The Church in Iowa City

As is true with so many people, I grew up in the environment of my parents and their parents and their parent’s religion. And again, like so many others, it was something I suffered through with no reality or joy. From a very young age, I saw something week after week full of what I felt was hypocrisy and vanity that did not seem to be something that could match the purpose of the Great Creator I had learned about. Yet deep within my heart, there was a desire to know the truth concerning God and the real meaning of human life. As soon as I was old enough, I left and started looking for truth and purpose, whatever that might be. Early on in my journey, I had a very real but mysterious encounter with God by opening my heart to receive Jesus Christ as my Savior. I had never sensed the presence of God so strongly nor realized my sinful condition before Him so vividly. Unfortunately, after that evening, I had no one to guide me and help me to continue in this experience and to grow in my relationship with God. So as my journey continued I pursued other religions, different philosophies, and many other things in an attempt to fill the emptiness in my being.

Finally, about ten years after my initial experience of God through Jesus Christ, two Christian men came to my door to share with me about two great matters: Christ and the church! That evening I met God once again. The eyes of my heart were enlightened to see that moment as both an end and a beginning: an end to my search for God and the meaning of my human life, and the beginning of my new life in Christ as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). I was helped to see and experience that Jesus Christ as the Spirit lived in my spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45b; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Timothy 4:22). I also saw that the goal of God is to build up the Body of Christ through the daily living in Christ of the believers. Through His Word, God showed me that according to His plan there should only be one church in a city which is made up of all the believers in Christ in that city (Acts 8:1; 13:1; Revelation 1:11).

That was 17 years ago and by His mercy I am still enjoying Christ and experiencing God as I live a daily life full of Christ for the building up of His Body!

Brian Minahan

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