Conversation around the Table

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

I’m Amanda. I’m a mom, a wife, a believer, a listener, and a lover of all things Broadway and Disney. I’m excited about working with The Table to connect with people all over, share my belief in Jesus as our Savior, and know that we are all “works in progress.” Currently, I’m serving in a communications role. I work on the newsletter, keep things organized, and help reach out. My secret is that I don’t love talking on the phone. I grew up attached to the wall with the phone line I shared with my siblings, not my parents. It was so amazing some years later when our main form of communication became instant messaging on our desktop computers – to anywhere in the world with no long-distance fee! When cell phones became easy to access, I was thrilled to text people to avoid disturbing them if they didn’t want to talk with me. Adding social media to that mix and accessing email on our phones and phone calls became something I could avoid. However, I am beginning to realize how comforting and fulfilling it is to hear someone’s voice on the phone, and Facetime is even better! So, I am improving my communication ability and look forward to talking with many of you and hearing your beautiful voices.

Working in communication is both a challenge and a comfort to me. I wrestle with it daily. I love reading the write-ups our Table Servers are sharing with me and then making them accessible to all those joining our effort. Is effort the right word? The answer is YES! The Table is something new to me. People are gathering from every manner of upbringing whose church experiences vary greatly. However, it is the similarity of BELIEF that unites us. I am excited to see where this belief takes us. I can honestly say experiences have soured me on the concept of institutionalized religion. I know the structures are needed for large organizations to succeed, but when these organizations simply become a power play for the hierarchy, I can no longer find Jesus. Just another reason The Table is appetizing. There will be a seat around the table for everyone. That is a concept I can embrace. My children are old enough to understand things are changing and are old enough to refuse church attendance, but they don’t. My husband and I are trying to continually model why we go to church, volunteer our hours, and give through our daily interactions and actions.

Therefore, my family and I have joined The Table and are excited to sit as members of God’s family, continuing our walk with Jesus. We pray and hope that many people join this walk with us so we can change ourselves and those around us by spreading God’s word through word and action.