The Story of Joe Average

I am Joe Average. Actually my name is Tom, but in many ways I'm "Joe Average". I went to Sunday school as a kid, but in my pre-teen years, my family moved and I stopped going. Then in my late teens I decided to attend a church close by. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but it was a very traditional church and quite honestly, I didn't get most of what was going on. To be painfully honest, I was bored most of the time. I didn't have much experience in churches and I didn't get the lingo. The old fashioned orchestral style music wasn't anything I really related to and most of the preaching went over my head.

I consider myself a fairly educated guy. Yet, in church there was still what I describe as a blank space between me and what was going on. Then one day I decided to venture out and give some other churches a chance. The first few I went to were either more of the same or really, really weird. I wasn't sure if I'd ever find a Christian church that made sense to me and that I could relate to. And on top of that, I was intensely hungry to make friends and was hoping I'd find them at a church. Long story short... I eventually found a church. This one had a band instead of an organist and choir. I dug that. I'm a musician, so it excited me to see a church rockin' with guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards. I thought "hey, I could fit in here". The most moving thing that happened to me that day was a guy who came up to me in the hall and introduced himself to me and showed an interest in who I was. He seemed to have no agenda other than genuine interest in making me feel welcome and comfortable.

In the end, I not only did feel comfortable, but I understood the pastor's message and just plain "liked" being there. I felt like it was ok to just be me. I didn't feel as though I had to measure up or put on a persona of personal perfection. Folks were dressed in jeans, not all suits. The best way to describe it... I felt at home. In that environment, for the first time in my life, all the words of Jesus started making sense to me as they were taught in ways I could easily relate to. The message of God's love came alive and everything about my life began to change...and has been changing ever since.

I'm now the pastor of The Urban Church which I eventually started several years after the above experience. But I think I'm "Joe Average". I'm guessing you may have a similar story. 
-Tom  (Lead Pastor - The Urban Church)   email me