1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,240 What would it look like to start a community that was really, 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,960 it's for the people like Jesus would be for? 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:15,760 Welcome to Heaven Earth Church. 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,520 I'm Ross Stackhouse, the founding pastor of Heaven Earth Church. 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,440 From the start, our heart has been to be a church for people who 6 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,440 don't fit neatly into church. 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,040 We want to meet people where they are and know their stories. 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,460 Because in every story, there is God story. 9 00:00:33,020 --> 00:00:35,220 And this podcast is just about that. 10 00:00:35,220 --> 00:00:38,340 It's about inviting you into the stories of the people of Heaven 11 00:00:38,340 --> 00:00:38,940 Earth Church. 12 00:00:39,580 --> 00:00:41,500 So let's turn to the story. 13 00:00:45,100 --> 00:00:46,060 Hello, good people. 14 00:00:46,460 --> 00:00:50,300 Brad Miller here with the Heaven Earth Church podcast. 15 00:00:50,460 --> 00:00:53,460 This is a church that's looking to make a lasting impact 16 00:00:53,460 --> 00:00:54,100 in our community. 17 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:57,020 One of the things we love to do is talk to people who are part 18 00:00:57,180 --> 00:00:58,490 of the community. 19 00:00:59,050 --> 00:01:03,210 And one of those folks who's a part of the community here is. 20 00:01:03,290 --> 00:01:04,730 Is Dave McMillan. 21 00:01:04,890 --> 00:01:08,170 So, Dave, welcome and let's just start here. 22 00:01:08,170 --> 00:01:10,610 Dave, where are you from? 23 00:01:10,610 --> 00:01:11,690 What's hometown for you? 24 00:01:11,850 --> 00:01:13,770 Hometown is Bloomington, Indiana. 25 00:01:13,929 --> 00:01:14,290 Really? 26 00:01:14,290 --> 00:01:16,570 Well, tell me a little bit about growing up in Bloomington. 27 00:01:17,370 --> 00:01:20,170 What was your like, what was home life like for you there? 28 00:01:21,450 --> 00:01:22,490 Love Bloomington. 29 00:01:22,650 --> 00:01:23,690 Love Bloomington. 30 00:01:23,690 --> 00:01:30,690 I grew up on the near west side, so I was a couple miles from 31 00:01:30,690 --> 00:01:31,810 IU's campus. 32 00:01:34,210 --> 00:01:39,170 It's just, it had a really nice hometown feeling. 33 00:01:40,770 --> 00:01:44,690 But it was definitely, you know, in the fall and the winter 34 00:01:44,690 --> 00:01:49,290 was definitely different than the summers in Bloomington because, 35 00:01:49,290 --> 00:01:53,580 I mean, you got 30 some thousand students that, you know, 36 00:01:54,620 --> 00:01:55,740 leave in the summer. 37 00:01:55,740 --> 00:01:59,620 So it kind of turned into that small southern Indiana town in the 38 00:01:59,620 --> 00:01:59,940 summer. 39 00:01:59,940 --> 00:02:01,420 But then that changed a lot. 40 00:02:02,860 --> 00:02:03,740 But it was great. 41 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:06,860 I mean, you know, things I think back on. 42 00:02:06,860 --> 00:02:11,060 I remember riding my bicycle around the town square while they 43 00:02:11,060 --> 00:02:15,660 were filming the movie Breaking away in the 1970s. 44 00:02:17,500 --> 00:02:24,560 I remember running into, not literally, but running into Michael 45 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:29,200 Jordan, Patrick ewing, Waymond Tisdale, 1984, at a movie theater 46 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,360 because Bob Knight was the Olympic coach in 1984. 47 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,080 I remember seeing John Cougar Mellencamp riding his Harley up and 48 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,080 down Kirkwood so many times. 49 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:41,600 So a lot of good memories. 50 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,520 You know, Bloomington's a great place. 51 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,240 Graduated from Bloomington north high school in 1983. 