In 1994, I moved to Chicago to attend graduate school.  My plan was to be here for 2 years with the possibility of going oversees or moving back to Tennessee. Now it is 14 years later and I am still in Chicago.  Who knew? 

When I first arrived, I looked at this city and thought, “How in the world am I going to make friends here?”  It seemed like it was going to be an impossible task to get to know people. I did not know a soul in this city and I didn’t know my way around. I mean, Chicago is huge compared to my hometown in TN.  Yet, I am amazed at how many people I have had the opportunity to meet and get to know in the past 14 years, as well as experience what the city has to offer. 

Looking back at when I first came here with my 2-year plan, I would have never thought that the plan would change and evolve into me working for a church and continue to live in Chicago. The biggest and most pleasant surprise is that I would have never dreamed that I would have so many people in my life that mean so much to me. It has been my privilege to attend several churches here in Chicago and have been richly blessed by them. Yet, New Life Community Church has become something more.  It is not only a place where I worship and work; New Life has become a group of people that has developed into my family. 

During my years here in Chicago I have changed jobs, addresses, and my place of worship many times. However, I have never had the desire to change my city fromChicago to somewhere else (well maybe when it is 30 below).  Chicago has been my home for 14 years and New Life Community Church has been a part of my life for 7 of those years. Both have become a place filled with family and friends, a place for me to experience community in a way I never could have if I had stuck to my 2 year plan instead of God’s.  Who knew?