5 Star Review By Casey Wallace
I had been to several churches in town and each was lovely in their own ways. Time and time again I’d sat in the pews and hear the pastors of all these different churches saying, “come as you are” I heard that but I didn’t feel that if that makes sense. I couldn’t imagine showing up to church hurting, broken, struggling or in any capacity of the sort like they were suggesting. I walked into Southside and I didn’t really know what to expect. I assumed if nothing else it would be just like any other. I was feeling overwhelmed by life and I was trying to find what I needed, even though I didn’t have a clue what that even was. It was a Wednesday and though I had never gone there, I knew they had a service on Wednesday nights. I decided I would give it a shot. Upon walking in I was greeted with a warmth I had never felt walking into any other church. Of course I didn’t think anything of it in that exact moment. I mean I had just walked in. But when I sat down in the pew feeling nervous because I was by myself, within minutes someone sat beside me, introduced themself and immediately started up a conversation. I could feel they genuinely cared about who I was, where I came from, what was going on in my life and what brought me there that night. I could just feel the love and care for ME. Something I hadn’t experienced anywhere else. To be honest, it was an experience that I will never forget! I didn’t know anyone and for the first time ever I felt what I had heard all those times before. “Come as you are” For the first time ever, I was in a place where I could honestly and truly feel like it was okay to not be okay. Without judgement. Even with complete strangers all around. I was heard, I was seen, I was accepted and I was LOVED! That same person invited my family and I to church the following Sunday and the rest is history. What I found at Southside was exactly what my heart needed. Unexpectedly, I found a community of people so loving I am still in awe of. Even my 12 year old son said to me one night after we first started attending, “mama what I love about that church is it’s like one big family. Everyone is so nice and treat you like your their family.” For my pre-teen to validate what I was thinking and feeling myself was all the confirmation I needed to know, God put us exactly where he wanted us to be! Thank you Jesus for our Southside family!