When Joe Ciresi filled out his 2021 online pledge card, he ignored the goofy-ass prompt and wrote this, dare we say, 5 star review:
After dropping faith completely more than 20 years ago I have struggled with trying to find a place where my questions and beliefs would be accepted at that same time. I first checked this church out a couple years ago because a friend suggested (not pushed) for me to come sometime. The whole concept of setting down my Jack & Coke to go accept communion was honestly a bit jarring and so did not come back for a while but then that same friend invited me to a party they were having and that's where they began to bring me in.
I did not go to another "church service" but would show up at some of their events and realized how much these people really accepted me and everyone around me for who they were with what seemed like no discernment.
The stories aspect of church is so real, as they are so relatable, and I was/am privileged to take part in the story tellers workshops over the last couple months which literally brought me back to the Sunday church services. I'm in absolute awe of the courage and charisma the storytellers have in this community as they are nothing but inspiring. In short I find that in a world I often question why to keep fighting I always seem to walk away from Gilead services/events with a new sense of the fight I need to keep going. Thank you for accepting the oddness of me!
Thank you, Joe, for sharing this and for accepting the oddness of Gilead! We are so glad to be in community with you.
If you can support Gilead in 2021, let us know here.