This testimonial is from Trenell Terry, a member of Open Door Community Church who has been attending since December 2003.

How did I find Open Door Church? What has Open Door done for Me?

To start off I was really not looking for a church. I had just met my partner Jerry Wood of two years now at the time. It was Christmas time of 2003, and Jerry had invited me to the Christmas Eve service. Now at that time I was dealing with a death in my family. I had lost my grandfather four days before Thanksgiving. I was feeling so alone, and abandoned. I was not able to go to my home church because every time I would look at the pew that my g-pa sat in it would make me sad. I could not step in there again. I was taking a break from church for a while and that is when I met Jerry. He invited me and I was kind of scared to go there because I had heard that it was a quote "gay church." Oooooooooooo............... Well I was like I don't care if it is or not, I am going to go in there and be myself and not worry about what the rest of the world thinks.

Well I went and when I first got in there I was greeted with smiles and hugs. That just shocked me out of my shoes. I have never been to a church that just really opens a door for you. When the service started I was feeling really comfortable there. I came from a Church of Christ background and I was not used to this type of service. The lighting of the candles was the one thing that really stood out to me. That sent chills all over my body. When I watched people going up there I wanted to so bad. I was bawling so hard inside because I was thinking of my g-pa. I fought it until I heard a voice inside say your g-pa is waiting, get up and go light that candle. I did it, and when I sat down I felt a big burden lifted off my shoulders. I had been holding my feelings in for my g-pa leaving me here. I had shut the world out after he left me. I had been badly alone.

I have been attending Open Door Community Church from that night on. It will be two years for me on Dec 24, 2005. And of course it's not a "gay church." It's a grace church for everyone. Since that night I have moved my membership, and made it my home church. I had always been active in my other chruch only because of my g-pa. I have enjoyed being a part of Open Door Community Church, helping on work days, fall conferences, care teams, pool/baptism party, potlucks, getting to know all the lovely members. I have been able to be myself. I have found myself and my place at Open Door Community Church, Sherwood.