Living, Organic Church Life, Holly Coffler

God was not a topic of discussion in my family. My parents raised me to be an independent thinker, especially regarding religious beliefs. So, as a teenager, I was agnostic but became fascinated with my search for God. By my early twenties I had declared my status as an atheist. At this point Christianity was completely eliminated from my list of choices. In fact, I strongly opposed the Bible as the word of God. So, I began to study Buddhism and practiced some meditation.

I was teaching elementary school when I met a co-worker who was a brother in the local church. For one and half years he spoke to me about Christ being his life and life supply. Realizing there was something fresh about the way he shared the gospel, I listened politely. Eventually I agreed to go to a Bible study.

Immediately, I sensed a strong love among the people. They seemed genuinely happy and positive. As they began to sing I felt overwhelmed by their love. I thought, “They must really love each other.” I know now that I was being filled with Christ. God was dispensing, or infusing Himself as life into me through the singing and speaking. The Lord Jesus saved me that night, February 5, 2000.

Since that night I began reading the Bible and meeting with the believers in Houston. They have been faithful to minister Christ to me. The local church has a sweet, family-like atmosphere. The sisters began to shepherd me by inviting me to their homes for a meal. One sister called me before work everyday to read the Bible. I began to see how the Body of Christ builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:16 says that the Body is joined and knit together and it is through the operation in the measure of each one part which causes the growth. So, every member must function according to their capacity. The local church is very organic. There are no rules and regulations. The brothers and sisters minister Christ as life to one another resulting in corporate growth of the Body of Christ.