Koinonia

My initial reaction of this group on Friday and it is very favorable. I still don't feel comfortable releaseing the name of the church, but like I said, it is a Bible believing and preaching church -- it's one of those instances where you know exactly what to expect from the senior pastor, such as it is with Compass.

I am exhausted and wish I had the energy to talk about it more, but I will say, I was blown away with how easy it was for me to talk to total strangers. :) Who would have thought... ME??!! Talking to people I don't know with such ease? WoW. Aside from the fact that everyone (which I have to admit I don't remember most people's names) included me immediately and didn't even blink an eye or change their demeanor when they heard I go to a different church. What an amazing group of Christians... the word that immediately comes to mind is koinonia. Not only do they have the group and fellowship for about 20 minutes before worship starts, they go out to a restaurant or coffee shop after the service.

Koinonia is the anglicisation of a Greek word (κοινωνία) that means partnership or fellowship. The word is used frequently in the New Testament of the Bible to describe the relationship within the early Christian church. As a result the word is used frequently within Christian circles to describe the fellowship and community of Christians - or more frequently the idealised state of fellowship and community that should exist.
(taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinonia )

I am also learning that my "shyness" is a learned trait. I commented to someone at work the other day that my mother and I are completely opposite, that she doesn't have a problem talking to anyone without knowing anything about them and I'm not like that at all. The lady commented that I probably LEARNED to be shy because people were always doing the talking for me. Interesting. And based on the other night I definitely have to agree with her on that.