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Recently I was working – visiting a church's morning worship services – on a Sunday. My mission was to “secret shop” the church. (Secret shopping is what Fishhookers do when we visit 
a church, observing everything as a first-time guest. Then, we come back to the church's leadership to describe our visit and how they might enhance the first-time guest experience and their overall communications.)

I was just 10 minutes from my house for this visit, at a church I didn’t even know existed until this work assignment came in a couple weeks prior.

I entered their lobby and then the auditorium … The environment was casual and unassuming. They offered me coffee. And on that cold fall morning, I took them up on the offer! The service began. The worship was energetic and engaging. The teaching time was encouraging. Their pastor seemed like a real guy. A nice guy. People were responding. Lots of people.

And then it hit me. Surprise! We’re all in this together!

Here, at this young – and growing – church, nearly 1,000 adults and children gather every Sunday to worship Christ just as passionately as my family and friends do at my home church. And we’re all on the north side of Indianapolis!

We shouldn’t be strangers ... we're not competitors ... we should be thrilled for each others’ impact! We’re in this together!

That morning was an unexpected gift. I was filled with gratitude for the Christian leaders, people and churches in my local community and the role God has called me to play (at my own home church and through Fishhook too).

What about you? Are you encouraged as you look around your local community? What part is God asking you to play? I’m praying that you’ll be surprised (just like me!) as you find more and more brothers and sisters in Christ who are making a significant impact - maybe just 10 minutes or less from your house!