Being a part of that church was one of the greatest events of my life. We were simply a gathering of people who were crazy about loving God and flowed in the Spirit of what He was doing in those exciting days of the Jesus People Revolution.
August 13, 2013
Jacksonville, Florida is the home of Robbie and Martha Trice. Our path of friendship goes back to 1974, when we hosted their band, The Kinfolk, at the Fountain Coffeehouse, in Gaithersburg, MD. The coffeehouse was located in an upper room over a large, old drug store in the old part of town, and sits just outside of Washington, D.C. When I was a boy, Gaithersburg was "way out" in the county. By the mid seventies it had began to grow and was clearly connected to the Beltway culture. Today, it is totally engulfed in traffic and developed beyond what anyone could have imagined who lived there thirty years ago.
The Fountain was a ministry of the New Testament Church of Gaithersburg. Susan and I became a part of this group shortly after we married. It became the place where I would be mentored and learn what ministry was all about. They hired me to be the director of the coffeehouse and street ministry. I also had a campus ministry and Bible Study at nearby Montgomery College. Being a part of that church was one of the greatest events of my life. We were simply a gathering of people who were crazy about loving God and flowed in the Spirit of what He was doing in those exciting days of the Jesus People Revolution. The Kinfolk were just one of many bands that played there over the years, but they became very near and dear to us as kindred spirits in friendship and passion for God. With time, I moved on to finish college and graduate school, the church changed and eventually closed it's doors, and the Kinfolk dissolved, with it's members scattering into other life callings. Robbie and Martha moved into music ministry and were pioneers in leading praise and worship in churches and developing the ministry of music in the body of Christ. Martha is a highly trained vocalist and classic pianist, and Robbie a published songwriter, gifted performer, and worship leader. Through the years, however, they have continued to live out their lives with a simple open lifestyle and have an ongoing passion to walk with God.
I was excited as I drove the last miles through Jacksonville to their home. Through the years we have stayed in touch, but it had been over twenty years since we had really sat down and shared our hearts. I also knew that they had come out of the institutional church and were part of seeing God put together a fresh, organic church in their home. I had timed my visit to be there for that gathering, and was eager to see firsthand what that was all about.
My time in Tampa with Bruce and Lina had been refreshing and important. My conversations and fellowship with them had left me with much to ponder. I was ready to see how this second visit would fit into the picture.
From the time I arrived it felt like old times. Most of today was spent catching up on our lives, children, and ministries. I was touched by the intense passion I could sense in both of them for the church that meets in their home. By the end of the day, I have found myself with a stack of new books to read and a great deal to think about. I really can't wait to see what tomorrow brings that will add to this journey.
Jacksonville, Florida is the home of Robbie and Martha Trice. Our path of friendship goes back to 1974, when we hosted their band, The Kinfolk, at the Fountain Coffeehouse, in Gaithersburg, MD. The coffeehouse was located in an upper room over a large, old drug store in the old part of town, and sits just outside of Washington, D.C. When I was a boy, Gaithersburg was "way out" in the county. By the mid seventies it had began to grow and was clearly connected to the Beltway culture. Today, it is totally engulfed in traffic and developed beyond what anyone could have imagined who lived there thirty years ago.
The Fountain was a ministry of the New Testament Church of Gaithersburg. Susan and I became a part of this group shortly after we married. It became the place where I would be mentored and learn what ministry was all about. They hired me to be the director of the coffeehouse and street ministry. I also had a campus ministry and Bible Study at nearby Montgomery College. Being a part of that church was one of the greatest events of my life. We were simply a gathering of people who were crazy about loving God and flowed in the Spirit of what He was doing in those exciting days of the Jesus People Revolution. The Kinfolk were just one of many bands that played there over the years, but they became very near and dear to us as kindred spirits in friendship and passion for God. With time, I moved on to finish college and graduate school, the church changed and eventually closed it's doors, and the Kinfolk dissolved, with it's members scattering into other life callings. Robbie and Martha moved into music ministry and were pioneers in leading praise and worship in churches and developing the ministry of music in the body of Christ. Martha is a highly trained vocalist and classic pianist, and Robbie a published songwriter, gifted performer, and worship leader. Through the years, however, they have continued to live out their lives with a simple open lifestyle and have an ongoing passion to walk with God.
I was excited as I drove the last miles through Jacksonville to their home. Through the years we have stayed in touch, but it had been over twenty years since we had really sat down and shared our hearts. I also knew that they had come out of the institutional church and were part of seeing God put together a fresh, organic church in their home. I had timed my visit to be there for that gathering, and was eager to see firsthand what that was all about.
My time in Tampa with Bruce and Lina had been refreshing and important. My conversations and fellowship with them had left me with much to ponder. I was ready to see how this second visit would fit into the picture.
From the time I arrived it felt like old times. Most of today was spent catching up on our lives, children, and ministries. I was touched by the intense passion I could sense in both of them for the church that meets in their home. By the end of the day, I have found myself with a stack of new books to read and a great deal to think about. I really can't wait to see what tomorrow brings that will add to this journey.
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