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 --> 00:00:39,020 Earth Church. 12 00:00:39,580 --> 00:00:41,500 So let's turn to the story. 13 00:00:43,020 --> 00:00:43,900 Hello, good people. 14 00:00:43,900 --> 00:00:46,700 Welcome to the Heaven Earth Church podcast. 15 00:00:46,940 --> 00:00:50,380 This is the podcast where we look to share about a church which 16 00:00:50,380 --> 00:00:53,660 has its mission to make a lasting impact on our community. 17 00:00:53,660 --> 00:00:54,980 We part of the way. 18 00:00:54,980 --> 00:00:58,020 One of the ways we do that, we get to know the people who are part 19 00:00:58,020 --> 00:01:01,390 of the community here at Heaven Earth Church and a little 20 00:01:01,390 --> 00:01:02,110 bit about their stories. 21 00:01:02,110 --> 00:01:03,510 And our guest today is Ellie Howard. 22 00:01:03,510 --> 00:01:05,190 Ellie, welcome to our conversation. 23 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:06,550 Yeah, thank you for having me. 24 00:01:07,030 --> 00:01:07,990 Ellie, just. 25 00:01:07,990 --> 00:01:09,430 Let's just learn a little bit about you. 26 00:01:09,430 --> 00:01:12,470 I know you've been a part of church for a while, but tell us a 27 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:13,550 little bit about your background. 28 00:01:13,550 --> 00:01:14,510 Where did you grow up? 29 00:01:14,510 --> 00:01:16,150 For instance, what's hometown for you? 30 00:01:16,230 --> 00:01:17,430 Actually, right here in Whiteland. 31 00:01:17,430 --> 00:01:20,550 Yeah, I live just down the road, so I've been here for 22 years, 32 00:01:21,110 --> 00:01:21,390 so. 33 00:01:21,390 --> 00:01:21,830 And you're. 34 00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:23,230 You're 22 is what you just said. 35 00:01:23,230 --> 00:01:24,390 Yeah, I'll be 22 this Thursday. 36 00:01:24,470 --> 00:01:24,870 Yeah. 37 00:01:24,870 --> 00:01:25,910 Well, happy birthday. 38 00:01:25,910 --> 00:01:26,390 I didn't. 39 00:01:26,390 --> 00:01:28,720 I didn't pick up on that, so. 40 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:29,760 Well, that is. 41 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:30,640 That's awesome. 42 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:33,280 So tell us what you've been doing with your life. 43 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,120 Are you in school or you have a career? 44 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:35,600 What. 45 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:36,880 What are you involved with right now? 46 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:38,720 Currently I'm a senior in college. 47 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:43,360 I just started my senior year a couple weeks ago, so I'm. 48 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,560 So my degree I have to think about. 49 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:47,680 This is. 50 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:50,160 Sorry, Brad. 51 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:50,680 I don't really. 52 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,400 I don't think well on my feet, but. 53 00:01:53,270 --> 00:01:54,630 So it's a bachelor's degree of. 54 00:01:54,710 --> 00:01:55,830 In English and writing. 55 00:01:56,070 --> 00:01:56,950 English and writing? 56 00:01:56,950 --> 00:01:57,350 Really? 57 00:01:57,350 --> 00:01:57,910 Yes, sir. 58 00:01:57,910 --> 00:01:58,390 Awesome. 59 00:01:58,950 --> 00:02:00,950 So are you looking to like, be. 60 00:02:01,190 --> 00:02:03,670 Be a writer, an author or a publisher of some sort? 61 00:02:03,990 --> 00:02:06,630 I would love to be, but I'm also looking into like journalism. 62 00:02:06,630 --> 00:02:07,950 Cause I do photography on the side. 63 00:02:07,950 --> 00:02:10,430 So I'm looking into like photojournalism or sports photography 64 00:02:10,430 --> 00:02:11,590 and stuff like that as well. 65 00:02:11,590 --> 00:02:11,870 Yeah. 66 00:02:11,870 --> 00:02:12,110 Cool. 67 00:02:12,110 --> 00:02:12,950 Have you been able to. 68 00:02:13,350 --> 00:02:16,630 To engage in that a little bit, doing some photography or sports? 69 00:02:16,710 --> 00:02:17,670 Yeah, yeah. 70 00:02:17,670 --> 00:02:20,550 My younger brother was on the baseball team during his high school 71 00:02:20,550 --> 00:02:23,910 Career and I was able to kind of like, do the photos for just like 72 00:02:23,910 --> 00:02:25,990 during the games and things for the team, so that was really 73 00:02:25,990 --> 00:02:26,150 cool. 74 00:02:26,150 --> 00:02:27,950 And I do like the side projects on. 75 00:02:27,950 --> 00:02:28,510 On the. 76 00:02:28,750 --> 00:02:31,990 For like graduating seniors. 77 00:02:31,990 --> 00:02:32,910 I do grad. 78 00:02:32,910 --> 00:02:34,790 Like grad photos. 79 00:02:34,790 --> 00:02:35,150 Yeah. 80 00:02:35,150 --> 00:02:35,710 Yeah. 81 00:02:35,790 --> 00:02:36,350 Awesome. 82 00:02:36,430 --> 00:02:36,950 Awesome. 83 00:02:36,950 --> 00:02:37,550 Well, that's. 84 00:02:38,190 --> 00:02:39,230 That sounds exciting. 85 00:02:39,390 --> 00:02:39,750 So you. 86 00:02:39,750 --> 00:02:43,190 Could you see yourself having a potential career in journalism 87 00:02:43,190 --> 00:02:46,030 or photography or something along this line? 88 00:02:46,190 --> 00:02:46,830 I'm hoping. 89 00:02:46,830 --> 00:02:47,270 Yeah. 90 00:02:47,270 --> 00:02:47,670 I'm. 91 00:02:47,670 --> 00:02:48,030 I'm. 92 00:02:48,030 --> 00:02:48,510 I'm hoping. 93 00:02:48,510 --> 00:02:50,270 So what would be kind of if you res. 94 00:02:50,270 --> 00:02:52,190 Are for your job for you? 95 00:02:53,550 --> 00:02:56,430 I mean, honestly, like, I love baseball, so I think it'd be really 96 00:02:56,430 --> 00:02:59,190 cool to be a photographer for like the Cincinnati Reds baseball 97 00:02:59,190 --> 00:03:00,750 team or just baseball in general. 98 00:03:00,910 --> 00:03:03,990 But it's kind of more of a wishful thinking, I think, at the 99 00:03:03,990 --> 00:03:04,270 moment. 100 00:03:04,270 --> 00:03:04,790 But I just. 101 00:03:04,790 --> 00:03:07,870 I'm just trying to get through my college education, so. 102 00:03:07,950 --> 00:03:08,950 I have a dream. 103 00:03:08,950 --> 00:03:09,710 That is awesome. 104 00:03:09,710 --> 00:03:10,350 I didn't. 105 00:03:10,990 --> 00:03:14,110 I know that I've seen you at the church softball games. 