Church

I think it was two years ago. Terry Timm, the associate pastor at Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church decided to start his own church. This church is called Christ Community Church of the South Hills (CCCSH). When the news came that Terry was leaving it startled and upset a lot of people. Many people, such as my family left Beverly Heights to attend CCCSH. At first CCCSH hd no program for teens to attend to get to know each other so I continued to go to the Beverly Heights Youth Group. My friends there are amazing and I wouldn't give them away for anything! When the split of churches first happened everything was a bit rocky between the rest of Beverly Heights and I. A Youth Group session was held where people could ask questions about the split and have the pastor answer them. When I said something about my family and I now attending CCCSH people looked at me like I was an outsider. I went home crying. Now after two years everything is back to 'normal'. I still attend CCCSH and Beverly Heights youth group (no one looks at me like an outsider anymore) and now CCCSH has started to have get-together things for the teens. I thought that all the problems between the churches may have vanished. Today I found out that maybe that was wrong.

CCCSH had a teen get-together tonight and we were told we could bring a friend if we wanted to so I invited one of my best friends from Beverly Heights to come. He wasn't busy so he said he would ask his parents. He went to his mom to ask and when he told her it was a get-together with some teens from CCCSH she told him he was not allowed to go because she had issues with CCCSH. When I was told this I didn't know what to say. I felt hurt, it wasn't the fact that he couldn't come, it was the reason he couldn't come. If the reason had been that he was busy the next day and she didn't want him going out that would have been fine. But it was because of my church. As if we all have a highly contagious disease. Its not even like our church majorly changed beliefs, infact as far as I can tell our beliefs are the same, the only difference is we are non-denominational Christians, instead of Presbyterians, though if you ask me the only difference is we are not part of a national or international church.

I think people that are mad at the people at CCCSH for leaving are forgetting something crucial. That is 'Why do we go to church?' We go to church for God not for the pastor, or the location, or even the people that also go to that church. Having a great pastor, location, and friends at church are just added bonuses. But in the end CCCSH and Beverly Heights go to church every sunday morning to worship the same God. We have the same God, the same Bible, the same beliefs. The difference is the location, the pastor, and the friends in attendance. That is why there is still a prejudice. I don't understand it, and I hate it. I hate having people look down on me for that. I didn't think it happened anymore but apparently it does. Either way I love my church. I love Terry preaching, I love the cafeteria we use for our location, and I love all the friendly people there. I also love Beverl Heights youth Group. I wouldn't change my situation. The only thing I would like to change is the way others view my situation. "You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." Luke 19:18

Luv ya all!