I became close friends with David Plunkett who is my spiritual mentor. He had sent me recordings of some of the special speakers and sermons of Pastor Randy and Sheryl Myers.
Prior to this I had vowed never to darken the door of a church again. I had felt so hurt and spiritually wounded by churches and ministers in general. I cried and secretly wanted to find somewhere where people were as accepting as the people sounded on the CDs David had sent me. I had thought to myself if I can just go, I would not share my background as I felt sure that nobody would ever accept me if they only knew the journey of my life. These CDs were touching me and yet I was afraid because I just knew if they even saw me, they would see my past written across my forehead.
Soon David would persuade me to get aboard a plane (which I had never done and was one of my greatest fears) and fly from St Louis to Little Rock to attend the 2002 Fall Conference during which I listened to speakers Peggy Campolo and Sheryl Myers, and attended the concert by Marsha Stevens. I found that people did not judge me as I had suspected they would, and many opened their homes. Pastor Randy, during a conversation said "I see Jesus in you" and it touched my heart to hear him say that, as I had truly believed I was doomed for hell as I had been told by so many for so long. I never expected to hear such affirming and restoring words, especially from a man who really did not know me.
During that conference, five or six times in and out of service as well as during services we met at a member’s house for a sing-a-long. During one of these gatherings, there was one particular song we sang that resonated within me, "It Is Well." I truly felt God's Grace as something radiant and alive in me. As tears flooded my eyes, I felt so uplifted in my heart and soul as we sang. The part most touching that has become my signature in life itself is, "my sin not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more."
From that time forward, even now, my desire is to be more involved with Open Door Community Church and as soon as possible. It has helped me to find the freedom in Christ I had always heard about. I have been shown and taught grace by real people living and practicing Grace in their own lives. For it is well with my soul.
Michael Radin, St Louis, Missouri
In 2002, I joined an online group called Grace Online, an online outreach ministry of Open Door Community Church.