106 00:03:14,990 --> 00:03:16,960 I don't know, just being a part of that. 107 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:18,520 Were you yourself in school? 108 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:19,200 That kind of thing? 109 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,680 I mean, I played soccer when, like when I was a kid, but I know 110 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,200 I've never really picked up on the sports during like my high school 111 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:26,200 career, unfortunately. 112 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,000 But I've been more into like the creative arts. 113 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:28,480 Yes. 114 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:29,400 Well, tell us. 115 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:30,600 I know that you're a musician. 116 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:31,640 Tell us a little that. 117 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:34,000 What kind of things do you do in the area of music? 118 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,240 Oh, well, I mean, primarily I'm a worship leader here at the 119 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:37,600 church. 120 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:38,160 I like. 121 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:38,480 We. 122 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,560 There's a few different people who do that, so I'm just kind of 123 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,140 one of the one person within the cycle. 124 00:03:44,380 --> 00:03:46,660 So that's mostly what I do for music. 125 00:03:46,660 --> 00:03:47,540 I kind of just play. 126 00:03:47,540 --> 00:03:50,060 I. I don't really have any gigs on the side, unfortunately. 127 00:03:50,060 --> 00:03:52,780 I'd like to do something like that eventually, but I just don't 128 00:03:52,780 --> 00:03:54,460 really have a lot of time right now, unfortunately. 129 00:03:55,180 --> 00:03:55,580 But. 130 00:03:56,140 --> 00:03:58,900 Well, I know you play piano and you sing and. 131 00:03:58,900 --> 00:03:59,500 Yes, sir. 132 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:00,540 And that's. 133 00:04:00,540 --> 00:04:01,340 That's awesome. 134 00:04:01,340 --> 00:04:02,940 And then so. 135 00:04:03,020 --> 00:04:04,380 And then so tell me what's. 136 00:04:04,380 --> 00:04:07,100 As far as being a worship leader at the church here? 137 00:04:07,660 --> 00:04:08,060 Tell. 138 00:04:08,460 --> 00:04:10,860 Share with the folks are listening kind of. 139 00:04:10,860 --> 00:04:11,580 What does that mean? 140 00:04:11,580 --> 00:04:13,260 What does it mean to be a worship leader? 141 00:04:13,900 --> 00:04:15,820 That's actually an extraordinary question. 142 00:04:16,460 --> 00:04:18,780 I don't know because, like, I've. 143 00:04:18,780 --> 00:04:21,580 I've only been doing it for maybe a little over a year now, and 144 00:04:21,580 --> 00:04:22,780 it's still something that I'm. 145 00:04:22,780 --> 00:04:24,140 I. I'm still learning. 146 00:04:24,780 --> 00:04:29,140 So I think just being a worship leader from what I'VE experienced 147 00:04:29,140 --> 00:04:36,060 is kind of just showing up and just not being afraid to hide where 148 00:04:36,060 --> 00:04:37,980 you're at with your relationship with the Lord. 149 00:04:38,460 --> 00:04:41,940 And I find that's been really helpful for me, just being vulnerable 150 00:04:41,940 --> 00:04:42,780 in that aspect. 151 00:04:42,860 --> 00:04:47,420 I mean, also knowing that it's okay not to share everything that's 152 00:04:47,420 --> 00:04:48,060 on my heart. 153 00:04:48,380 --> 00:04:52,020 But I think that sharing some of those things, like kind of opening 154 00:04:52,020 --> 00:04:56,500 the door into my own life when I'm on stage and kind of presenting 155 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:00,500 the music and being with the other people on the team, it's been 156 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:01,340 beneficial for me. 157 00:05:01,340 --> 00:05:04,020 Cause I feel like I've grown in my relationship with God. 158 00:05:04,020 --> 00:05:07,500 And I feel like if I'm able to kind of experience, like share that, 159 00:05:08,050 --> 00:05:12,770 that maybe my experience can help draw people closer as well. 160 00:05:13,090 --> 00:05:13,570 Yeah. 161 00:05:14,530 --> 00:05:18,130 It seems like also it's a little bit more than just music only. 162 00:05:18,130 --> 00:05:19,410 Like leading, singing. 163 00:05:19,490 --> 00:05:23,810 It is also helping people draw people into the experience. 164 00:05:24,450 --> 00:05:24,810 Yeah. 165 00:05:24,810 --> 00:05:25,570 And being present. 166 00:05:25,650 --> 00:05:26,090 Yeah. 167 00:05:26,090 --> 00:05:30,090 And kind of helping guide that process and being present, as you 168 00:05:30,090 --> 00:05:30,290 say. 169 00:05:30,290 --> 00:05:34,010 So tell me about a kind of an aha or God moment that maybe you've 170 00:05:34,010 --> 00:05:37,370 experienced either in leading worship or be a part of a worship 171 00:05:37,370 --> 00:05:38,370 experience where you kind of. 172 00:05:38,370 --> 00:05:39,930 Okay, God is really real here. 173 00:05:40,170 --> 00:05:40,730 Yeah. 174 00:05:41,690 --> 00:05:44,490 Honestly, I don't know if I'll be able to pinpoint a specific one 175 00:05:45,290 --> 00:05:48,370 because there's been multiple times where I've kind of felt the 176 00:05:48,370 --> 00:05:49,050 Lord's presence. 177 00:05:49,050 --> 00:05:51,450 And it's been more kind of like an epiphany. 178 00:05:51,689 --> 00:05:52,730 Epiphany moment. 179 00:05:54,970 --> 00:05:56,010 I think it was. 180 00:05:56,490 --> 00:06:00,570 There's one specific moment going back to around the time of 181 00:06:00,570 --> 00:06:05,520 the election of last year where I was leading worship the weekend 182 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,040 leading up to the election. 183 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:07,840 And it was just. 184 00:06:07,840 --> 00:06:09,760 I felt very tense because I've never been. 185 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:11,840 Politics aren't really my thing. 