Yankee Southern Baptists in Meeting Mr. Jesus Christ

The new church I am attending seems nice, certainly the folk who attend are friendly. Pastor seems good at preaching and welcoming, I don't know about his pastor skills. His congregation seems quite fond of him. His wife is sweet as bread pudding but is broken by events of their past. Her sadness is deep, visible, and easily brought out. She seems to be a woman of strong faith and talks a solid spiritual life. She is a good teacher/leader also.

I've joined in any education classes available. Today I went to Sunday school for the first time and was more than pleasantly surprised. There are people there who know their bible, history, doctrine and the class as a whole is seriously studying. It's not just a chat session with occasional biblical reference. I could get used to that very quickly. I just need to figure out if I see eye to eye with them on the major doctrine issues, meaning I don't want to discover I'm sitting in a faith healing, snake worshiping church just about the time I've decided I like Sunday school or discipleship class.

I do like that there are ample opportunities for mission work, in and out of the church, locally, nationally and abroad. They actively pursue retreats, training, interaction with other churches. They respond to the call for help without hesitation, yet with due consideration. They are heavy on prayer and praise and scripture based. Being Baptist they eat on every occasion. Nice building, good financial and political structure, plenty of people actively involved so it doesn't appear a handful are burning out. I can't find fault with them.

Except one little oddity. This church is in the north and every single member I have heard a word come out of the mouth of has a southern accent! The dialects vary, but I swear on my shiniest bible these folks make me feel like I am in the deep south every time I step through the door. They behave like southerners, too which I really like. Gentlemen are gentlemen and ladies are treated like ladies. In some ways it is like a scene of Twilight Zone, If I were to pick where they seem to belong and put them in the show I'd be someplace in Alabama, Louisiana or Mississippi. Good folk, good hearts, firm handshakes, brother and sisterhood, but I am waiting to see what comes from a dark corridor some time.

Feels like my childhood church. It's so full of love my mind often reflects back to years of Sundays in church with my grandparents. Looks like the church I was in this past Easter. Which is kinda weird. This Yankee ain't complaining though, I'm feeling that good old Southern Baptist Spirit where what matters above all else is knowing God and making sure everyone knows it.