52 00:02:46,670 --> 00:02:46,990 Wow. 53 00:02:47,390 --> 00:02:48,270 Well, that's awesome. 54 00:02:48,270 --> 00:02:52,030 And then, so tell me a little bit about how brought up there. 55 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:55,390 What kind of career, family. 56 00:02:55,550 --> 00:02:59,030 Tell us a little bit about that in terms of moving into your 57 00:02:59,030 --> 00:02:59,870 adult years. 58 00:03:00,110 --> 00:03:03,190 Yeah, so after I graduated from high school, I went to Butler 59 00:03:03,190 --> 00:03:12,590 University from 1983-87, and I ran cross country and track in high 60 00:03:12,590 --> 00:03:12,910 school. 61 00:03:12,990 --> 00:03:17,230 I continued that at Butler University and then got a Degree 62 00:03:17,230 --> 00:03:18,110 in secondary education. 63 00:03:19,130 --> 00:03:24,650 So right after I graduated from Butler, immediately got a job 64 00:03:26,010 --> 00:03:29,570 in January of 1988 at Whiteland High School, which is just 65 00:03:29,570 --> 00:03:30,890 across the street from the church. 66 00:03:31,450 --> 00:03:37,650 And I actually spent 33 years there as a teacher, school counselor 67 00:03:37,650 --> 00:03:41,890 and a coach, social studies teacher. 68 00:03:41,890 --> 00:03:46,130 So I taught everything from US Government to psychology, sociology, 69 00:03:46,130 --> 00:03:46,970 geography. 70 00:03:48,430 --> 00:03:51,870 But I really, really enjoyed my career there. 71 00:03:53,470 --> 00:03:58,310 I was a teacher until the early 2000s, and I kind of transitioned 72 00:03:58,310 --> 00:04:02,590 into school counselor and I coached cross country and track. 73 00:04:02,830 --> 00:04:08,750 So the relationships with colleagues, other teachers, and especially 74 00:04:08,990 --> 00:04:14,960 students I had during that time, you know, last a lifetime. 75 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,720 Actually, one of my best friends is actually Evan Fruits, 76 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,200 who I think we all know here at church. 77 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:27,520 And I coached Evan and remained friends with him, you know, 78 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,080 after he graduated. 79 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:34,560 When I think back, my accountant is a former student person 80 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,400 who services my car as a former student. 81 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,160 So those connections that you make. 82 00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:43,040 Oh yeah, yeah. 83 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:44,000 Area here. 84 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:45,240 Yeah, that's awesome. 85 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:46,960 Tell me about family. 86 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,320 I've been married to my wife Beth. 87 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,520 It'll be going on 19 years in July. 88 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,640 And we live on the south side, Perry Township. 89 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:03,920 And I have a son, Connor, who is 27. 90 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,320 And my daughter Claire is 34. 91 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:14,950 And I have son in law Nate, who's around the same age, 34, 35. 92 00:05:14,950 --> 00:05:19,790 And then I have a grandson, Ben, who is 3 years old that I watch 93 00:05:19,790 --> 00:05:20,470 every Monday. 94 00:05:21,590 --> 00:05:28,070 So Claire, my daughter's son in law and grandson are real close. 95 00:05:28,070 --> 00:05:30,950 Connor lives in Bloomington. 96 00:05:32,390 --> 00:05:38,190 And Connor actually was the individual that got me started going 97 00:05:38,190 --> 00:05:39,310 to Heaven Earth Church. 98 00:05:39,310 --> 00:05:40,230 My son did. 99 00:05:42,010 --> 00:05:44,890 So he tell me how that. 100 00:05:45,370 --> 00:05:47,810 Yeah, yeah, let's start going that direction. 101 00:05:47,810 --> 00:05:50,010 How Connor approached you. 102 00:05:50,570 --> 00:05:50,850 But. 103 00:05:50,850 --> 00:05:52,850 Well, before you go there, tell me a little bit, did you have 104 00:05:52,850 --> 00:05:55,490 much of a religious upbringing? 