186 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:12,440 And so. 187 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,040 But so I think just being able. 188 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:16,880 Because that. 189 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:18,560 That weekend, I think Ross was. 190 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:23,120 Had talked about politics quite a bit in one of his sermons, 191 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:24,840 like leading up to that sermon. 192 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:29,290 And I think just opening up a space that I really felt God's presence 193 00:06:29,290 --> 00:06:32,010 because I felt like everybody. 194 00:06:32,010 --> 00:06:32,490 Like we. 195 00:06:32,490 --> 00:06:35,730 We could sit in the room and be okay with our differences. 196 00:06:37,250 --> 00:06:40,690 And I really felt the Lord in that because I felt like there was 197 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:43,890 a sense of, like, understanding even when it's difficult. 198 00:06:44,130 --> 00:06:44,930 And I don't know. 199 00:06:44,930 --> 00:06:46,050 I hope that answers the question. 200 00:06:46,130 --> 00:06:50,770 But I would say that that really in that moment, I felt like 201 00:06:50,770 --> 00:06:51,330 God's presence. 202 00:06:51,330 --> 00:06:55,260 So it sounded like you kind of went into that time period with some 203 00:06:55,420 --> 00:06:58,300 anxiousness and discon. 204 00:06:58,380 --> 00:07:02,740 Discomfort and you came out with a little bit of at peace in 205 00:07:02,740 --> 00:07:03,460 some form or another. 206 00:07:03,460 --> 00:07:03,940 Is that. 207 00:07:03,940 --> 00:07:04,460 Am I. 208 00:07:04,540 --> 00:07:05,060 Is this. 209 00:07:05,060 --> 00:07:06,580 Yeah, we're at a law at all. 210 00:07:06,580 --> 00:07:06,940 Yes. 211 00:07:06,940 --> 00:07:07,300 Yes. 212 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:08,500 And I think that's a lot of what. 213 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:10,020 What worship is often about. 214 00:07:10,020 --> 00:07:11,060 Help us to find a place. 215 00:07:11,060 --> 00:07:15,020 Help us find God's place of centering 100 place. 216 00:07:15,340 --> 00:07:17,260 And that's when we could do that in worship. 217 00:07:17,260 --> 00:07:17,700 That's a. 218 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:18,460 That's a cool thing. 219 00:07:18,540 --> 00:07:22,130 I would just say, from my observation, you really. 220 00:07:22,130 --> 00:07:22,530 Your. 221 00:07:22,690 --> 00:07:27,170 Your authenticity in leading worship has been really meaningful 222 00:07:27,170 --> 00:07:27,650 to me. 223 00:07:27,890 --> 00:07:28,610 Oh, thank you. 224 00:07:28,610 --> 00:07:32,130 My wife, as we've seen you do that, and I've seen how people react 225 00:07:32,130 --> 00:07:32,610 to that. 226 00:07:33,010 --> 00:07:34,530 So let me go there for. 227 00:07:34,530 --> 00:07:37,250 I've seen how people react in a very positive way to your leadership. 228 00:07:37,410 --> 00:07:38,370 So let me tell you about. 229 00:07:38,370 --> 00:07:41,050 Let me ask you about that then, Ali, in terms of how do you 230 00:07:41,050 --> 00:07:41,330 think. 231 00:07:43,410 --> 00:07:46,330 How do you think people react to your leadership in music or other 232 00:07:46,330 --> 00:07:47,090 things like that? 233 00:07:47,410 --> 00:07:50,670 Are you finding some affirmation in what you're doing? 234 00:07:51,630 --> 00:07:53,470 I definitely am, yes. 235 00:07:54,030 --> 00:07:56,630 And not, though, necessarily searching for that affirmation. 236 00:07:56,630 --> 00:07:56,990 It's. 237 00:07:56,990 --> 00:08:00,750 It's nice to receive the positive feedback from people just 238 00:08:00,750 --> 00:08:01,710 because, like. 239 00:08:02,030 --> 00:08:03,150 Like, personally, I am. 240 00:08:03,150 --> 00:08:04,590 I'm very, like, insecure. 241 00:08:04,670 --> 00:08:06,910 And so when I'm up on stage, like, I don't necessarily have a 242 00:08:06,910 --> 00:08:10,590 problem being vulnerable, but afterwards, sometimes I go into this 243 00:08:10,590 --> 00:08:12,230 mindset of, like, oh, why did I say that? 244 00:08:12,230 --> 00:08:13,230 Why did I share that? 245 00:08:13,470 --> 00:08:17,710 But then I've had some of the sweetest people come up to me and 246 00:08:17,710 --> 00:08:19,230 give me a hug and just be like. 247 00:08:19,550 --> 00:08:22,270 Like, thank you for sharing and thank you for being you. 248 00:08:22,430 --> 00:08:22,990 That's awesome. 249 00:08:22,990 --> 00:08:23,510 And that just. 250 00:08:23,510 --> 00:08:24,910 It really means a lot to me. 251 00:08:24,910 --> 00:08:25,710 That's awesome. 252 00:08:26,270 --> 00:08:28,470 Well, that's all very cool, and that tells us a little bit about 253 00:08:28,470 --> 00:08:30,550 your engagement in heaven or church right now. 254 00:08:30,550 --> 00:08:32,710 But let's go back a little ways. 255 00:08:32,710 --> 00:08:34,430 How did you get first. 256 00:08:34,430 --> 00:08:38,270 How did you first hear about or get to know or become aware about 257 00:08:38,270 --> 00:08:39,390 Heaven Earth Church? 258 00:08:39,710 --> 00:08:43,140 Yeah, so I think that was. 259 00:08:43,140 --> 00:08:43,820 We've been. 260 00:08:43,980 --> 00:08:49,860 My parents and I have been coming to this church since, I want 261 00:08:49,860 --> 00:08:53,980 to say, like, the fall of 23, I believe. 262 00:08:54,140 --> 00:08:55,620 So roughly two years. 263 00:08:55,620 --> 00:08:57,100 Little about two years now. 264 00:08:58,460 --> 00:08:59,900 I think they first heard it. 265 00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:01,540 My parents first heard about it, I believe. 266 00:09:01,540 --> 00:09:04,700 Like, I'm not sure if it was, like, through Facebook or something 267 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:06,620 like that, but my dad had found the church. 268 00:09:06,620 --> 00:09:09,780 And so fall of 23, we had visited. 269 00:09:09,780 --> 00:09:12,700 And I think after, like, two weeks, we're like, this is for us. 270 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:13,580 This is our home. 271 00:09:14,220 --> 00:09:14,620 It was. 272 00:09:14,620 --> 00:09:19,180 I think it was just the atmosphere, just Ross being so late. 273 00:09:19,180 --> 00:09:22,700 Like, kind of how you've expressed is just Very authentic 274 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:23,580 and genuine. 275 00:09:23,820 --> 00:09:25,580 And he didn't, he wasn't rushed. 