We have all been “brainwashed” in some capacity regarding our faith. For me, I was brought up thinking there was a God but not enough of one to give any attention to or live a certain way. I was a “sporadic Catholic” and when I say “sporadic” I mean I attended church once a year, if that. For you, it may be the opposite. Maybe you went to church every Sunday, maybe even a Wednesday as well. We naturally follow our parent’s patterns – good or bad.

When I was in my 20’s my best friend accepted Christ. It was because of this that I decided I needed to figure this whole thing out. I motivated myself to read through the Bible (King James Version) Thousands of pages - zero comprehension. I had to check it off my list. Turns out that deep down I actually was learning.

Then I met my future wife Vicki. She sees I have a Bible on my coffee table and a cross hung over my bed. RED FLAG. “He’s a Holy Roller, Bible Thumper, Jesus Freak.” She didn’t leave. Thank God. She was intrigued enough to ask questions and have conversations. We decided to look around for a church.

The first one we visited passed the offering basket rather quickly and often (twice). They seemed to want our money yet we didn’t know them at all yet. I felt a bit used. The second one we visited, the doors were locked and the pastor was on a sabbatical – felt as though God was telling me this wasn’t the one. Our third church just didn’t feel right – almost too welcoming – a bit much. It didn’t feel authentic.

Finally, upon pressure of a good friend of mine from the gym (he was very intimidating, muscular and may have bullied me as I look back) Vicki and I decided to go to his church that he was attending - Fellowship Church. Our first visit was unlike anything I have ever experienced. The Pastor (Andy) came over and introduced himself and got to know us a bit. The message was something I understood and it inspired me to act it out during the week. All of the Bible references were explained so I could understand. Each week inspired me to pursue God on my own – praying, reading the Bible, serving and getting involved in groups. It was within that first year that Vicki and I asked Pastor Andy to officiate our marriage. We spend 6 weeks with him in our premarital counseling. I realized what a man of God looks like. I saw a man who followed Christ in every capacity – a living example of someone who was doing his very best to be the real deal. I am so thankful for that. Every one of us should have these people in our lives.

I accepted Christ years before going to Fellowship Church but it was this church that inspired me to live it out. No hypocrisy – doing my very best to be more and more like Jesus Christ. Loving people as they’ve never been loved before, looking for opportunities to serve others and teaching whatever I can to those interested in learning about the One who changed my life forever. Do I still mess up? Yes, but that's a longer blog.

If someone told me 25 years ago that I would be attending church every week and actually enjoying it, I would have never believed it. If someone told me I’d work at a church, well that would even be tougher. Thank you Fellowship Church for changing my life. #upandtotheright  

Guest Blogger - Cindy Schulte

When my daughter Vicki and her fiancé Rich were looking for a church many years ago to start attending, they found Fellowship.  She telephoned me to ask me to join her on a Sunday – my response was that I should not leave the church I had been going to for many years.  In my statement to her I said that I had to go to my church.  Her reply was “When you want to go to a church (not have to), try Fellowship."  Hmmm.. sometimes you just can’t go against true logic.

I decided to go one Sunday – not knowing that I would need Kleenex galore as the message just spoke to my inner soul.  I went every single week.  How did the pastor know what was on my heart?  How can you listen to a sermon for 35 plus minutes and want more?  On that first Sunday I went home and wrote a letter to my previous church to take me off their list because I would no longer be attending.  Did anyone call me to ask why?  Never.  Not once.

Within a month I knew that God had placed me here and I am eternally grateful to my daughter for inviting me.  I got a Bible, not really knowing what to do with it or how to start.  But each week I found the scriptures and looked them up (much difficulty in the beginning – even when I got the tabs – it was not alphabetical – ugh!!).  But through Growth Groups (small groups that meet weekly), friends (who I met here at FC) and weekly messages the Bible has become such a source of support, comfort and knowledge that God is always with me.