105 00:05:55,490 --> 00:05:59,770 Anything along that line, relationship with Christ, relationship 106 00:05:59,770 --> 00:06:02,490 with the church before we get into heaven? 107 00:06:03,050 --> 00:06:06,970 I really didn't growing up. 108 00:06:07,370 --> 00:06:11,530 I would occasionally go to church, but it wasn't something that 109 00:06:11,530 --> 00:06:14,850 we did every weekend or every Sunday. 110 00:06:16,530 --> 00:06:21,890 So I really didn't grow up in a church home atmosphere. 111 00:06:23,010 --> 00:06:29,810 And then later on, I would say probably in the mid-1990s, I started 112 00:06:30,370 --> 00:06:31,730 attending a church again. 113 00:06:32,770 --> 00:06:35,330 And to be honest with you, it wasn't a good experience. 114 00:06:38,310 --> 00:06:38,870 It just. 115 00:06:38,950 --> 00:06:41,270 I didn't feel comfortable. 116 00:06:41,510 --> 00:06:42,150 Okay. 117 00:06:46,470 --> 00:06:47,510 Just wasn't. 118 00:06:47,750 --> 00:06:50,150 It's hard to explain, but I just felt. 119 00:06:51,190 --> 00:06:51,990 Felt judged. 120 00:06:54,150 --> 00:06:59,670 And so I just stopped going and didn't go to church at all until 121 00:07:00,150 --> 00:07:01,590 I heard about Heaven Earth. 122 00:07:01,670 --> 00:07:02,830 Well, let's go there then. 123 00:07:02,830 --> 00:07:03,270 Yeah. 124 00:07:03,810 --> 00:07:05,730 Your background was sporadic. 125 00:07:06,210 --> 00:07:07,490 Sporadic, so to speak. 126 00:07:07,570 --> 00:07:08,370 Growing up in. 127 00:07:08,370 --> 00:07:12,730 In your adult years tries to mature experience and so someone 128 00:07:12,730 --> 00:07:15,170 other your Son Connor got you involved. 129 00:07:15,250 --> 00:07:19,050 Tell me the story of kind of how that evolved for you and Connor 130 00:07:19,050 --> 00:07:20,530 and coming here. 131 00:07:20,770 --> 00:07:28,090 So Connor started coming to Heaven Earth, I think from almost 132 00:07:28,090 --> 00:07:28,930 its beginning. 133 00:07:29,730 --> 00:07:31,090 And I know he went to. 134 00:07:32,070 --> 00:07:36,230 I know he started going to Ross and Angela's house. 135 00:07:36,710 --> 00:07:39,630 They had group, I think it was on Thursday nights. 136 00:07:39,630 --> 00:07:41,510 So he started talking to me a lot about it. 137 00:07:41,750 --> 00:07:46,870 And I also, Evan Fruits, who, it's a good friend of mine, was going 138 00:07:46,870 --> 00:07:48,070 to Heaven Earth. 139 00:07:48,230 --> 00:07:50,430 So Connor and Evan knew each other. 140 00:07:50,430 --> 00:07:51,510 They had that connection. 141 00:07:52,310 --> 00:07:54,350 And so Connor just started talking to me about it. 142 00:07:54,350 --> 00:07:58,230 He said, dad, this is a really neat church. 143 00:07:58,950 --> 00:08:00,710 I feel really comfortable here. 144 00:08:01,830 --> 00:08:03,190 Everybody's so nice. 145 00:08:04,290 --> 00:08:09,250 And so I'm thinking, you know, I need to try this out. 146 00:08:09,490 --> 00:08:11,410 You know, my son likes it. 147 00:08:12,370 --> 00:08:15,810 I've talked to Evan about it. 148 00:08:16,770 --> 00:08:24,450 So it was right, I think it was right after the pandemic. 149 00:08:25,330 --> 00:08:27,418 So 2021. 150 00:08:27,722 --> 00:08:30,610 2020 2021. 151 00:08:30,610 --> 00:08:33,090 The reason I say that is because I remember one of the first 152 00:08:35,470 --> 00:08:38,430 time I came to Heaven Earth, we actually had the service outside. 153 00:08:38,910 --> 00:08:40,350 So we were still meeting outside. 154 00:08:42,030 --> 00:08:42,830 Exactly. 155 00:08:45,470 --> 00:08:48,590 And give me some first impressions. 156 00:08:48,590 --> 00:08:51,030 Then you had your. 157 00:08:51,030 --> 00:08:54,830 What Connor and Evan shared with you about the church. 158 00:08:55,150 --> 00:08:58,390 But then you had to take the initial step to come and check it 159 00:08:58,390 --> 00:08:58,990 out for yourself. 160 00:08:58,990 --> 00:09:00,730 So tell me a little bit about first impressions. 