276 00:09:26,140 --> 00:09:30,700 It didn't feel like we were being preached at. 277 00:09:30,700 --> 00:09:32,580 We were, we were being talked to. 278 00:09:32,580 --> 00:09:33,500 It was a conversation. 279 00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:34,380 And I felt like that. 280 00:09:34,870 --> 00:09:38,190 And coming from the background that we have, like, that was a really 281 00:09:38,190 --> 00:09:38,790 nice change. 282 00:09:39,270 --> 00:09:40,390 Nice change of pace. 283 00:09:40,550 --> 00:09:41,030 Yeah. 284 00:09:41,270 --> 00:09:41,910 So we've been here. 285 00:09:41,910 --> 00:09:42,150 Yeah. 286 00:09:42,150 --> 00:09:43,190 For about two years now. 287 00:09:43,430 --> 00:09:44,270 Well, there you go. 288 00:09:44,270 --> 00:09:44,950 There you go. 289 00:09:45,270 --> 00:09:48,430 Well, you touched on it coming from the background that you come 290 00:09:48,430 --> 00:09:48,790 from. 291 00:09:48,950 --> 00:09:50,150 Tell a little bit about your. 292 00:09:50,790 --> 00:09:53,310 We're going to come back to your involvement here at heaven or 293 00:09:53,310 --> 00:09:54,230 church in a minute here. 294 00:09:54,230 --> 00:09:57,230 But tell me a little bit of Ellie about your background growing 295 00:09:57,230 --> 00:09:57,430 up. 296 00:09:57,430 --> 00:10:00,070 You know, did you have a faith background growing up? 297 00:10:00,150 --> 00:10:04,080 Tell me a little bit about maybe any connection that you had 298 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:07,120 to the Christian walk of life before coming to heaven. 299 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:08,480 Tell us a little bit about that. 300 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,000 Yeah, so I've actually, I mean, I've grown up in a Christian 301 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:11,440 household. 302 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:19,000 My dad has been in ministry for over 20, 25 years, just throughout 303 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:19,440 his life. 304 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:20,440 And as he's. 305 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,760 As him and my mom have like gotten married and all that, like, 306 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:26,320 they were always very heavily involved in the church and so they 307 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:27,760 moved here to Whiteland. 308 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:32,780 It was in 2002 when they moved here. 309 00:10:32,780 --> 00:10:33,620 2003. 310 00:10:33,620 --> 00:10:36,940 Sorry, no, 2004 is when they moved here. 311 00:10:37,980 --> 00:10:39,340 About year after I was born. 312 00:10:39,340 --> 00:10:43,340 So my dad, over the course of the next few years planted a church. 313 00:10:43,420 --> 00:10:45,020 It's actually just down the road here. 314 00:10:45,020 --> 00:10:46,140 It was called South Point. 315 00:10:46,300 --> 00:10:47,220 South Point Church. 316 00:10:47,220 --> 00:10:49,100 And he was the lead pastor there. 317 00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:55,150 And so that's for the first 10 years of, really my 10, 11, 12 years 318 00:10:55,150 --> 00:10:57,590 of my life is, was at that church. 319 00:10:58,310 --> 00:11:01,990 And so that's kind of what I just, I grew up within like a very, 320 00:11:02,950 --> 00:11:06,030 yeah, very Christ centered household and within the church and 321 00:11:06,030 --> 00:11:07,830 just in the people that I really hung around with. 322 00:11:07,830 --> 00:11:14,310 And the church had closed in 2019, I believe, unfortunately. 323 00:11:14,950 --> 00:11:19,070 And then from 2019 to 2023 we just kind of hopped to churches and 324 00:11:19,070 --> 00:11:19,750 it was just. 325 00:11:20,990 --> 00:11:23,550 It just wasn't the same as what it was like when my dad was 326 00:11:23,550 --> 00:11:27,430 pastoring just because we weren't within the immediate circle 327 00:11:27,430 --> 00:11:27,750 of people. 328 00:11:27,750 --> 00:11:32,590 So it was just really hard to connect and kind of form relationships. 329 00:11:32,670 --> 00:11:34,990 And the churches themselves, they were great. 330 00:11:35,870 --> 00:11:38,510 They didn't necessarily really fit our value system. 331 00:11:39,070 --> 00:11:42,470 And so when we found Heaven Earth Church, we were like, this 332 00:11:42,470 --> 00:11:43,070 is perfect. 333 00:11:44,030 --> 00:11:45,790 So you're a pk, is that right? 334 00:11:45,870 --> 00:11:46,350 I am. 335 00:11:46,350 --> 00:11:47,710 I am a pk, yes sir. 336 00:11:47,870 --> 00:11:51,350 For those of us, those who are not initiated PK as a preacher's 337 00:11:51,350 --> 00:11:55,890 kid, I am A retired pastor myself, but I'm also a preacher's 338 00:11:55,890 --> 00:12:00,210 kid, and so that's kind of shorthand for being a preacher's 339 00:12:00,210 --> 00:12:00,490 kid. 340 00:12:00,490 --> 00:12:01,370 But so. 341 00:12:01,770 --> 00:12:05,370 And that comes with it some great stuff, but also some challenging 342 00:12:05,370 --> 00:12:05,610 stuff. 343 00:12:05,610 --> 00:12:06,690 And I. I'm. 344 00:12:06,690 --> 00:12:09,730 We don't need to go details of it, but I'm sure if you were involved 345 00:12:09,730 --> 00:12:12,890 with your folks, the time with building a church and a closing, 346 00:12:12,890 --> 00:12:14,730 I'm sure that was a painful time and. 347 00:12:15,210 --> 00:12:17,930 And then looking for a church and so on. 348 00:12:17,930 --> 00:12:20,570 That sound like the time of searching. 349 00:12:21,350 --> 00:12:24,630 Yeah, it was definitely a difficult season of life, trying 350 00:12:24,630 --> 00:12:25,550 to figure that out. 351 00:12:25,550 --> 00:12:26,390 Yeah, for sure. 352 00:12:26,790 --> 00:12:29,830 So what kind of challenges did you personally have kind of in that 353 00:12:29,830 --> 00:12:33,550 season of searching and trying to figure out a direction in life, 354 00:12:33,550 --> 00:12:35,150 especially, you know, as a. 355 00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:37,750 You're a teenager at the time, I assume, and a lot of this was going 356 00:12:37,750 --> 00:12:38,070 on. 357 00:12:38,630 --> 00:12:39,110 Were you. 358 00:12:39,110 --> 00:12:42,950 Were you feeling like God far away or you find yourself in a search 359 00:12:42,950 --> 00:12:43,390 mode? 360 00:12:43,390 --> 00:12:43,750 What. 361 00:12:43,990 --> 00:12:46,430 Tell me a little bit about that, how you were dealing with all 362 00:12:46,430 --> 00:12:46,710 that. 363 00:12:48,250 --> 00:12:49,570 I mean, when the church. 