Taking the Next Step

Robb and I "church shopped" when we first got engaged. We went to many churches where we were the only young people there, ones that had almost no one there, churches that appeared to be 75+ groups and ones that just didn't make us feel welcome. After much frustration we ended up at Southwood which was then in its old location at 27th and Old Cheney. It was what we were looking for: a young congregation, great sermons, they had a lot to offer as far as youth programs and they were very welcoming. Although by then we had decided to get married in Norfolk at Robb's home church, it was nice to have a church in Lincoln that we could attend.
At that time we didn't become members because we weren't ready to give up our Norfolk church. Steve, the pastor at the Norfolk church was like family to us and we wanted him to be the ones to baptise our kids, so we waited.
Another 3 years later and we have been attending Southwood regularly for 6-7 years now so we decided to make the leap and become members. I was a little nervous about it but I also want to start being more active in the church and I felt like not being a member was holding me back.
On Sunday morning Robb and I went to the class which was very informative and non threatening at all. It was nice to meet some of the other new members and listen to the pastor talk about the church and its values. The kids went to the nursery for the 1st hour and then went to Sunday school. Since Abby isn't old enough to do Sunday school she had to stay in the nursery. I was worried that this would be disastrous but she was a big girl and stayed in the nursery with the other kids.
So I am happy to say that we are now members of Southwood church. Our kids have already been enrolled in Sunday school for the past 2 years and Abby will start next year but Robb and I plan to get more involved now. I am going to start helping with the Clinic with a Heart that the church sponsors once a month. Robb and I are also planning on getting involved in the couples small group bible study to meet and know more people our age from the church.