161 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:06,800 First impression was that I just really felt kind of at home. 162 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:10,240 It was a very. 163 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:20,240 Everybody was so approachable and you know, when I first met Ross, 164 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:28,040 you know, I can just tell that, you know, this place, it's 165 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,400 different than the experiences I've had in the past. 166 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,310 And, and can you be specific about. 167 00:09:34,310 --> 00:09:37,230 Maybe one point or two points there, but how it was different from 168 00:09:37,230 --> 00:09:38,550 what you'd experienced in the past? 169 00:09:40,870 --> 00:09:50,790 I felt like with Heaven Earth, we have conversations, it's in a 170 00:09:51,830 --> 00:09:53,750 non threatening setting. 171 00:09:55,110 --> 00:09:56,870 Everybody feels comfortable. 172 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,800 It's not a performance. 173 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:08,080 And I just felt at peace when I started coming here. 174 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:09,440 So I just continued to come. 175 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,520 So tell me, was there somewhere along the line after period 176 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,960 of time of kind of checking it out, you kind of had an aha moment 177 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:22,480 or a moment when you said, okay, this is the place for me. 178 00:10:25,930 --> 00:10:30,090 I don't, I can't think of it, of a particular moment. 179 00:10:30,490 --> 00:10:31,050 Okay. 180 00:10:32,410 --> 00:10:41,970 The one thing that stands out for me is, and it's hard for me sometimes 181 00:10:41,970 --> 00:10:51,460 to put, put it into words, but it's a feeling I have on Sundays 182 00:10:53,380 --> 00:10:57,300 from the time I get up in the morning until the time I go to bed. 183 00:10:58,100 --> 00:11:02,660 And it is just this. 184 00:11:04,180 --> 00:11:08,340 I keep using the word peace, but this feeling of peace that I 185 00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:19,650 have Experiencing whatever sermon we're doing, having that conversation, 186 00:11:19,810 --> 00:11:22,450 reflecting on it throughout the day. 187 00:11:23,570 --> 00:11:26,770 And that keeps me coming back. 188 00:11:27,890 --> 00:11:34,610 And what I'm trying to, I guess, work on right now is that 189 00:11:35,250 --> 00:11:39,850 feeling that I have on Sundays, carrying that through the 190 00:11:39,850 --> 00:11:41,690 week, which is hard. 191 00:11:41,850 --> 00:11:43,650 Sure, that's a challenge. 192 00:11:43,650 --> 00:11:48,050 But it sounds like what I like to ask our folks is what keeps them 193 00:11:48,050 --> 00:11:48,450 coming back. 194 00:11:48,450 --> 00:11:50,730 And you've touched on that a little bit here. 195 00:11:52,330 --> 00:11:53,770 You're here, but what keeps you here. 196 00:11:53,770 --> 00:11:58,530 And it sounds like this feeling that you need to get reconnected 197 00:11:58,530 --> 00:12:01,050 every week, so to speak, in order to meet those challenges of 198 00:12:01,050 --> 00:12:01,410 the week. 199 00:12:01,410 --> 00:12:01,770 Yes. 200 00:12:01,770 --> 00:12:02,810 Is that a fair thing to say? 201 00:12:02,810 --> 00:12:03,130 No. 202 00:12:03,770 --> 00:12:05,290 That's a good way to describe it. 203 00:12:05,290 --> 00:12:05,650 Yeah. 204 00:12:05,650 --> 00:12:08,090 So tell me how some of your experiences here may have helped 205 00:12:08,090 --> 00:12:08,810 you to do that. 206 00:12:08,810 --> 00:12:10,170 Maybe if you've had a. 207 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,840 Whatever, a midweek challenge, whatever you're involved with, maybe 208 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,720 something that has been a part of your experience here that's been 209 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:21,040 helpful to you and to respond to day, to day life. 210 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:32,240 Well, I think my experiences coming to Heaven Earth and being 211 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:38,170 part of the conversations and reflecting on those have helped me 212 00:12:42,490 --> 00:12:43,610 maybe slow down. 213 00:12:43,690 --> 00:12:44,330 Okay. 214 00:12:45,850 --> 00:12:54,010 And when things are stressful, whether it's related to work, family, 215 00:12:54,490 --> 00:13:01,940 you know, whatever life, to be able to take a step back and not 216 00:13:01,940 --> 00:13:03,140 be so reactive. 