Unbounded Hearts

In his book, Deep Church, Jim Belcher tells this moving story of the power of God to transform lives.

Cheryl, a young girl, now a member of his church, told her story to a small group gathered for breakfast at IHOP. In only two years, her life had spiraled down to hopelessness. She had left college, developed a relationship with an abusive boyfriend, and became hooked on drugs. She had not slept in ten days. She was afraid someone was going to kill her. She said "I could feel it in my gut. I knew I was dying." She cried out to God. "God if you will keep be alive for the night I will leave this place!"

That night she was able to sleep. The next morning, strengthened by that sleep, she packed up her Jeep and found her way back to her home in Southern California. Three week later a friend invited her to worship with her at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. She found Redeemer Church "Something drew me in deeper. I looked awful that first Sunday but the people opened their arms and welcomed me in."

Over the next six months, the church became a safe place for Cheryl to think and experience the love of God. She was given "space." The church had no boundaries to block her out. Instead, the church invited Cheryl into a deeper experience of God's gracious love. She was not condemned or judged. She was, like them, another pilgrim on "The Way." The hearts of the people were unbounded.

Six months after her first visit following a sermon on hope, based on Romans 5, with tears streaming down her face Cheryl heard these words with her heart for the first time. "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ . . . . For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

Cheryl found the hope that only Christ can give. She had made a promise to God to "leave the place of hopelessness in her life." Redeemer Church became a place of safety, security and hope for her. Here this young woman was "born again" into a new family, the Family of God. Cheryl had found a community of people centered, not in their own wants and desires, but in Jesus. These people had become Christ for her. Here Cheryl found a church with more than open doors. This was a church without boundaries. 

At Redeemer Church, Cheryl found people focused not on their need to control or their right propositions about God but on persons. This was a church focused upon the unbounded love and grace of God that comes to us through Christ. In the sacred space created by that community, the Holy Spirit worked a miracle in that young woman's life.

"Lord Jesus, may our heart be unbounded that your love might dwell in us. May our hearts be unbounded that we might be instruments of your love and grace in this world. Amen."

Christ Above All!

Pastor Milt

The full title of Jim Belcher's book is Deep Church - A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Tradtional. (2006, InterVarsity Press)