This Stewardship story isn’t going to be about what can you give, this is going to be about what you have given.

This is going to be my story about how this little brown church saved and continues to save me. I want to share what God has been walking me through in the last almost 20 years. Pastor Wes did a sermon a while back about the 99 and the 1 and the shepherd, and I started thinking about the 1.  Why did the 1 “wander” away?  And have you ever felt like that 1? Did you feel like maybe you didn’t belong with the other 99?  Did someone in that 99 “offend” you? 

In 2003, I had my first encounter with this little brown church. Doug had found a place called In His Step, a Christian-based recover home. A place where maybe a lot of 1’s were looking for the 99.  In His Step did a service here every Wednesday night and this space was not only part of Doug’s recovery, but I realized that I needed this space as well. I found that I was looking for the 99 also.  Stepping into this space back in 2003 felt right is the only way I can describe it. It felt safe, it felt secure, it felt Holy. There was a lot of healing going on within these walls, not only for me but for many others. I even remember a time when for our 13th wedding anniversary, Doug had arranged a surprise for me. He had me sit at the bottom step in the front and then had 13 men each bring me one red rose while he read Psalm 31, so romantic!  Your gifts provided that healing, safe, secure space.

Our church home was not the First Congregational Church of Ramona, at that time our church home was Hope Vineyard Christian Fellowship with the shepherd Pastor Robert Clement. I hope I’m not talking out of turn when I tell you that Pastor Robert had a lot of the “different” 99 in his flock, but us being the 1 among them, felt right.  It felt inviting, a place to learn to grow to ask. Many bible studies with many different types of 99’s and different Shepherds. Shepherds from all types of different churches gave me some strength in who I was in Christ. Before all this, I just didn’t know. Gaining that strength in Christ and strength in who we were, meaning Doug and I, we were blessed with our son David. Sure, could be considered a little late in life, 13 years after we had Jessica, but the one thing I have learned above all else, you don’t question God.  You smile and nod……. sure, we can do this. We have our shepherd we have our 100 flock; we are good…..right?

Then on Mother’s Day 2012, Pastor Robert was going for a walk before church. We get to church that day and are told that he fell during his walk, he is in the hospital but will be just fine. Well, he wasn’t just fine…..he had hit his head and was hemorrhaging in his brain and 3 days later there was “nothing else they could do”.

So, our 100 were lost……and we were lost!  We seemed to be doing a lot of wandering, at least that is what I remember.  Should we find a new 99, do we stay where we are???  Such a difficult decision and missing our Pastor didn’t help. While we were “wandering” I remember the warm summer day…….we were at Hope Vineyard, the kids were in Sunday School, and Doug has this look on his face and we walk out of church. I was confused, scared, felt like that 1 sheep…..wandering……we wandered over here to this little brown church.  Service had just let out, Pastor David Auten was shaking hands as people were leaving. Standing with him was Hal Mortier, Doug walked up to speak with Hal, but Pastor David either saw the look on our faces, or something because he said, are you here to speak with me? Doug just said, we need prayer.

So off we went to the very back pew, Hal, Dolores, Pastor David, Doug and I and Pastor David started asking questions. Then he turned to me and asked, “how about you, Karen, what do you want?”  What do I want? I want my 100 back, I don’t want to be the 1 wondering around feeling lost…. that’s what I want. But you know, here I was again, in this space, my safe space, my secure space, these walls holding me…..it felt right. Of course, Pastor David plugged his new 4:30 service that might just be a “good fit” for us.

And here it is 2022 and we have found our new 99 and our new Shepheard. 

Your gifts made it possible for the Mallonee’s to feel a little whole again, to feel a little less lost. These walls have continued to be very special for us.  From seeing our kids do youth stuff up here to witnessing our daughter walk down this aisle to become Mrs. Fletcher.  This space, these walls, and your gifts all made it possible. So, from this 1 that was lost and wondering I want to say THANK YOU! 

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ —Luke 15:6