364 00:12:49,570 --> 00:12:52,130 When I found out the church was closing and that my dad was kind 365 00:12:52,130 --> 00:12:55,450 of taking a step back from the pastoring role, I was. 366 00:12:55,770 --> 00:13:00,650 I mean, I felt heartbroken and not like I wasn't angry at my dad. 367 00:13:00,730 --> 00:13:05,570 I'm really glad that he was able to kind of navigate where he 368 00:13:05,570 --> 00:13:08,010 was in life and be able to determine the fact that this isn't 369 00:13:08,010 --> 00:13:10,250 necessarily something that I can. 370 00:13:10,970 --> 00:13:12,810 Would that I want to do anymore. 371 00:13:13,130 --> 00:13:14,650 And I admire him for that. 372 00:13:14,890 --> 00:13:15,850 That bravery. 373 00:13:16,230 --> 00:13:16,510 Yeah. 374 00:13:16,510 --> 00:13:18,430 To take a step back and realize that. 375 00:13:18,430 --> 00:13:19,990 But I think for me, like, it was. 376 00:13:20,070 --> 00:13:20,950 It was difficult. 377 00:13:21,030 --> 00:13:24,870 It was difficult season just because I've never been great with 378 00:13:24,870 --> 00:13:25,190 change. 379 00:13:25,750 --> 00:13:28,190 And so it kind of threw me for a loop, for sure. 380 00:13:28,190 --> 00:13:29,270 I was just very anxious. 381 00:13:29,670 --> 00:13:32,309 And there were other things going on at the time that kind of 382 00:13:32,550 --> 00:13:33,390 added to that. 383 00:13:33,390 --> 00:13:39,110 But sticking with the topic of conversation, I would say that I 384 00:13:39,110 --> 00:13:42,110 think I was more in like, a searching mode and just trying to 385 00:13:42,110 --> 00:13:44,780 find community again and like, with. 386 00:13:44,780 --> 00:13:47,540 Because making friends has kind of been something that I've 387 00:13:47,540 --> 00:13:48,580 struggled with and. 388 00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:51,460 But so it did take a while. 389 00:13:51,780 --> 00:13:52,820 So it was kind of. 390 00:13:52,820 --> 00:13:54,900 Kind of a discouraging season of life. 391 00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:58,940 But once we found heaven, Earth Church, like, and there before 392 00:13:58,940 --> 00:14:01,020 heaven or church, there was another church that we were at for 393 00:14:01,020 --> 00:14:01,300 about. 394 00:14:01,380 --> 00:14:02,700 For a handful of. 395 00:14:02,700 --> 00:14:06,100 For a couple years, and I found some community there. 396 00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:09,820 But once we found heaven, Earth Church, yeah, I just, again, 397 00:14:09,820 --> 00:14:13,820 I feel like there's a sense of just strong authenticity here that 398 00:14:13,820 --> 00:14:16,980 really touches my heart and means a lot to me because I feel 399 00:14:16,980 --> 00:14:20,060 like in a lot of, like, Western culture, it's like people 400 00:14:20,060 --> 00:14:24,740 at church, there's, like, an expectation to portray, like, happy, 401 00:14:24,740 --> 00:14:26,060 go lucky all the time. 402 00:14:26,380 --> 00:14:27,020 And it's just. 403 00:14:27,020 --> 00:14:28,900 That's exhausting to me because that's not how. 404 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:30,060 That's not how I roll. 405 00:14:30,700 --> 00:14:31,340 But the. 406 00:14:31,420 --> 00:14:33,940 You mentioned a couple things here that I think are interesting. 407 00:14:33,940 --> 00:14:34,980 You mentioned searching. 408 00:14:34,980 --> 00:14:35,340 You mentioned. 409 00:14:35,970 --> 00:14:41,250 Mentioned a season of discouragement and a, you know, some 410 00:14:41,250 --> 00:14:42,450 painful moments there. 411 00:14:43,010 --> 00:14:46,210 And I kind of worked on the premise, Ellie, that a lot of people 412 00:14:46,210 --> 00:14:49,330 in our world are kind of discouraged and searching for community. 413 00:14:49,410 --> 00:14:51,330 You also mentioned community as well. 414 00:14:52,530 --> 00:14:58,250 So how do you think heaven or church has helped in kind of responding 415 00:14:58,250 --> 00:15:00,210 to some of those issues that you mentioned there? 416 00:15:00,530 --> 00:15:03,210 Discouragement, searching, community. 417 00:15:04,010 --> 00:15:07,370 How's your experience of Heaven Earth Church responded to 418 00:15:07,370 --> 00:15:10,450 those needs that you had that may be reflective the needs of other 419 00:15:10,450 --> 00:15:11,450 people have as well? 420 00:15:13,690 --> 00:15:17,929 I mean, do you mind repeat the question? 421 00:15:17,929 --> 00:15:18,450 I'm so sorry. 422 00:15:18,450 --> 00:15:19,850 Let's just make sure I'm understanding. 423 00:15:20,010 --> 00:15:20,490 Okay. 424 00:15:20,730 --> 00:15:22,250 You mentioned being discouraged. 425 00:15:22,570 --> 00:15:23,210 Okay. 426 00:15:23,610 --> 00:15:29,150 So let's talk about how Heaven Earth Church may have responded to 427 00:15:29,150 --> 00:15:29,350 that. 428 00:15:29,350 --> 00:15:34,110 Maybe been a rejurer to you and how that might then be helpful 429 00:15:34,110 --> 00:15:34,830 to other people. 430 00:15:35,630 --> 00:15:36,270 Let's go there. 431 00:15:36,350 --> 00:15:36,910 Okay. 432 00:15:36,910 --> 00:15:37,470 Yeah. 433 00:15:37,710 --> 00:15:38,670 So I would say. 434 00:15:39,550 --> 00:15:44,269 I think it's just, again, the atmosphere, it's very welcoming. 435 00:15:44,269 --> 00:15:45,790 Like, you walk in and there's. 436 00:15:46,270 --> 00:15:48,110 There's just a sense of just. 437 00:15:48,830 --> 00:15:50,950 I mean, I know for me, there's almost a sense of comfort. 438 00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:53,550 Of course, I've been here for two years now, so I feel that way. 439 00:15:53,550 --> 00:15:56,350 But even just walking the first time, it was like. 440 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:57,880 It just felt warm. 441 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:04,880 And meeting Ross and Ashley Walton Owens, who was here at the 442 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,960 time, like, they were both very. 443 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,120 Well, Ashley just had a smile on her face. 444 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:10,840 She was just. 445 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:11,480 It was so. 446 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:12,080 She was. 447 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:13,080 She was wonderful. 