SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Do you love church? I mean, do you love to GO to church?
When most people say “let’s go to church” they are usually referring to the church building they attend.
Far too often, we have forgotten that the church building is just that…a building where believers gather together to worship.
And far too often, we forget that it is the believers that gather within that church building who are the church. The building is just a convenient place to gather.
I want to make a disclaimer here – I am about to show in pictures some of the church buildings where I have attended. But I realize that they are just buildings. It is the body of believers within those buildings that I have loved. And so….
I have been involved with many churches throughout my life. I was born in Dallas, Texas, and my family attended the First Baptist Church there. Since we moved away just before I was four-years-old, I have only faint memories of that building or believers. Fred and I have been back to visit and tour that campus, but it raises no memories to me. (firstdallas.or
FBC Dallas, Texas – photo by Judy Wills
The church we attended in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we moved to from Texas, was the First Baptist Church. That body of believers established themselves as the First Baptist Church of Albuquerque in 1853. It was been an active church ever since. The congregation has now built a new building in which to worship. It is quite modern and up-to-date, and from the pictures I looked at online, it is a growing body with many believers. I am thrilled. (fbcabq.com)
As I look at the picture below, I am almost in tears. That building was my first experience with “church” and it holds many memories dear to my heart. My family attended that building every Sunday that I can remember. We had Sunday School there in the classrooms, a room where the choir met before going into the Sanctuary choir loft, and the Sanctuary itself. I sang in the children’s choirs all the way up to the Adult Choir. I was baptized there. Fred and I met and were married in that building. Dear to my heart, indeed.
First Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico Credit Goggle Search
After we married, we moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where we joined the Travis Avenue Baptist Church. The body of believers in that congregation was quite large, so most of our friendships revolved around the Sunday School classes, and the choir. It was a wonderful time in our lives, and I feel we both grew, spiritually during that time. (travis.org)
Credit Google Search
Fred was attending the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, at the time, in preparation for a life of full-time ministry. God had other plans for us, but those years in the Seminary prepared us both for other ministries.
Credit Google Search
When Fred entered the U.S. Air Force, he (we) were sent to San Jose, California, for Fred to study Meteorology at San Jose State College (now University).
Credit Google Search and San Jose State University website
We were to be there for only one year of study – from June to June. We attended several different churches before finding the one we felt God wanted us to join. One of the churches we visited was pastored by a man who was a friend of my father’s. (Baptist Temple) Fred and I had just about decided to join another church, when this man and his wife came to visit us. They were quite insistent that we belonged to their congregation – Fred with his Seminary training could assist with the Sunday School program. With my music training, I could play either the piano or organ. So we decided to join – to their relief. However, we found out quite quickly that it was NOT where God wanted us to be. While we made friends and worshiped there, we were unsettled the entire time we were in San Jose. Fortunately, it was only for one year. But we learned our lesson – we never again joined a church without absolutely knowing that was the church where God wanted us to serve.
WE ARE THE CHURCH!
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
Old Things R New 
A loving and lovely post.
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