Thread by @JasonSwineheart

It's with a heavy heart that we closed the doors to @WellspringSTL. I wanted to share some of my experiences at this beautiful church. (thread incoming)

I first attended the Well on the 1st anniversary of #MikeBrown's death, August 2015. Upon arrival, a later familiar face greeted me with a hearty "Good morning and welcome to Wellspring!" I then received a hug from another friend-to-be and was shown to my seat with a coffee.

The service was both memorial and call to action; something must be done to stop these police killings. I had participated in the Boston marches last year, but @FWillisJohnson delivered a sermon that truly stirred my spirit. What soon transpired was a life-changing journey.

My partner had previously linked up with pastor and quickly joined his non-profit, @TheCenterforSE. When I asked for my role in this project, Dr. Johnson simply said, "Do life with us for a minute." Not one to disregard orders, I followed.

After a month of attending Sunday mornings, I started hanging out with the early birds where we discussed various theological topics, civil rights history, life in #STL & #Ferguson, current events, and everything else you're not supposed to talk about in church.

As a hobby "sound guy," I soon took position alongisde @UVReys at the helm of the A/V system. At this point, I so loved my new community that I attended church every Sunday both as a staple of the A/V team and as a congregant. I was "doing life with us."

I want to take a moment and point out that this was abnormal behavior for me. Growing up, church never moved me and I never cared much for religion. In college, I thought it a bragging right to state how long it had been since I last went to church.

I still don't believe in a "Santa Claus"-like god, I still believe we have some universal connection. We're all from the same stardust, gained sentience by an accident of evolution, and we've yet to ruin it all. If physicists will please cover their ears, we're a miracle.

taught me the true meaning of church and what it means to b a disciple of Jesus. It's to do life with one another. It's to share in whatever joy or sorrow fills your life. It's to find one another in this cold, dark universe and to huddle for each other's warmth

I've grown in my understanding of religion, the bible, Christianity, and community. I'm grateful for the church family I've found and I hope we can continue in fellowship outside the doors of @WellspringSTL I'll probably stray for a while, but know that I've not forgotten.

There will always be a Wellspring church, it just might not have a physical location.
#IAmWell #TheWell #HoldingUpYourCorner #Ferguson #GoneButNeverForgotten