Somewhat Discouraged
Bob Taggart did not grow up going to church as a young child, so he did not have a strong religious upbringing. As a young adult, he began attending church in Virginia, but his employment moved him to Atlanta, Georgia, and he drifted away from the church. “When I met Betti”, Bob said, “she convinced me to return to church.”
For the first two years after moving to Myrtle Beach, Bob and Betti visited several different churches. “I really liked the pastor at one of the congregations we attended,” Bob remembers, “but not one member of the congregation spoke a word to us before or after the service. In another church’s coffee hour after the service, not one person introduced themselves or attempted to converse with us. It was hard to feel welcome. There was no warmth. Honestly, we were becoming somewhat discouraged of finding a church family. “
Then Bob and Betti decided to worship at St. Philip Lutheran Church. A pleasant surprise awaited them. Not only were they welcomed by Pastor Jason, but by many different people. In fact, so many people talked to them that first visit, that according to Bob, “they hardly had a voice left at the conclusion of service.” Bob did not feel ignored by fellow churchgoers. He and his wife felt welcomed. Then shortly after beginning to attend St. Philip, he and Betti lost a dear friend. While in church, a member that they didn’t know noticed that Betti was upset. The member came over, put her arm around her, and consoled her.
Bob knew he had found a church home and family. His church family lives out the gospel that Pastor Jason preaches every Sunday. Bob and Betti were welcomed at St. Philip by the congregation. He felt they belonged from that very first visit. “The church is more than just words spoken by a pastor and hymns sung by congregations and choirs-- it is relationships and doing for others as we found at St. Philip Lutheran Church.” Since that first visit, Bob has continued to welcome people to St. Philip. He started the Men’s Breakfast Group which meets monthly for a communal breakfast. (He prepares a great breakfast with joy). He is hoping to expand the scope of the “breakfast group” and to get more men involved. Feelings of welcome and belonging create a sense of appreciation in Bob that call him to acts of service for his brothers and sisters in Christ.