448 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,800 And Ross, I just think it was just. 449 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,120 He wasn't afraid to be himself. 450 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,520 And he was very relatable in the way that he. 451 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:23,000 That he. 452 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:26,360 That he talks about God and his own relationship and where he's 453 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:26,640 at. 454 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:27,920 And. 455 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,240 And I think that kind of just. 456 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,680 I mean, that bleeds into the congregation as well. 457 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:33,760 Like, people just. 458 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:34,760 I just. 459 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:36,800 I found that very encouraging. 460 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,519 And it was very different because a lot of the time, again, 461 00:16:39,519 --> 00:16:40,080 you just. 462 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:40,840 From the. 463 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,000 From my experience and like, you know, kind of church hopping 464 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,200 a little bit during those couple years in between our church 465 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,090 closing and coming here, it just. 466 00:16:50,090 --> 00:16:50,970 People were just. 467 00:16:51,130 --> 00:16:51,610 It just. 468 00:16:51,610 --> 00:16:53,770 It felt cold almost and not as. 469 00:16:54,010 --> 00:16:55,090 Let's go with that for a second. 470 00:16:55,090 --> 00:16:58,890 You've mentioned searching, church hopping, things of that nature. 471 00:16:59,770 --> 00:17:04,050 Just in your observation and your experience, what kind of things 472 00:17:04,050 --> 00:17:07,170 were you searching for that you may have found here at Heaven 473 00:17:07,170 --> 00:17:09,810 or a church that maybe might relate to other people's search as 474 00:17:09,810 --> 00:17:10,090 well? 475 00:17:10,250 --> 00:17:11,290 What were you searching for? 476 00:17:11,530 --> 00:17:14,170 Like, maybe you were searching for certain things in other churches. 477 00:17:14,170 --> 00:17:15,290 It just didn't work out. 478 00:17:15,290 --> 00:17:16,090 It wasn't there. 479 00:17:16,810 --> 00:17:17,690 You found something here. 480 00:17:18,490 --> 00:17:21,090 I mean, I. I know I've repeated myself multiple times now, 481 00:17:21,090 --> 00:17:22,570 but I think, again, it's just community. 482 00:17:22,890 --> 00:17:26,330 And like, I feel like it was just like an instant connection. 483 00:17:27,290 --> 00:17:28,330 And you've mentioned community. 484 00:17:28,490 --> 00:17:31,810 And so how do you think that community then is kind of manifested 485 00:17:31,810 --> 00:17:32,090 itself? 486 00:17:32,090 --> 00:17:32,730 How do you. 487 00:17:32,730 --> 00:17:34,090 How have you experienced community? 488 00:17:34,170 --> 00:17:37,050 Or how have you experienced community where people are showing 489 00:17:37,050 --> 00:17:41,090 just, you know, care and deep concern and it's lived out? 490 00:17:41,090 --> 00:17:42,960 How do you think communities lived out at have. 491 00:17:43,110 --> 00:17:44,070 Or have our church? 492 00:17:44,630 --> 00:17:45,950 How do you think it's lived out? 493 00:17:45,950 --> 00:17:46,390 Yeah. 494 00:17:48,390 --> 00:17:51,590 I mean, I feel like it's different depending on. 495 00:17:52,150 --> 00:17:53,350 Just depending on the person. 496 00:17:53,350 --> 00:17:55,510 But I would just say, like, in their vulnerability. 497 00:17:55,830 --> 00:17:56,390 Okay. 498 00:17:56,470 --> 00:17:57,750 And again, like being present. 499 00:17:58,070 --> 00:17:58,670 So let me. 500 00:17:58,670 --> 00:17:59,590 Let me just go a little. 501 00:18:01,510 --> 00:18:02,550 In their vulnerability. 502 00:18:02,790 --> 00:18:07,670 So you feel like vulnerability is honored or, you know, some cases, 503 00:18:07,670 --> 00:18:10,990 vulnerability is kind of makes people feel so uncomfortable, they 504 00:18:10,990 --> 00:18:12,690 don't really want to deal with it. 505 00:18:13,010 --> 00:18:14,130 Have you felt when you. 506 00:18:14,130 --> 00:18:19,330 I've seen you be vulnerable, and I've seen, you know, how people. 507 00:18:19,730 --> 00:18:20,130 I. 508 00:18:20,130 --> 00:18:22,130 My observation responded to you. 509 00:18:22,610 --> 00:18:25,010 Do you feel like when you've been vulnerable, you've seen the 510 00:18:25,010 --> 00:18:28,049 vulnerability around the heaven or church community that it's 511 00:18:28,049 --> 00:18:29,730 been embraced or has it been. 512 00:18:29,730 --> 00:18:33,010 Or, you know, some places might recoil. 513 00:18:33,490 --> 00:18:36,930 Tell me how you experience vulnerability, People, how people 514 00:18:36,930 --> 00:18:37,650 respond to that. 515 00:18:38,370 --> 00:18:39,010 I definitely. 516 00:18:39,090 --> 00:18:42,890 I definitely, from what I've experienced, I definitely think it's 517 00:18:42,890 --> 00:18:43,290 honored. 518 00:18:43,290 --> 00:18:44,690 It's been honored and. 519 00:18:45,250 --> 00:18:48,770 And not, you know, pushed under the rug. 520 00:18:49,010 --> 00:18:49,490 Yeah. 521 00:18:49,490 --> 00:18:50,130 So to say. 522 00:18:50,370 --> 00:18:52,770 Because, yeah, I mean, most people do respond to vulnerability 523 00:18:52,770 --> 00:18:53,650 and like, just. 524 00:18:53,970 --> 00:18:58,250 It's uncomfortable and it's like, like, like tight and you. 525 00:18:58,250 --> 00:19:00,690 And it's something that you don't necessarily want to address. 526 00:19:01,650 --> 00:19:04,870 But I feel like here it's been embraced and I. 527 00:19:04,870 --> 00:19:07,470 But I feel like that aspect is. 528 00:19:07,470 --> 00:19:07,870 Is. 529 00:19:07,950 --> 00:19:13,710 Is very valuable in your relationship with people such as 530 00:19:13,710 --> 00:19:16,190 the congregation here at the church, but also with the Lord. 531 00:19:16,270 --> 00:19:16,830 Yeah. 532 00:19:17,390 --> 00:19:18,030 And it's. 533 00:19:18,110 --> 00:19:21,750 It's rich in substance and like, that's the type of relationships 534 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:22,510 that, like, I've. 535 00:19:22,510 --> 00:19:30,110 That I've always, like, been very blessed by and want to experience 536 00:19:30,550 --> 00:19:31,030 more of. 537 00:19:33,110 --> 00:19:38,230 I think that's really a powerful statement that you're making 538 00:19:38,310 --> 00:19:40,630 right there, that it's blessed and it's honored. 