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By Peggy Gallup

I grew up a Methodist, in a loving home in Missouri. At age eighteen I entered the University of Missouri, began to drink and activated my disease of alcoholism. Twenty years later, (many controversial facts and events not listed here) I entered recovery. Little did I know that Bill and Lois (Burnham) Wilson would enter my spiritual quest from another route–that of the New Church.

Being essentially human and therefore, flawed, I had been looking pretty much all of my life for a loving, aware "home church" that made sense. I had been saved several times in a couple churches, but believing my sins were washed away just didn’t seem like enough accountability on my part. I somehow felt like I had stolen cookies from the cookie jar and didn’t have to return them. Not to mention that my heart, body and soul were weeping a lot from the lack of a living God in my world.

Enter, the New Church. I received a flyer in the mail from Erik Buss, Pastor, Cascade New Church. The words were different. There was implied responsibility on my part to seek God, admit my wrongs, make restitution and be useful. Sounded like recovery to me.

Erik Buss told me there was a relationship between Bill and Lois Wilson and the New Church. What?!!! That was six years and nine months ago. That was one wonderful Evangelization weekend in Colorado ago, one incredible General Church Assembly [Event for New Church people from around the world] ago, and a spiritual journey like no other.

These days I receive tapes from New Church Audio. The rich flow of pastoral wisdom and love is amazing. I am speechless to express how moved I am by the Writings and the way that The General Church of the New Jerusalem has made the Word available to us. And the people–oh my word–I have never met so many wonderful people. There is a depth and a peace that is palpable. You have given me a living God, a heaven, a belief and a way to find it.

I am not a trained musician, yet my body, mind and soul are soothed, nurtured, fed and stimulated by witnessing a symphony by a composer, who may be unknown to me. This is my experience of the New Church.

I am not an expert in the Word or New Church language, however, my body, mind and soul are directed toward a home that I have searched for, for many years. I am restored and challenged to go forward, seeking more character building, more peace and more honing in order to be useful. Is there anything more important than that? I don’t think so. More will be revealed if I continue to try to seek the Lord and do His work well. Thank you, Lord, for the New Church.