The Potter's House UCC

Hello, I’d like to share with you my faith journey and how I came to find my way to Potter’s House.

Christianity was something I long struggled with, I would frequently refer to myself as a "reluctant Christian" because I believed in everything, however I had many troubling experiences with "Christians" out there.

I grew up in a non-traditional Christian based church. I was relatively happy with my church experience, the frustrations I experienced growing up I was able to attribute to the pettiness of people and not Christianity and God as a whole. I had a very close and deep, yet private relationship with God. I held it dear to my heart and relied on it heavily, yet quietly, during times of trial.

When I was 19 and off at college I experienced a serious spiritual injury that was brought through a church experience. My quietness in my faith apparently didn’t serve me well in their eyes. The damage in cost me was unbearable…. and it left me wandering and searching for over 10 years.

I would attempt to find a church to attend, but found myself terribly afraid of the people there. I’d sit in the very back and be ready to leave as soon as I felt uncomfortable…which was much of the time.

I also have a very open and loving view of life and was often put off by condemnations and judgements I found in particular churches.

I thought I’d never find a church I felt good at, unless my husband started his own. However I was proven wrong. I noticed a little ad in the Northern MI Express newspaper for a new church starting up. I was interested, but moving to Chicago, so I filed it away in my head and moved to Chicago and a new life.

My new life ended up not going as planned, and through many trials and tribulations I found myself so low that I knew I needed God the way I had before. We moved back to Traverse City and my husband and I searched the internet for a place to go for spiritual food.

We found a beautiful and loving Church in The Potter’s House. Before I attended I read through all the things I could about them, I podcasted their sermons and then I emailed Corey to ask him if he could meet and talk with me. He graciously consented, and submitted to my hour of grilling and borderline paranoid worries. He assured me well and my family started attending.

That was nearly two years ago, since then I have come to cherish The Potter’s House as my church home. The people there are so open, loving and kind. For me, Potters House was a place for healing the damage I experienced and finding my way back to God.