We asked the 9-year-old how he enjoyed class and he said he liked it. One down, and one pickier grandson to go. When we asked our 8-year-old “Special Needs” grandson how he liked Bible Class, he declared: “It was EPIC!” It wasn’t the word we expected or even hoped for, it was more. We were ecstatic.
Over the next few weeks, we continued to attend and fell in love with the congregation. But we hadn’t experienced the best part yet.
Last week we filled out a card with our intention to place membership. We got an email a couple of days later, as prospective new members inviting us to meet with the Elders over dessert last Wednesday night. As you know I have met with the Elders of a lot of congregations in my work with The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. I’ll give some background if you aren’t familiar with the structure. The elders have oversight of the congregation and their primary charge is the shepherds (Pastors) of the congregation and the souls of each member. The Deacons take care of the physical needs of the congregation but there were no Deacons at this meeting. I thought I knew what to expect. But it turns out I didn’t. It was so much better than I could have imagined. Preachers and ministers work under the direction of the Elders.
There are 11 Elders at Eastridge and we met around a table with them. They asked questions about us and we asked questions of them. They went around the table and told us about themselves and each of their areas of responsibility. They had scheduled to meet with us for fifteen minutes but the meeting turned out to be almost an hour. They told us that after the meeting they would be in prayer until around 10:00 and that they have that meeting every Wednesday. Then they added that if any member has a problem or concern the door is open and they can come and share this time with the Elders anytime.
One area of concern was that I remembered that in the late 1980s there was a split in the Rockwall Church of Christ which was founded in 1860, and I knew that those who left formed the Lakeside Church of Christ. It turned out I didn’t even have to ask as they demonstrated that they wore their scars with pride. It is a common subject of conversation that it isn’t a story of division. It is a story of unity and redemption.
For fourteen years the two congregations worshiped on opposite sides of town. Then in 2002 talks began that resulted in the merger of the two congregations on October 5, 2003. Lori and I have known of several congregations that have split, but never have we heard of one that got back together again.
The merged congregation purchased land on FM 549 just north of Interstate 30 and began building a beautiful new campus. During the construction members wrote scriptures on the wall studs, and beam when they talk about the scriptures inside the walls throughout the building.
With the new beginning and a new building, they decided the congregation needed a strong name. They suggested that in the Bible the Mount of Olives sits to a ridge east of Jerusalem just as the new building sits on a ridge east of Rockwall. So, they named the building that housed the congregation at Rockwall for 161 years now, Eastridge Church of Christ. In my experience it is extremely rare for congregations to get back together after a split.
Finally, our meeting with the Elders came to an end, but not before they asked if they could pray with us. They had Lori and I remain seated as they gathered around us, put their hands on us and prayed over us. I can’t even describe how much my faith was sparked and our decision to join this wonderful congregation was validated. I can’t think of a group of Shepherds I would rather entrust my soul and the souls of my family. It is clearly a congregation that has weathered the storm and come out the other side stronger. We are home.
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