I am so honored to be able to have the opportunity to write a review of this wonderful church. I…read morehave been a member for two years and moved across the country last month, having to leave this church behind. I can't begin to express how much I miss it.
I became a Christian in 1992 and was blessed to belong to a church that was a family. I had that experience for a few years before that church was absorbed into their sister church and I, again, felt the familial bond. In 1994, the pastor of our church and his family moved out of state, my family moved on to another church and I realized what a rare find it is to feel the spiritual bond as strong as the blood bond. It had been 14 years before I would feel that again and I found that "second family" feeling at Real Life Community Church (RLCC). Led by Pastor Hans and his wife, Jodi, (Of course, Jesus is our head but you know what I mean..) RLCC welcomes all who attend with open arms, hearts and ears. They are a fantastic bunch of down to earth individuals embodying the church slogan, "Real people serving a real God in real life". I found this congregation when my life was hitting rock bottom, in the physical, and saw a group of people live Romans 12:15 in action. They didn't know me, had no emotional bond to me but the spiritual bond was immediate and real. They mourned when I mourned, rejoiced when I rejoiced and covered me with prayer through it all. Oh and what prayer warriors they are!
I strongly encourage anyone who is looking for a church home in the Newark/Middletown/Townsend/Smyrna area to consider visiting RLCC. Worship is on Sunday mornings at 10 am and begins with contemporary worship with just the right mix of old school, fall on your knees kind of hymns. Pastor Hans and Jodi lead worship and Jodi's voice is just something to write home about. Her love of Jesus just explodes from her heart and flows so powerfully through the songs she sings. She is such a gift to us. Worship flows into greeting time and I'm sure you've never had a greeting time like a Real Life Community greeting time. It's an event for us and we make sure to make our way completely around the room before making our way back to our seats. So, yes, expect that you will get many hugs on your visit. If you're lucky, you just may get one of Pastor Hans' big ol' bear hugs. He's pretty good at those. The lesson is usually taught by Pastor Hans but the Assembly of God is very active in the mission field and so there will be missionary visits every couple months. It's so amazing to hear a missionary speak and be reminded what exists outside my four walls. Pastor Hans' is very good at making sure that his lessons are applicable to current life, challenging and graspable.
On Wednesday nights, there is an adult Bible study, as well as, a Royal Ranger and Missionettes program for boys and girls ages 3 to 18. There is children's church on Sundays during the lesson and the kids take pride in their moment when Pastor Hans asks them all to stand so the congregation can pray over them. A visiting pastor once forgot to have them stand and be prayed for before dismissing and they were none to pleased. My children are in 1st and 2nd grade and I can absolutely attest to the wonderful environment that encourages unashamed joy in the fact that they are all followers of the Lord. If you have children, don't worry for one second that they will ever be made to feel embarrassed to openly express their faith by other children of the church. I have been so grateful for the solid group of kids that make up the RLCC youth group. Also, if you're visiting around Christmas time, be sure to check out the children displaying their acting chops in the Christmas play and the worship dance celebrations that the teens perform. It's a real treat!
Well, I know I have gone on for much too long but I do hope that I did just a little bit of justice to the great body of believers that make up Real Life Community Church and their dedication to serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