539 00:19:40,630 --> 00:19:41,430 I love that. 540 00:19:41,990 --> 00:19:44,750 Now, let me go with you here a little bit, Ellie, in this terms 541 00:19:44,750 --> 00:19:49,790 of your observation of kind of the world that you live in, what 542 00:19:49,790 --> 00:19:53,990 I mean by that is, whoever you connect up with, you're in your school 543 00:19:54,150 --> 00:19:58,790 or your social life or people, you just encounter social media, 544 00:19:58,790 --> 00:19:59,950 anything along that idea. 545 00:19:59,950 --> 00:20:05,230 Do you think there is a need for people to be people, organizations 546 00:20:05,230 --> 00:20:08,590 like a church, to be vulnerable or be a place where vulnerability 547 00:20:08,910 --> 00:20:10,350 can be honored, as you say? 548 00:20:10,750 --> 00:20:13,150 Is there a gap out there, I'm asking you? 549 00:20:13,470 --> 00:20:14,350 I think so. 550 00:20:14,910 --> 00:20:16,590 I think there is, because I. 551 00:20:16,750 --> 00:20:21,550 But I mean, I definitely say that there is something lacking in 552 00:20:21,550 --> 00:20:22,590 the general community. 553 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:23,560 Yeah. 554 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:28,920 And I feel like people just find it very difficult to be. 555 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:30,920 To be authentic and to be themselves. 556 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:31,640 Yeah. 557 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,240 And when the opportunity presents itself, oftentimes they're 558 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:36,680 being. 559 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,840 They're met with resistance and. 560 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,360 Or shame and guilt for perhaps. 561 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:45,960 Or shame for being vulnerable. 562 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:47,160 Shame. 563 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:47,600 Guilt. 564 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:48,360 So powerful. 565 00:20:48,610 --> 00:20:48,810 Yeah. 566 00:20:48,810 --> 00:20:50,370 Charged words, but real, aren't they? 567 00:20:50,370 --> 00:20:50,850 Yeah. 568 00:20:51,010 --> 00:20:51,570 Yeah. 569 00:20:52,290 --> 00:20:57,410 And there's a lot of pressure, I think, on a lot of people, especially 570 00:20:57,410 --> 00:20:57,810 young. 571 00:20:57,810 --> 00:21:00,130 Just my observation, younger people. 572 00:21:00,130 --> 00:21:01,330 My own children are. 573 00:21:01,970 --> 00:21:04,170 Well, they're a little older than you now, but, you know, my own 574 00:21:04,170 --> 00:21:07,810 shut scene of my own children dealing with the pressures of this 575 00:21:07,810 --> 00:21:08,930 world, in this life. 576 00:21:09,090 --> 00:21:09,570 Yeah. 577 00:21:09,970 --> 00:21:12,530 One of the things we say around heaven or church or one of 578 00:21:12,530 --> 00:21:13,970 the phrases or. 579 00:21:14,330 --> 00:21:15,770 That's used around here quite a bit. 580 00:21:15,770 --> 00:21:19,370 If you feel like you don't fit in church, you fit here. 581 00:21:20,090 --> 00:21:20,850 Is that true? 582 00:21:20,850 --> 00:21:22,410 And if so, how so? 583 00:21:23,930 --> 00:21:25,370 I would say it's very true. 584 00:21:26,410 --> 00:21:28,010 I would say it's very true. 585 00:21:28,490 --> 00:21:29,530 Again, there's just. 586 00:21:30,410 --> 00:21:34,490 There's something about the church and that's influenced both 587 00:21:34,490 --> 00:21:38,090 by the leadership and the congregation that just invites. 588 00:21:38,810 --> 00:21:39,370 I don't know. 589 00:21:39,370 --> 00:21:39,730 It just. 590 00:21:39,730 --> 00:21:40,570 I feel like it didn't. 591 00:21:40,570 --> 00:21:40,890 It. 592 00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:44,480 The first thing that kind of came to my mind, that it invites 593 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:49,520 broken people and not that you have to be broken to be here. 594 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:50,880 No, I think there's an. 595 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:52,080 There's aspects of. 596 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:53,200 I think in. 597 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:55,760 In the individual, there's an. 598 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:59,800 There's something missing or broken and hurting. 599 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:00,480 There's pain. 600 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:01,360 A lot of pain. 601 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:01,920 Sure. 602 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:06,560 And I feel like, again, coming here, that pain is met with comfort. 603 00:22:07,490 --> 00:22:13,890 Whereas again, within the Americanized Western culture and 604 00:22:13,890 --> 00:22:18,730 within the Americanized Western church, there's a sense that 605 00:22:18,730 --> 00:22:23,930 you have to hide that brokenness and you can't take off 606 00:22:23,930 --> 00:22:26,610 your mask to be authentic because it's met with resistance 607 00:22:26,610 --> 00:22:27,650 and, again, shame. 608 00:22:28,130 --> 00:22:29,250 But here I just. 609 00:22:29,250 --> 00:22:36,330 I believe that it's nurtured and you're met with love and Support. 