Fellowship Church and its welcoming “come as you are” message treats us just as Jesus does.  Even my husband, who was not attending church at the time, showed up just to see what I was "getting myself into."

The pastors (Steve and Andy Eiss) just shared with him what he needed to read to find Jesus.  Bob had to investigate the phenomenon of Jesus and when he read the book “ A Case for Christ” by Lee Stroebel recommended to him by them….he was caught. What a wonderful transformation! This church brought him to Christ and when he was diagnosed with cancer 8 years ago – he had the foundation with Christ that brought him through it all – a true inspiration.  This gave me a stronger faith as I watched Jesus through him.  He would have so much joy in his heart trying to share with others the message of Christ until his dying day.

I cannot tell you how much this church has helped me through the death of my husband, it boggles my mind, but I will continue to strive to move “Up and to the Right” with a church full of family that I can rely on!

Thank you to my daughter Vicki for making that call 17 years ago…I know that God put it on her heart and she responded.  My life is forever changed! 

Unforgiveness ties us to a person forever. Forgiveness releases. 

I spoke a couple of weeks ago about the process of forgiveness. Click here if you didn't get a chance to watch it. I learned by going through a very difficult experience in my life that this is never easy. Upon sharing this tough memory of mine, I learned 2 things:

• Too many other people went through this abuse as well
• Unforgiveness absolutely wrecks us

I spoke to so many people afterwards and learned that a lot of them went through this sexual abuse themselves. Sadly, more often than not, it was internal (family) that did the abusing. Some still have to be in the same room with the ones who did this to them. I cannot fathom. Their quest to forgive seems immeasurable. 

I've read a lot about forgiveness recently. When we refuse to forgive someone, we still want something from them, even if it's revenge that we want, it keeps us tied to the person forever. Unforgiveness destroys a good life. Forgiveness creates it. To forgive means we will never get from that person what was owed us. What's done is done and can't be undone. But the result of forgiveness is freedom from that reality and the chance to have a future unaffected by resentment and grudges from the past. It takes the power away from others (the ones that hurt you), and we get our lives back. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred and the waste of energy. 

When we read through God's Word, we read of so many examples of incredible forgiveness starting with the most amazing one of all: Jesus. In the most horrific setting, nailed to a cross, beaten and bloodied, mocked and ridiculed, spit at and whipped, Jesus says, "Father forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." Luke 23:34. This sets the bar high. He's the example we should follow in our own lives. 

We left that Sunday with a call to action. We left writing initials of someone that we know we should, at the very least, start a process of forgiving. I hope and pray that all of you who took part in this are making progress. For those who were not there, who is it that you need to start forgiving today?

Easter in right around the corner. I have a list of great people (some of you are nice enough to read this) that I would love to join me at Fellowship Church for this weekend's Easter services. But I also have a list of great people that I want to continue to be friends with. 

It's always been difficult for me to invite my friends to church. In my head, I feel as though they're looking at me like I'm selling a time share or the newest pyramid scheme (or scam, depending on who you ask). Everyone is used to agenda. Now that I work at my church I still do not get a bonus for the number of people I invite to our church. My agenda sincerely is HOPE. This world is crazy! Honestly, look around. All of us are on a treadmill that has no OFF button. We are non stop. Stressed, anxious, and worried everyday and there's no light at the end of the tunnel...in fact, that may be a train. Where does it all end and how? 

I found a light at the end. I found hope. I found Jesus Christ (although He wasn't lost) He has completely changed my life. That may sound crazy to you (I get it, I thought all Christians were absolutely nuts once upon a time). 

So here's my invite to all of you. I would absolutely love to see you this weekend. 

It's an interesting question, but not a real one. Clearly, bald people are allowed at Fellowship Church. In fact, and my whole point here, is that EVERYONE is allowed here at FC. We are often asked these questions. "Can I wear shorts?" "Do you allow divorced people here?" or "My life's a mess, am I welcome there?" To all those questions, we answer YES. The reason we answer yes is because the One we follow Jesus Christ, would have said yes. Jesus welcomed everyone. Bald or hairy, shorts or pants, divorced or married, tax collectors, prostitutes, etc. You did't have to "clean up your act" to be introduced to Him but upon knowing Him, you'd want to! He changes lives. I've seen it all around me. 

