Brandi - 32 years old

Annie and I bumped into Brandi on the campus of SAIT as she was hanging out waiting for class to begin. We found out that she has a Christian background but is currently not practicing. She said she drifted away from the church about 3 years ago as life got busy with kids and a husband and her job which entails shift work.

She described her religious experience as “profound,” “calming,” “empowering.”  When we asked her, ‘If you could ask God one question, what would it be?’ Brandi said that she really didn't have any questions.  “No big questions about the universe, the meaning of life, etc?” I asked.  She said that she is aware that God has blessed her life and for that she is thankful.

“If God asked you, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’ what would you say?” Brandi answered matter-of-factly, “Because my grandma is there.”  When asked to rate her goodness, she said she was at seven. 

We gave Brandi a booklet on the gospel.  We went on to explain that the Bible teaches that we have all broken God's commandments ––everyone has. And God must judge righteously according to his perfect standard. Brandi was nodding her head in agreement. We went on to explain that Jesus died on the cross in the place of people like us––people who had broken God's law. He is the righteous one who died for the unrighteous.  I could see the wheels turning in Brandi’s mind as she was nodding.  This was not unfamiliar to her, but she didn’t seem like she had a good grasp on it.

We went on to say that is not enough simply to know these truths, we must embrace them ourselves. At this point, Brandi said that she does want to get back into church and into these things, but she has found that life is too busy as she has to work on Sundays and is going to school and trying to raise a family.

We told her about New City Church, and that we would welcome people just like her--people from a wide variety of backgrounds and questions––and we would be honored to help her on her spiritual journey.   I told her that we meet just a few blocks north of SAIT and pointed out our website to her.  She said that she would definitely check it out. 

We encouraged her to take the booklet and to read over it and to think on these things more deeply. As she was heading off to class we thanked her for her time in for her conversation.