Northway Fellowship
You’ve probably wondered: why is it that Tony only says good things about other churches? I know. My blog rankings would probably go up if I used my site to rip apart other ministries like some bloggers do. Obviously, I don’t agree with or support everything every church does, but there are a lot of great churches doing some incredible ministry throughout the country. And, I like to point that out form time to time. That’s a lot more fun for me than trying to provide all the doctrinal and theological reasons why people should avoid going to a church.
With that in mind, yesterday I received an email message from LaDonna in New York. Here’s what she had to say:
I woke up this morning after spending the entire day yesterday crying and depressed. You see, I recently moved to upstate NY, and my kids are still in Minnesota with family until their school is out (next week). I’ve been here alone since February, and was feeling very lonely. I prayed yesterday that God would connect me to the world I live in, but in a way that is exciting and engaging, not mundane and routine.
I should note, I haven’t attended church since my ex-husband left in 2001. But, today I awoke and thought, maybe I’ll find a church to go to – even just to get out of the house. I browsed the internet to find something that I might not get lost in trying to find…and your website came up. I was thrilled to find that Northway Fellowship was less than a mile from me, and that I had shopped in the grocery store that shares the same parking lot. I was giddy with excitement….something I can not really explain…but I was MOTIVATED!
The service was phenomenal, and I am ecstatic that I have found a place to worship that is engaging and real world.
Thank you again for your recommendation, and thank God for the "coincidence" of finding your website when I typed "List of Churches in Malta NY" into Google!
There’s too much negativity in the blogosphere Tony, so your positivity is refreshing and very welcome. If you were negative, you’d probably get more readers, but less people following you. Stay positive and I’ll keep reading, for sure! :)
Great story! It is amazing how God will work through a blog.
As for those other bloggers I find myself scratching my head at the viscious attacks on pastor after pastor at some blogs as if these people are without sin. I’m a staunch defender of truth but seek to live by Colossians 3:12-14 when it comes to my fellow brothers in Christ.
Thanks for your example!
Thanks for sharing the email. Keep building up…I’ve had some good conversations about this topic, it’s easy to get caught tearing down. But, I think, as far as mission goes, pushing forward and being positive goes much further than tearing others down.
Hey Tony,
My name is Brian Howe, I’m on staff at Northway Fellowship. All I can say is “WOW”…what a God thing. Thanks so much for what you and the folks at Granger do to encourage and influnence churches across America. God is doing some big things here in NY where everyone told us a church like this would never work…Northway will be featured in the upcoming edition of Outreach Magazine. I know your time is pulled in many directions but i would love to email and tell you more about Nway and to pick your brain! this could be a record for the longest comment on your blog…do i win something? Thanks again, and I look forward to meeting LaDonna.
Hi Tony, I just went into the Northway Fellowship site and there you were. I have read some of the coments about Northway and I would just like to comfirm the fact that it is a really nice place to fellowship with like minded people. I have been a Christian for a very long time and in my life I only attended one church. I stopped attending church about 20 years ago. Needless to say, I missed out on quite alot and there seemed to be a big hole in my Christian life. But then I found Northway Fellowship. Let me tell you that I am a new man. I have only been attending there for about 8 months, but you wouldn’t believe the change in my life. I really feel alive again. I have never witnessd more in my life and I envite everyone I talk to to come to Northway. I really can’t tell you all about it here,you would just have to come and see for yourself. I have been around along time and have heard some really great preaching but I have found a pastor that I wouldn’t want to miss a single message of his. He’s young but he has great in-site into the word of God.—My better half is calling me so I’ve got to get going. Maybe I’ll see you at Northway some day. God bless you, keep the spirt alive, Lou V.