Why I Pledge to St. John’s

I am very honored to have been asked to share with you this morning. I was raised in the Baptist church. I was baptized at 8 yrs old. At age 10 I surprised my family when I walked down the aisle at the invitation to dedicate my life as a missionary in service to God.

Fast forward 20 years and many life changes had happened to me. I moved from North Carolina and lived at home again with my mother. She and I decided to seek out a church together and so we visited many. When we left our first visit at St. Johns we agreed immediately that this is where we felt peace and so it became our church home. Soon thereafter, I met the Camera family here, who ran Hacienda Girls Ranch, now New Life Mission, and went into service with them as a residential foster parent for 5 years.

I was confirmed in 1985 and was active teaching Sunday school. I began spiritual counseling here with Louisa Hedman, Earl and Marcie Wooley, Pat Hebert and Mary Dyke who helped me through some very big life changes. In 1988 my son, David, was christened here by Fr. Ned Bowersox.

I grew up and out here at St. Johns. The adherence to teachings of Christ, Bible study, fellowship and community outreach here have kept me anchored so I can attempt to be the hands and feet of Christ to share His love to others. I can only hope that I have been a worthy minister to those I’ve met through the years struggling with addiction, mental health issues, grief and separation from God.

I have been in many churches as a child, teenager and young adult but the peace and growth I find here at St. Johns nourishes me and gives me the confidence to take it out into the world where God can use me. What I can return financially to our church always comes from what God has provided in His most incredible ways. By his grace, I lack nothing in time, talent, grace and gifts. I hope in this stewardship period, we renew not only our financial pledges but our spiritual and physical pledges to each other, the community in which we reside, and this church family which Christ himself has gathered together, blessed and directed to do His will.

We come to this place for solace and reflection, we leave with fortitude and purpose. I feel that my 10 year old pledge to be a missionary has been somewhat fulfilled and I am
thankful you have been with me to uphold that commitment. Amen.

Laure Bennett