This morning I stepped into Creekmont Baptist Church for the very first time. My former long term hairdresser, Becky, invited us to join them for worship when I got my hair cut on Tuesday. For a few years, I went elsewhere. I see His Hand in that timing, too. We first met before Mark and I were married!

Her husband, Shad, was asked to fill in as pastor a little over a year ago, and now he serves there permanently. We just learned today it was a customer of hers that asked him to step in, temporarily.

Wowza. Five days.

Today has been a day of many fives.

We pulled in the parking lot and we both voiced prayers before going inside. From the moment we walked through the doors, we were greeted by multiple smiling faces. The warmth could be compared to walking into a loving family gathering. The building itself carried a simplicity that reminded me of churches from the 1970s — plain, clean, without distraction — but alive with heart and spirit.

The music was from an electronic piano and carried a sincere vibe of the late 70’s or early 80’s, a style my husband grew up loving. They opened with Everlasting God, and by the closing stanza, liquid was traveling from my eyes, down my cheeks. The words settled into me deeply, “strength will rise as we wait upon The Lord…you do not faint, You won’t grow weary.”

No, sir, you do not grow weary. #ISWYDT

During the offering, the children collected the coins as they played an old tune through the speakers. “I may never march in the infantry, ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery. I may never fly o’er the enemy. But, I’m in the Lords Army! Yes, Sir!”

What a joyful moment — innocence and faith braided together. For “YESSIR” to be a lyric was extra special for me.

Godwink moment- Mark thought Holy, Holy, Holy would be the first hymn in the hymnal. It was number 55. He said something about 5 by 5 being “loud and clear”. Yes. To the right was “Love Divine”. The most powerful lessons to be were in Matt 5, Mark 5 and Thess 5.

An older gentleman gave the welcome, opening with 1 Peter 5:7 — “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” His words were clear testimony and biblical truth.

I typically would not be aware during worship, but I saw tears in my husband’s eyes as we sang Amazing Grace. He said it felt like a church from his youth. To me, this was confirmation we were in the right place.

Pastor Shad preached from Matthew 5 while weaving in John 7, Mark 5, 1 Thessalonians 5, and even 2 Thess.

Shad is a gifted teacher. Notably, he began by reading most of Matthew 5. The message itself was rich: he spoke about the Beatitudes as a kind of moral inventory — behavior as it should be for those who belong to Christ. You must live out Matthew 5:1–12 before you can truly be salty and filled with light.

Then he asked: What would you give up for two weeks — salt or light? Most of us would struggle either way. His point was clear: both are essential.

What struck me the deepest was how the Holy Spirit used Shad’s extended reading of Mark 5 to deepen my understanding. We are now home and I am heartbroken how Mark five concludes with Jesus being asked to leave. Treasuring pigs over people, I pray His Children came home. The point is the Holy Spirit used Shad to bring the demon-possessed man into vivid focus for me

I digress. I must document the heart of this first visit for reasons I don’t fully understand.

There was something pure in the feeling of the church today — no flash, no pretense, just warmth, worship, and the Word. It is a place where you sense that light still shines, that salt still preserves, and that children of God are called to live as children of the light.

We will definitely be going back. Today marks the beginning of our Creekmont story.

After the service, we attempted and failed to eat at GG’s and Metro Diner. We quickly succeeded at the new Italian place , Penne Pazze. We shared a pizza, gnocchi and a salad. It is most authentic food we have enjoyed since being in Italy two years ago! I am already looking forward to the leftovers.

No shocker the table number we were guided to for seating. Thank you, Lord! 💜✝️💜