610 00:22:36,970 --> 00:22:37,930 So, yeah. 611 00:22:38,250 --> 00:22:41,330 So when we say if you feel like you don't fit in church, you 612 00:22:41,330 --> 00:22:43,050 fit in here, that works for you. 613 00:22:43,690 --> 00:22:46,690 And because of the brokenness about the things that you've mentioned 614 00:22:46,690 --> 00:22:49,250 here, let's just take it to this. 615 00:22:49,250 --> 00:22:50,730 You feel like you would be. 616 00:22:51,210 --> 00:22:53,610 Let's just say there's a person in your life, Ellie, who's 617 00:22:53,610 --> 00:22:57,730 got some brokenness, some pain point, whatever it is. 618 00:22:57,730 --> 00:23:01,360 They're, you know, having trouble in school, they got any issues 619 00:23:01,360 --> 00:23:04,200 with a professor, or they got to break up with a boyfriend, or 620 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,360 there's, you know, substance abuse, any, you know, home life is 621 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:10,400 events, any number of things, and they've confided in you. 622 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:13,920 And because you have been someone that they can approach to, 623 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,680 do you feel like having our church is the kind of place that 624 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:20,640 you feel comfortable inviting them to come and to experience community 625 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,520 that goes beyond your personal relationship, you know, just to kind 626 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:24,200 of expand on you. 627 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,290 Is this a place you would feel comfortable inviting such a person? 628 00:23:27,290 --> 00:23:28,810 100%, yeah. 629 00:23:29,050 --> 00:23:29,530 Yes. 630 00:23:30,090 --> 00:23:34,970 So having said that, to kind of bring this conversation around, 631 00:23:37,130 --> 00:23:41,770 what do you think is the kind of thing you say to a person who 632 00:23:41,770 --> 00:23:45,370 might be watching us here today, Ellie, listening to this podcast, 633 00:23:45,930 --> 00:23:48,170 and they've broken this in their life. 634 00:23:48,250 --> 00:23:53,320 You know, whatever it is, you know, it's hurt, his pain, the separation 635 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:54,200 only from. 636 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,000 Maybe they feel separation from God, maybe feel separation from 637 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:58,760 some other family life. 638 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,160 So what kind of thing would you want to share with that person? 639 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:03,640 Maybe kind of checking out of our church. 640 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:04,920 What would you want to share with them? 641 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:10,520 Say that there you are under no obligation or no expectation to 642 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:11,480 share your pain. 643 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:13,000 But we're here. 644 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:17,240 I know, like, personally, like, I'm willing to listen. 645 00:24:17,610 --> 00:24:19,010 Not that I'm all that in a bag of chips. 646 00:24:19,010 --> 00:24:19,930 That's not what I'm saying. 647 00:24:19,930 --> 00:24:24,210 I just mean that I think just from how. 648 00:24:24,210 --> 00:24:27,930 From when I've shared my own grief and pain with people here at 649 00:24:27,930 --> 00:24:33,210 the church, I have found that they have been very, again, very 650 00:24:33,210 --> 00:24:38,370 receptive and very loving and supportive, and they oftentimes help 651 00:24:38,370 --> 00:24:38,650 me. 652 00:24:38,730 --> 00:24:41,450 Help me carry that burden a little bit. 653 00:24:41,770 --> 00:24:42,250 Yeah. 654 00:24:42,650 --> 00:24:45,450 And so I would say, again, you're under no obligation to share 655 00:24:45,450 --> 00:24:49,980 any of the things going on in your life, but when you feel comfortable 656 00:24:49,980 --> 00:24:55,180 doing so, I feel like this would be a good place to share and 657 00:24:55,180 --> 00:24:55,660 be open. 658 00:24:55,980 --> 00:24:56,620 Awesome. 659 00:24:57,260 --> 00:25:00,460 Well, what a wonderful message you shared with the folks who may 660 00:25:00,460 --> 00:25:01,100 be checking. 661 00:25:01,500 --> 00:25:05,620 Checking out the church here in Whiteland. 662 00:25:05,620 --> 00:25:08,020 And I think you've just shared several things here, Ellie. 663 00:25:08,020 --> 00:25:11,420 They're just so important about responding to things like shame 664 00:25:11,420 --> 00:25:14,540 to find a place of some comfort in the midst of discomfort 665 00:25:14,540 --> 00:25:17,550 and finding a place of community when a lot of people, you 666 00:25:17,550 --> 00:25:22,230 know, have disconnected us or disunity or non community. 667 00:25:22,310 --> 00:25:25,750 And I, I think you've shared several things here and I thank you 668 00:25:25,750 --> 00:25:28,790 for sharing a little bit of the, you know, some vulnerable parts 669 00:25:28,790 --> 00:25:30,470 of your life here in conversation. 670 00:25:30,950 --> 00:25:34,390 And I know that if somebody check out heaven of church in person 671 00:25:34,790 --> 00:25:38,670 and if they hear whether you are in leadership, leading worship 672 00:25:38,670 --> 00:25:44,880 in music or part of the very small group, that you're the type 673 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:49,400 of person that people, especially maybe young people, I 674 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:50,800 want to see what's behind that smile. 675 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:53,160 Well, thank you for being with us. 676 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,920 Our guest today here on the Heaven Earth Church podcast, Ellie 677 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:57,360 Howard. 678 00:25:57,520 --> 00:25:58,880 Thank you so much for having me. 679 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:02,800 We want to thank you for spending time with us today. 680 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,320 My name is Ross Stackhouse, the pastor to Heaven Earth Church. 681 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,600 And you may think out there that your story story is over, but 682 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:13,120 in fact, your faith story may just be beginning. 683 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,200 If you want more information about our church or you're interested 684 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:20,320 in the next step, you can go to heavenorthchurch.org Otherwise, 685 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,480 we look forward to being with you next time at the Heaven Earth 686 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:29,790 Church podcast.