They call me Sister around here

I feel so at home in the new church God placed me in. (Not that I don't miss you all in Council Bluffs and Junction City!) But there’s something I noticed almost as soon as I entered the doors of the church in Independence, KY. It wasn’t the décor, or the number of people. It wasn’t the music that was floating to the greeting area from the early sanctuary service. (And boy was it great!) It wasn’t the number of young children waiting to get to class, which always tickles my heart. It wasn’teven that special smell I always notice when entering a church were Holy Spirit is welcome. It was something totally different. It was something much, much simpler... It was because virtually every person who shook my hand or greeted me called me “Sister”. I wasn’t “Miss Rhonda”. I wasn’t Mom. I wasn’t Grandma. I wasn't the Sunday School teacher or Youth Leader. I wasn't that lady that sings or cooks the Wednesday meals. I was Sister. "Good Morning, Sister!" "Glad to see you again, Sister." Welcome to Community Family Church, Sister". Sister….a name that put me on the same level ground as every other man and woman serving God in that church. That name alone, Sister, told me that I was welcome into the family.

Growing up Pentecostal, our Pastor wasn’t Pastor Clark, he was Brother Clark. The Bible says we are heirs and joint heirs with Christ. Pentecostals took that seriously!! It didn’t matter how old or how young we were. We were all part of the same family…God’s. So everyone was either Brother or Sister. It was a term of respect, one you were given when you were born again into this new family. I didn’t realize just how much I missed that term.

Reminds me of the old Gaither song from the 70’s:

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these folks are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,The Family of God

When you go to church tomorrow, (if you don't already) greet each other as Brother and Sister. Start a new tradition…or revive an old one. After all, we are the family of God. And tomorrow is Sunday, the weekly family reunion. In the words of Brother Andy, "see you there, or see you in the air!"

Love ya!
Sister Rhonda