As Christians, true followers of Jesus, let's not get in the way. No legalism, no judgement, just plain LOVE. Love people enough for them to know the love Jesus provides. He will change everything!

Easter is coming! What a great opportunity to invite all of the above, even the bald people!

We are living in such a dark world. We can all use some light.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:5

My wife and I were very close to moving away from Middletown years ago. We heard enough things about the school system and the possibility of problems within it to really make an effort to live elsewhere. From what we gathered, some of the kids inside these schools were a little "rough" and we were concerned for the safety of our very young children at the time. But then it hit us. How are we solving the problem? We can go to any school in our country and deal with issues of some kind! No school is immune to problems. As Christians, we also thought how is this representing Who we follow? Would Jesus flee? Would Jesus avoid the possibility of a problem or would he try to be a part of fixing the problem? 

This happens everywhere. People leave when things no longer are to their liking. From the school systems, jobs, to even church world. I get it. I really do. But I wonder if some of us are leaving early. I wonder if God wanted us to stick it out a bit more. "Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 Maybe instead of allowing the atmosphere to darken we become the light it needed at just the right time. 

"Learn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone's life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life it's deepest significance." Roy T.Bennett

This has been a crazy season for a lot of people. So many have lost loved ones. Broken hearts. Many questions of "why?" 

Some of the lost loved ones happened to be only in their 40's....much too young to die. It had my children wondering if our time (my wife and I) was near. I had to assure them that this (dying in your 40's ) is not normal. 

One of my best friends lost his wife at the age of 43 last week. In my many conversations with those who knew her I would often hear, "Oh, I was meaning to reach out to her." It's understandable because we all do it. Our intentions are usually pretty good. We just always seem to feel as though there will be plenty of time to reach out. Clearly, this is not always the case. 

After every funeral we tend to leave with this intentionality to be a better friend or a better family member. We see the clarity of the brevity of life so we know that we have to be different. But then, a few weeks go by and life goes on. We fall back into our busy lives and our same normal patterns. Then another death comes with a new intentionality to be better. Repeat. Repeat. What's the definition of insanity again?

I want to be different. I know most of you do as well. I want to go beyond the call. I want to be the person who shows up. The one who gets it. The one who loves like Christ taught us to love. Like this.

Nobody knows what tomorrow brings but you are ridiculously in control of today. You have the power to reach out to loved ones. You have the power to love differently. It can start right after reading this. Reach out to someone today!

I know many people that cannot go to church on Sunday mornings. I also know a lot of people that don't want to go to church at all! This blog is really for those who cannot. For those who don't want, I hope that some day you will try it out. One hour, one day a week. Live music, a message that you can relate to, and great people to spend the time with. Oh, and COFFEE! Free coffee and snacks. 

 It had come to our attention at Fellowship Church that:

• 25% of people are shift workers, Many work on weekends (healthcare, hospitality and first responders, etc.)
• Sundays are the only day many people can "sleep in". 
• Sunday mornings have become more common for children sports and activities to be scheduled on.           

Everything seems to be taking us away from what was once the norm - church on Sundays. We knew that we had to do something about this.

Our biggest wish is to introduce this community to the hope of Jesus Christ. We know that if we can give people a new option, we can get some people who could really use this hope an opportunity. So we added a 3rd service at 5PM on Sundays back in October.  We've noticed a lot of newer people and it actually felt like a new church! 

As a church, in order to reach people we've never reached, we need to do things we've never done. We are so excited about this 5PM service. This is a GREAT opportunity to invite those that haven't been able to go because those AM commitments. In fact,it's also a great opportunity to invite those who don't want to go to church! Let them know it's different here! 

See you at 5PM!