Fond memories of Washington, D.C., church
Mark Young, executive director of Little Hands, Big Hearts, is shown in Honduras with Jose, now 14, the inspiration for the ministry started in 1995.
Earlier, I blogged and wrote a column about my experience with the 13th Street Church of Christ in Washington, D.C. In the column, I wrote:
My friend Lisa Brewer, whose husband, Greg, serves as a deacon at the Wilkesboro Church of Christ in North Carolina, encouraged me to visit the 13th Street church during a recent trip to the Washington area.
“You will find the warmest welcome ever there! We LOVE that congregation,” Lisa Brewer told me in an e-mail.
So I took a Metro train from my hotel to a subway station near the 13th Street church in northwest Washington.
When I walked into the church building, brothers and sisters in Christ greeted me with friendly smiles and loving handshakes. I immediately felt at home.
Guess what, Brewer was right about this congregation!
Christian Chronicle reader Mark Young, who was featured last December in a story about the Little Hands, Big Hearts ministry, e-mailed me to tell me about his experience with the 13th Street church.
Young, a member of the Summit View Church of Christ in Yakima, Wash., wrote:
My, how pleased I was to read your reaction to the worship and fellowship at the 13th Street Church in Washington, D.C. Years ago, before moving to Honduras, I spent 20-plus years serving on the board of an international association that required me to make regular trips fom the Pacific Northwest to the nation’s capital. While I always dreaded being away from my family and home church, I was always blessed by my time at the 13th Street church.
As a white, middle-class Christian, I always felt a little awkward, but once the singing and worship started, I thought I “was in heaven.” Surely, the brethren at the 13th Street church have found the secret to keeping worship fresh and lively. Like you, never did I realize that the worship went on and on beyond the “sacred hour.”
It was just such a blessing to be in the presence of these Chrisitian brothers and sisters. Your story reminded me of what a cherished memory I have of this fine church over a 20-year period. I hope as they move, they never lose their zeal for worship and service — I doubt they will.
Praise God for all our brethren in the Lord whether “red, brown, yellow, black and white.” Jesus loves us all as his children!
Thank you, brother. If you missed it, check out the video below of singing at the 13th Street church.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omx732tNFAk&feature=player_embedded
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Feedback
Sooo good listening to you all sing.
Picked you up on Internet Christian Chronicle.
Caroline Burke
Ventura Church Of Christ
Ventura, Ca.