217 00:13:05,060 --> 00:13:13,460 And it's also helped me not be so judgmental of other people. 218 00:13:13,940 --> 00:13:15,260 I think that's one of the things. 219 00:13:15,260 --> 00:13:19,060 And I wasn't a judgmental person. 220 00:13:20,180 --> 00:13:25,980 But just before you develop an opinion about somebody, kind of think 221 00:13:25,980 --> 00:13:29,560 about where they're coming from instead of only your own thought? 222 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:30,040 Yeah. 223 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,960 Well, here at Heaven Earth Church, I know that you've been involved 224 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:34,120 with. 225 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,960 You've mentioned for several years now, four or five years, and 226 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:40,440 I know that you've been involved with various aspects of 227 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:40,960 the church. 228 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,880 Have you had all what I might call an emotional moment or a lump 229 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,200 in the throat moment when you thought, you know, this is very. 230 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,120 What's happening here is very meaningful in such a way that is 231 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:53,560 a bit transformative. 232 00:13:53,830 --> 00:13:54,750 You know what I mean by that? 233 00:13:54,750 --> 00:13:58,110 So give me a sample of what a moment like that might have been 234 00:13:58,110 --> 00:13:59,270 like for you, if any. 235 00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:06,150 You know, we've been talking a lot about the Holy Spirit and the 236 00:14:06,150 --> 00:14:11,110 Holy Spirit within us, and I'm glad Ross kept those pictures up 237 00:14:12,230 --> 00:14:16,630 of the flame because I've been reflecting on that a lot lately, 238 00:14:16,790 --> 00:14:23,550 is that we all have that, but in some of us it's just bursting. 239 00:14:23,790 --> 00:14:27,310 And in others it's kind of like that pilot light. 240 00:14:27,630 --> 00:14:28,750 It's just flickering. 241 00:14:30,750 --> 00:14:38,510 And I've had Times, not only at church, but at home, especially 242 00:14:38,670 --> 00:14:42,990 during quiet times where I have that. 243 00:14:44,670 --> 00:14:45,710 I guess you would call. 244 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,560 Somebody referred to it once as like a. 245 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:52,840 A Holy Spirit, like, thump. 246 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:58,640 That feeling where there's, you know, you're just overwhelmed 247 00:14:58,640 --> 00:14:59,480 with like. 248 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,840 Of happiness, satisfaction, peace. 249 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:09,840 And I. I kind of describe that as that pilot light, like the. 250 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:13,320 The heater comes on or whatever, and that flame comes up. 251 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:21,620 I've had those moments, and not all the time, and I can't explain 252 00:15:22,420 --> 00:15:23,540 why they came. 253 00:15:23,940 --> 00:15:27,420 And, you know, it's just that I've had these times in my life where 254 00:15:27,420 --> 00:15:30,660 I'm like, yeah, this is it. 255 00:15:30,660 --> 00:15:33,620 The Bible describes those type of moments of fanging the spark into 256 00:15:33,620 --> 00:15:34,180 a flame. 257 00:15:34,340 --> 00:15:34,980 Exactly. 258 00:15:35,940 --> 00:15:38,820 And I think that's what you and a lot of other folks have experience 259 00:15:38,820 --> 00:15:44,740 with heaven through the church about taking that bit of the Holy 260 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:48,220 Spirit, the flame, the pilot light, I think is a great analogy 261 00:15:48,220 --> 00:15:51,660 there and then finding a way to, you know, turn up a little bit 262 00:15:51,660 --> 00:15:53,700 and have some opportunities there. 