Sharing our Stories… Michelle and Kirby Butler

By Michelle Butler, South Main Member

Michelle Butler is a member in the Fellowship of Young Families with her husband, Kirby.  They have also participated in Financial Peace University.  Michelle also volunteers with our children for KidQuest and other programs.

Shortly after graduating from college and getting married, Kirby and I moved to Houston. We were on an exciting, new adventure together; yet still found ourselves missing our family and church. We started visiting various churches in the area and wanted one that emphasized similar Baptist traditions we were raised on while providing a prefect place for our marriage to grow and flourish.

During our first visit to South Main, we were welcomed with open arms. We both really enjoyed the awe inspiring setting South Main offered and the way the church service’s message was applicable to our everyday lives. We were particularly excited to see the emphasis South Main had on family.

A few weeks later, we were invited to attend a Sunday school class. It was nice meeting other newly married couples and young professionals that we could relate to. From the start we had a group of people befriending us with invitations to lunch or encouraging us to get involved with various events such as FPU or KidQuest.

From time to time we would get caught up in our busy schedules, but there was always someone at South Main calling to offer us support and reengaging us to continue to grow as Christians. They remind us that we are an important part of their lives, too. They genuinely challenge us to not settle for what is easy because God has so much more in store for us.

This week, the Share Campaign is emphasizing encouraging members of South Main to re-engage members of our church family that have gotten busy or might not remember how important they are to the church family. From our own experience, I can tell you that a call or an email reminding folks about church events or just checking to make sure they are doing OK are very important. We all make a pledge to be the family of God for each other in this place and following through on that pledge is a great way to Share.

We are never more like Jesus than when we SHARE…. As we learn to share our stories, we learn to share our faith…

Share Campaign 2010

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Sharing Our Stories….. Hart Brupbacher

By Hart Brupbacher, South Main Member

Hart and Linda Brupbacher are both members of the Discipleship Committe.  Hart sings in the Sanctuary Choir and Linda teaches Sunday School to our Young and Median Adults.

During the year we spent looking for a church home, Linda and I went to many different churches. We visited South Main for the first time in August. The mountain of shoes that greeted us as we entered the Welcome Center told us that South Main is a church focused on missions and helping people in need. We proceeded to the church service where the special offering taken to help provide water for Houston’s homeless further reinforced South Main’s mission emphasis.  The missions emphasis was appealing to us.

Equally appealing was the warmth and friendliness we encountered as well as the theology we heard expressed and saw lived out. We visited Sunday School, and one of the first Sundays we were invited to go to lunch after church. We found the worship service to be very meaningful and Steve’s sermons to be thoughtful, challenging, and inspirational. Steve spent time with us discussing our beliefs and helping us figure out that South Main would be a good fit for us. After only a few weeks, we joined–and our lives have really changed in a positive way because of that decision.

We are constantly amazed by the way the family of South Main has embraced us. The Christian fellowship and friendships that we have encountered in our Sunday School Community, South Main at Home groups and choir have been a wonderful experience. Through some potential health problems we found out that we do not have to travel the road alone – we have a family at South Main who will be with us and support us in the journey. We also have friend to celebrate with us.

At South Main we’ve found friendship, service opportunities, meaningful growth and worship opportunities and much needed support—all of which make us really glad we are a part of this family of faith and totally comfortable recommending South Main to others.

We are never more like Jesus than when we SHARE…. As we learn to share our stories, we learn to share our faith…

Share Campaign 2010

God’s Hand Revealed – By Susan Moore

By Susan Moore

Sometimes I have to search for what I discern is God’s plan for me and other times, God makes it so plain that I stumble across it! My family had the latter experience last week….

Day 1

First thing in the morning, my husband, Bill, is unexpectedly laid off from his job after 17 years with the same company. As we deal with the shock, God first reveals His hand through the overwhelming outpouring of love and support from family and friends. A peaceful calmness pervades our home as folks all over the country are praying for us, strengthening us. We go through the motions of getting through the first day and figuring out what this means for us in the coming days.

Day 2

Bill realizes he cannot make progress on finding a new job until he updates his resume. He works on this all day except for making one phone call to a contact in the procurement world. His friend, Joe, sympathizes with the situation and tells him that he has just hired someone to fill what would have been the perfect job for Bill. Frustrating, but encouraging at the same time! At least someone is hiring in this economy….

Day 3

Bill’s birthday. I’m trying hard to be supportive but secretly complain to God how completely unfair it is that these two events are in the same week! Bill is finalizing his resume when the phone rings. Joe is calling back with the news that the job he just filled is open again as the employee has quit that very morning. “Could Bill come for an interview this afternoon at 2:00 pm? Don’t worry about polishing your resume; just bring what you have!” We finish his birthday with a verbal offer of a job.

We don’t yet know why God wants Bill serving Him in a different job with a different company. However, I love the adventure of trusting that His hand will continue to be revealed.