Teri

I came to Bel Air in the aftermath of surviving one of the hardest times in my life, but the greeters at Bel Air welcomed me like I was someone they had known for years. I sat in the back row and kept my head bowed.

The pastors taught Jesus’ truth with love, where deep healing begins and where my true help comes from. The music and prayers praised God’s power and majesty. We sang and spoke of practical daily things taking place under our Father’s watchful eye.   

The church family at Bel Air helped restore hope in me and made me feel safe and accepted no matter where I was in my life or what I was going through. After a while, I began to attend service with my head held high.

When Pastor Rebecca Burchett Morgan discovered I was a newcomer, she did not rest until she had connected me to a small, neighborhood Life Group.

This collection of folks from all walks of life welcomed me in, asked me all about my life, and shared with me about theirs. They laughed with me, listened to my rambling thoughts, pondered questions I asked about scripture, and supported me when I grieved and mourned and ventured out to try new things.   

We began to sit together on Sundays, and have picnics on the patio after service. We bonded by doing things together like hikes, Easter dinner, and organizing an outreach project. We share our prayer requests, successes and challenges, and grow close in a way only Jesus could orchestrate.

My church family provides a safe space for growth and a source of restoration at the deepest level. They are grounded and rooted in the love of Christ, and can speak to me about who I am from Jesus’ perspective. They encourage me from scripture and prayer and from their own experience with Christ, and challenge me to grow, and teach me about who I truly am in Him.

Teri