263 00:15:53,700 --> 00:15:57,980 And so that's about life change and sound like your life has 264 00:15:57,980 --> 00:16:02,260 changed to the better for the most part in your life and your ongoing 265 00:16:02,260 --> 00:16:03,500 part of the life of the church here. 266 00:16:04,060 --> 00:16:05,540 One of the things that. 267 00:16:05,540 --> 00:16:10,720 One of the phrases that's used to describe some folks here at Heaven 268 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,520 Earth Church is the phrase. 269 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,240 It's something like if you feel like you don't fit in church, 270 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:17,280 you fit here. 271 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,000 First of all, do you think it's accurate? 272 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,520 And if so, how. 273 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:29,040 Oh, it is definitely Heaven Earth welcomes. 274 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,400 You know, we're all God's children, so we should welcome everybody. 275 00:16:35,020 --> 00:16:35,820 It doesn't matter. 276 00:16:37,260 --> 00:16:38,860 And that's what I love about it. 277 00:16:38,860 --> 00:16:40,300 That's what I love about this church. 278 00:16:40,300 --> 00:16:49,340 It's so accepting, and it just, to me, falls right in line 279 00:16:50,300 --> 00:17:00,740 with the way Jesus walked on this earth and, you know, was accepting 280 00:17:00,740 --> 00:17:01,740 of everybody. 281 00:17:02,140 --> 00:17:05,540 You know, went to the poor, went to the disabled. 282 00:17:06,980 --> 00:17:11,220 And that's the connection I have here with this church. 283 00:17:12,020 --> 00:17:14,260 It just seems like it's. 284 00:17:16,020 --> 00:17:20,740 Have you seen an example for someone that for whatever reason, 285 00:17:21,860 --> 00:17:28,060 may have been not connected someplace else, that you saw an example 286 00:17:28,060 --> 00:17:31,340 of someone who you felt was really being accepted and loved and 287 00:17:31,340 --> 00:17:32,170 cared for here? 288 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:33,400 Oh, yeah. 289 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:34,880 I mean, multiple examples. 290 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:36,000 Yeah. 291 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:44,960 And I've talked to some people who felt like sometimes we're brought 292 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:57,880 up with this idea that it's hard to explain sometimes, but I 293 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:02,090 had someone tell me once that said, I just don't feel like I'm 294 00:18:02,090 --> 00:18:03,810 worthy to attend church. 295 00:18:04,050 --> 00:18:06,530 Well, no, that's not the way to look at it. 296 00:18:06,850 --> 00:18:11,970 And I felt that way earlier, but now through recent experiences, 297 00:18:11,970 --> 00:18:13,690 I've learned that's not it. 298 00:18:13,690 --> 00:18:15,090 That's not how you approach it. 299 00:18:15,409 --> 00:18:15,889 Yeah. 300 00:18:16,770 --> 00:18:18,210 So that's awesome. 301 00:18:18,210 --> 00:18:19,410 You see an example of that. 302 00:18:19,410 --> 00:18:22,690 Your own life is exactly a perfect example of that. 303 00:18:22,690 --> 00:18:28,010 For whatever reason you said not a good experience in church and 304 00:18:28,010 --> 00:18:31,140 now you're having a good experience in church and it's led 305 00:18:31,140 --> 00:18:31,300 to. 306 00:18:31,300 --> 00:18:34,180 You have some spiritual enlightenment. 307 00:18:34,180 --> 00:18:35,780 You talk about fanning into flames. 308 00:18:36,020 --> 00:18:40,060 Do you feel like you've found a pathway or growing spiritually 309 00:18:40,060 --> 00:18:41,660 while you've been a part of the church here? 310 00:18:41,660 --> 00:18:43,060 Oh, yeah, definitely. 