Parking Lot

Persida Rivera-Mendez is a retired ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Originally from Puerto Rico, she and her husband moved to South Carolina from Connecticut in early 2022. Their move had actually been delayed by COVID, but Persida now sees that delay as “God’s timing all along.”

Like many people, once they settled in, Persida started looking for a church home. She found a church nearby and, at first, it seemed promising. The welcome felt real. But as she got to know the church more, she realized it wasn’t a place where everyone was truly included. And for Persida, that mattered.

So, she kept searching.

She came across St. Philip online and started worshiping from home. Something about it connected. The message. The spirit. Even the preaching style felt familiar. It was enough to make her want to give it a try in person.

That first Sunday, though, started with a moment of uncertainty. Sitting in the parking lot, she wasn’t quite sure where to go or how to get inside. And then something simple but powerful happened. A couple who parked nearby noticed, walked over, introduced themselves, and said, “We’ll take you in.”

It wasn’t grand, but it was real; a true welcome. For Persida, it made all the difference. What she had seen online was actually true, not just for her, but for others, too.

Since becoming a member in March 2023, Persida has jumped into the life of the congregation. She reads lessons during worship, often leads a weekly book study, and loves to be involved in special events, like Easter. She appreciates being part of a community that reflects a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and lifestyles, where that diversity is genuinely embraced.

For Persida, St. Philip isn’t just a place to attend. It’s a place where the welcome of Christ shows up in real people, in real moments, sometimes as simple as someone meeting you in the parking lot and walking with you inside.

And now, she gets to be part of that same welcome for others.