Is This For Me?

After the visit to Wheeling, Tom and I started to get together more often. He now became much more than a fellow Allstate agent. We became partners in pursuit of what we experienced at the Wheeling Vineyard. Tom was attending an Episcopal church and I was church hopping. We both were deeply touched by the Holy Spirit at Todd's farewell to the Vineyard. The Pittsburgh culture was not at all like the Wheeling crowd. It isn't that way today either. The folks from the panhandle of West Virginia were no match socia-economically with Pittsburgh suburbia. Their lives were simpler than the yuppie like atmosphere of the North Hills area. It was difficult for me to see a Vineyard in Pittsburgh because of the cultural swing. Most of the folks that I knew were white collar businessmen. Wheeling folks were steelworkers, coal miners, and tradesman for the most part.
The simplicity of the area seemed to have an affect on the culture of the Wheeling Vineyard. It was more laid back and very comfortable. The people in Wheeling didn't seem as self sufficient. There didn't seem to be the economic striving that was prevalent in the Pittsburgh culture.

I prayed daily about the possibility of a planting a Vineyard Church in Pittsburgh. There was nothing like it anywhere in the area. I had reservations about such an endeavor because I was so deeply ingrained in my business. I didn't even know how to start a church. I was desparate for the type of community that I witnessed in Wheeling. My heart was willing but I had no idea how a Vineyard would be received. Most of the folks that I knew were from the involvement that I had in my kids sports and school activities. Everybody seemed to be plugged in and involved in some denominational church.

So here I am. My wonderful early days in West Virginia were fifteen years behind me. The collapse of Northfold was about 10 years behind me and I yearned to be a part of something like the Vineyard. I had to either look for a place of kindred spirit or seriously consider seeking out those interested in a church planting adventure. My thoughts were centered on building something. In retrospect, I can see the good intentions but back then I could not see the cultural divide between suburban Pittsburgh and Wheeling, West Virginia. The people of Pittsburgh approached things differently. I was about to learn this the hard way.

Next up.........

My Toe Is In The Water