311 00:18:43,940 --> 00:18:50,260 And it's a process and I want to continue to grow because I have 312 00:18:50,260 --> 00:18:50,980 so much more. 313 00:18:51,780 --> 00:18:55,620 I think we all do, to learn and to experience and to feel. 314 00:18:57,690 --> 00:19:00,490 But yeah, I really feel comfortable here. 315 00:19:01,930 --> 00:19:06,050 I like, you know, and the other thing is about this church 316 00:19:06,050 --> 00:19:12,170 is it's all about service, serving the community and again, 317 00:19:12,330 --> 00:19:17,370 you know, aligns right with what Jesus was doing, serving others. 318 00:19:17,850 --> 00:19:19,690 Well, let's talk about that for a second here. 319 00:19:20,730 --> 00:19:24,010 There's a banner that's in the church and on the church website 320 00:19:25,530 --> 00:19:29,290 that says basically we exist to make a lasting impact in our community. 321 00:19:30,550 --> 00:19:34,390 So how's the church doing at that and if so, what are some of 322 00:19:34,390 --> 00:19:35,430 the ways it's doing that? 323 00:19:37,030 --> 00:19:42,550 Well, I think the building itself is doing it, you know, and 324 00:19:42,630 --> 00:19:46,790 Ross has talked about it, where the building and sharing space 325 00:19:48,070 --> 00:19:54,990 with other organizations that purpose is to help others who, you 326 00:19:54,990 --> 00:19:56,790 know, maybe can't help themselves. 327 00:19:57,910 --> 00:20:03,090 So I think just the building itself, I think what the church has 328 00:20:03,090 --> 00:20:07,330 done, you know, in the community, I remember, you know, 329 00:20:07,330 --> 00:20:12,250 something that just kind of stands out with me is after the tornadoes 330 00:20:12,250 --> 00:20:15,450 came through Whiteland, I believe that was probably two years 331 00:20:15,450 --> 00:20:15,730 ago. 332 00:20:15,730 --> 00:20:22,450 Maybe, you know, this church was a station, an area where people 333 00:20:22,450 --> 00:20:26,130 could come and pick up everyday things, things they need, 334 00:20:26,130 --> 00:20:30,530 you know, parents could, you know, I remember lining the pews 335 00:20:30,530 --> 00:20:35,050 with diapers, all different sizes and you know, food and things 336 00:20:35,050 --> 00:20:35,570 like that. 337 00:20:35,570 --> 00:20:39,370 It's just that one of the things I love about this church is 338 00:20:39,370 --> 00:20:43,890 when, when, when people need help, this, this church will step 339 00:20:43,890 --> 00:20:44,250 up. 340 00:20:44,410 --> 00:20:51,930 Yeah, let's talk for a second about connecting to the community. 341 00:20:52,410 --> 00:20:55,370 We're talking about these kind of mission oriented projects, but 342 00:20:55,370 --> 00:20:58,410 how the community, making it livestream back to the community 343 00:20:58,970 --> 00:21:04,150 also means to be invitational and also accepting as you've mentioned 344 00:21:04,150 --> 00:21:05,070 several times here. 345 00:21:06,670 --> 00:21:11,070 So is this the type of church that you would feel comfortable inviting 346 00:21:11,070 --> 00:21:14,790 people in your own life, like your son invited you people in your 347 00:21:14,790 --> 00:21:18,910 own life, people you may have worked with or have some social connection 348 00:21:18,910 --> 00:21:22,830 with or whatever would you feel comfortable inviting someone 349 00:21:22,830 --> 00:21:26,810 to the church here who's having some challenge in life, whatever 350 00:21:26,810 --> 00:21:29,050 it is, health, relationship, whatever. 351 00:21:29,050 --> 00:21:30,490 Would you feel comfortable inviting him? 352 00:21:30,490 --> 00:21:31,090 Oh, yeah. 353 00:21:31,730 --> 00:21:32,210 Yeah. 354 00:21:33,970 --> 00:21:36,050 And if so, then to go a little further with that. 355 00:21:36,290 --> 00:21:36,690 Why? 356 00:21:36,690 --> 00:21:39,890 And what would be some of the factors that you would say to your, 357 00:21:40,050 --> 00:21:43,170 you know, to your person, relationship with who's not connected 358 00:21:43,170 --> 00:21:44,930 to the church or maybe had a bad experience? 359 00:21:45,330 --> 00:21:47,410 Why would you invite them specifically here? 360 00:21:49,650 --> 00:21:57,050 I think it's because of what I've experienced, and that is it's 361 00:21:57,050 --> 00:21:58,610 such a welcoming environment. 362 00:22:02,530 --> 00:22:04,130 There's no judgment here. 363 00:22:04,610 --> 00:22:05,890 Everybody's welcome. 