915 Catalina Place Lynchburg, VA 24502

On September 15th, 2024, I had the absolute joy of visiting the 72nd church on my spiritual journey… Sandusky Baptist Church in Lynchburg.

This visit was especially meaningful as my daughter, Lia, accompanied me, making it a shared experience of worship that I will cherish forever.

In this blog post, I want to recount the unforgettable moments we experienced in this Spirit-filled church, where the warm welcome, vibrant worship, and genuine love for God and His people left a lasting impression on our hearts.

From the very moment we arrived, Lia and I were greeted with kind smiles and big hugs from the congregation.

It wasn’t just a casual welcome; everyone instantly made us feel valued and loved. This church community made us feel like we were coming home, even though it was our first visit.

The hospitality continued as we entered the sanctuary. Ushers and church members greeted us again with open hearts, ensuring we had a comfortable place to sit.

As we looked around, we couldn’t help but notice the contagious happiness and joy that radiated from everyone in the room.

The people of Sandusky Baptist Church truly embody their mission to share the hope that only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

What truly stood out to me about Sandusky Baptist Church is its dedication to serving both the congregation and the community. They offer a wide range of ministries designed to equip, empower, and encourage Christians to identify and use their spiritual gifts to serve God and others.

As someone who has experienced the struggles of hunger, it touched my heart deeply to learn that this church has a food pantry dedicated to helping those in need.

In addition to their current ministries, the church is always seeking new ways to reach the community with the message of hope.

They recognize that God is continually revealing new avenues for ministry, and they are faithfully walking in that calling. This church doesn’t just talk about service; they live it out every day in powerful, practical ways.

One of the most heartwarming moments of the service was when the congregation celebrated birthdays, including a young girl named Joanna, who had just turned 10 years old. Joanna had recently accepted Jesus into her heart, and the joy on her face was a beautiful reminder of the innocence and purity of faith.

This is truly a church of prayer.

The congregation gathered together to lift up prayers for one another, and the atmosphere was filled with a sense of deep reverence and connection with God.

Singing hymns with the choir felt incredibly healing. The choir’s rendition of “Love Grew Where The Blood Fell” was absolutely breathtaking, and I could feel the Holy Spirit moving through the music.

Reverend Ed’s sermon, “Do This In Remembrance Of Me,” was a beautiful blend of heartfelt teachings and humor that made the message deeply relatable. His ability to mix light-hearted moments with profound spiritual truths allowed everyone to connect with the sermon on a personal level.

The Lord’s Supper was a particularly moving experience for me. I’ve participated in communion many times, but today, Reverend Ed presented it in a new light.

He reminded us of how deliberate God’s love for us is and how every single one of us is invited to His table, regardless of our past or our present.

As we focused on Romans 5:8—“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”—I felt the presence of Jesus in the room.

Communion was different today…it became a deeply personal encounter with Christ. For the first time, I truly saw the act of communion as a reminder of God’s deliberate love, pouring out for each of us.

As we worshiped, prayed, and partook in communion, I could feel God drawing close to my heart, reminding me that He is near to the brokenhearted.

I’ve been walking this journey with a heart that’s been broken in many ways, and each time I visit a new church, I feel a piece of that brokenness being healed.

Today at Sandusky Baptist Church, I felt God’s presence in such a profound way, and I left with my heart more mended than before.

Another one of the highlights of the day was seeing my friend, Walt, who is a cherished member of this church.

Though I missed his solo last week, I’m already looking forward to hearing him sing in the future. It was wonderful to reconnect and feel the love and friendship that exists in this congregation.

I can’t say enough about the love and kindness that Lia and I were shown by the members of Sandusky Baptist Church. Every person we met made sure we felt at home, loved, and valued. Their hospitality, their passion for ministry, and their authentic worship of Jesus created a space where I felt free to be myself and let God continue His healing work in my heart.

Today’s visit to Sandusky Baptist Church reminded me, once again, of why I am on this journey. Each church I visit is not just a stop along the way… it’s a place where God meets me, loves me, and heals me.

The Holy Spirit is leading me in ways I never imagined, and with every visit, I can feel God restoring the broken places in my life.

I am so grateful for the experience I had today, and I can’t wait to see where the Holy Spirit leads me next on this journey.

Each step brings me closer to Him, and for that, I am eternally thankful.

If you are ever in Lynchburg, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Sandusky Baptist Church, where you will undoubtedly feel the love of Christ in every hug, smile, and prayer.