The church is not merely a building or an institution. It’s a living, breathing body of believers, called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world. We Are The Church!

Maggie and Ryan Blackwood have been faithful members of Church on the Hill for years and recently took that faith to another level through a mission trip to Jamaica in June. It allowed to them to see how the Church is so much bigger than they could have ever imagined. They shared, "Serving in Jamaica allowed us to see how the church serves communities both at home and abroad but most importantly it helped us to understand and appreciate what it means to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus."

It was not an easy decision or trip to make. It took them well out of their comfort zone. They shared, "Traveling to Jamaica was nerve wracking for a number of reasons. We were worried about being in a remote area, putting our kids at risk, and that they wouldn’t like it. We were wondering if we raised and spent a lot of money when we could have taken a 'true' family vacation but we trusted in God’s calling for our family on this mission trip and prayed and pushed through our nerves and discomforts. In the end, we are beyond glad we did."

There were hard moments throughout, but God used each of them. "In many instances, we were in uncomfortable situations, often hot, sweaty, tired, and missing our babies at home. But something miraculous happens when you serve others and work for a greater purpose than yourself; the work becomes easier and the “problems” seemingly disappear." 

God used the experience to help them understand how important being the Church beyond the walls of the church is. "Getting beyond the physical church walls by going out and actually being the church in uncomfortable places in every sense of the word, does something to you. It impacted all of us and ultimately grew our faith in Jesus and His followers."

The theme “We Are The Church” means that our mission is not limited to the walls of a building. It extends to our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools and far beyond. Everywhere we go, “We Are The Church.”

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