364 00:22:06,290 --> 00:22:10,410 Doesn't matter where you come from, where you've been, what you've 365 00:22:10,410 --> 00:22:11,010 been through. 366 00:22:11,650 --> 00:22:22,140 It's just we're all here, you know, to worship, to serve, and, 367 00:22:23,020 --> 00:22:26,340 you know, there's not one time where, you know, that's what I would 368 00:22:26,340 --> 00:22:35,180 tell somebody where I felt, you know, intimidated or uncomfortable 369 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:38,260 at this church because it's just. 370 00:22:38,260 --> 00:22:39,900 It's just such a welcoming environment. 371 00:22:40,380 --> 00:22:41,180 Well, that's awesome. 372 00:22:41,180 --> 00:22:43,540 Welcoming environment is a great way to put it. 373 00:22:43,540 --> 00:22:46,820 And just one more question for one more opportunity for you just 374 00:22:46,820 --> 00:22:47,100 to. 375 00:22:47,470 --> 00:22:50,030 To share anything you might want to share with anyone who might 376 00:22:50,030 --> 00:22:52,870 see this, who's kind of checking out heaven or church and 377 00:22:52,870 --> 00:22:55,710 kind of thinking, okay, then, what is this really all about? 378 00:22:56,030 --> 00:22:59,870 What would you want to share with that person in terms of your 379 00:23:00,190 --> 00:23:02,270 experience, or what would you want to share with them? 380 00:23:03,950 --> 00:23:08,630 If I had to share anything, it would be, again, reflecting back 381 00:23:08,630 --> 00:23:09,470 on my own experience. 382 00:23:11,630 --> 00:23:13,550 Don't be afraid to just take that step. 383 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:16,160 Just take that first step. 384 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,720 You never know what's going to happen after that. 385 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,160 And that's kind of what I did. 386 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:32,880 And there's still many, many more steps I need to take that will 387 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:34,800 help me with this journey. 388 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:38,680 But that's pretty much what I would tell other people, is just 389 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:43,020 don't be afraid to just check it out and see what you think. 390 00:23:43,340 --> 00:23:47,700 And I got a pretty good feeling that you'll come away, you 391 00:23:47,700 --> 00:23:49,020 know, feeling pretty good. 392 00:23:49,580 --> 00:23:50,140 Awesome. 393 00:23:50,700 --> 00:23:52,380 Take that first step. 394 00:23:52,380 --> 00:23:53,060 Yeah, Great. 395 00:23:53,060 --> 00:23:53,980 Great way to put it. 396 00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:56,460 Well, thank you for being our guest here today. 397 00:23:56,460 --> 00:24:00,860 His name is David McMillan, a part of the Heaven Earth Church community, 398 00:24:01,340 --> 00:24:04,900 and he's been our guest here today on the Heaven Earth Church 399 00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:05,500 podcast. 400 00:24:05,660 --> 00:24:08,680 My name is Brad Miller, inviting you always to check out 401 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:14,200 the church at our website, heavenearthchurch.org blessings. 402 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,560 We'll see you next time here on Heaven Earth Church Podcast. 403 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,760 We want to thank you for spending time with us today. 404 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,200 My name is Ross Stackhouse, the pastor to Heaven Earth Church, 405 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,920 and you may think out there that your story is over, but in fact, 406 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,080 your faith story may just be beginning. 407 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,780 If you want more information information about our church or you're 408 00:24:33,780 --> 00:24:37,180 interested in the next step, you can go to heavenorthchurch.org 409 00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:41,140 otherwise we look forward to being with you next time at the Heaven 410 00:24:41,140 --> 00:24:42,380 Earth Church Podcast.