Full-Circle

“There were things I learned as a kid that no one thought were sinking in - but they did!” 

Jeff Church’s childhood involved regular worship attendance with his grandmother. It wasn’t always something he wanted to do, but as part of the family, church attendance was very much expected. Despite that, it was in church - particularly when he started to meet some of his peers who became friends - that he started to grow in his faith.

“It became about relationship and friendship,” Jeff reflected. “I attended Bible school, but it was the friendships that led me to come back.” Thanks to being in church, Jeff discovered a relationship with God through relationships with others. “God is here and God is there, and I feel I can worship anywhere.” But Jeff also knows that being part of a faith community is important - especially for his two daughters. So, the Church family set out to find a faith community where their daughters could feel connected. “We were looking for the type of fellowship that I grew up in, that made an impression on me,” he expressed. 

And that is precisely what Jeff and his family found at St. Philip. When Jeff and his family arrived, they were confident the church was committed to educating and involving children. They witnessed kids and youth learning about God through youth events, children’s choir, church camps, and more. “Those were things we were looking for and things that St. Philip supports. Our kids can connect in different ways.”

Jeff feels comfortable that he can pass along to his daughters what his family passed on to him: an experience of the Christian faith in ways they will remember for a lifetime. “It is so beneficial for our children. They get to build this wonderful thing; the kids get to experience God with their peers.”

Now, Jeff eagerly anticipates his daughters' ongoing journey in faith and looks forward to the ways he can be meaningfully involved. His excitement extends to his family’s contributions to the Forward Together capital campaign. In a poignant full-circle moment, Jeff found himself contributing an unexpected family gift that was passed on to him. It’s a concrete expression of the legacy of faith that spans generations.

As St. Philip continues to cultivate connections, educate the youth, and uphold the values that resonated with Jeff in his younger days, the story of faith carries on - passed along in ways we trust will sink in, and because of God, they certainly will.