From hesitation to belonging

The Shores Family

While Sunday mornings offer us a time to worship corporately, growth happens around kitchen tables, living rooms, or even under the lights of a coffee shop. As Pastor John often says, growth occurs in circles, not rows. This is the story of Michael and Emily Shores, a couple who weren't actively seeking community—until community found them.

Their journey with Dream City Church began quietly in 2020 during the pandemic. They joined online services when the world had seemingly paused, soon attending in person when we opened our doors. For years, however, they never joined a small group.

Their reasons were many and valid: a busy schedule, the apprehensions of meeting new people in a new place, and previous experiences of a rigid, set-in-stone structure of a Bible study.

Helping at City Serve 2024.

However, the couple soon found themselves volunteering their time in Dream City Youth, where others began inviting them to attend Allan and Stacey Evridge's small group.

"If you're going to be part of a church—the whole reason I am— you should walk alongside other believers, and small groups create those relationships," Emily says. After more gentle invitations, Michael and Emily finally attended one of the Friday night groups with the hopes of, if nothing else, giving their daughters a chance to make some friends over the summer months.

Having grown up in similar churches, Michael was leery of the stereotypical small group experience: a scheduled time of worship on a CD, one leader giving a mini-sermon, and very little interaction. However, none of that happened.

Their first group meeting changed their perspective entirely, and any preconceived idea of a mini-church service inside a home rather than a church was quickly tossed out the window. As Michael remembers, "It was literally saying one thing that we're thankful for and one thing we're concerned about. It took an hour, and we prayed at the end.”

"It was an opportunity for people to give praise reports and prayer requests, but it was also a chance for everyone to get to know each other."

"We go for the first week, and Michael said we'll try it again," Emily smiles. "We go the second week, and he said, 'You picked the best group.'"

The hesitation melted away, replaced by something unexpected: belonging. Then came the birth of their son, Jack, on October 9—a moment that would test the very fabric of their newfound community. What began as joy quickly turned to worry, as Emily says, "We went home, and he was fine, then he ended up digressing in weight. We ended up in the NICU."

In that moment, the church didn't just offer platitudes. They showed up armed with meals, prayers, and anything Michael and Emily needed.

One such person was Autumn Olson, who woke up early that Sunday to get a particular type of baby formula to the NICU before church that morning. Perhaps most appreciated, Emily shares, is the open ears.

"It was nice to have a friend to talk to. Autumn took my call every time." These weren't just words—they were lifelines cast during their darkest hours.

The couple chuckles at what took them so long to jump in, encouraging people to find a group and build that community.

"People don't want to go where they don't know anybody," Michael admits. "I thought we were going for the girls. We ended up making friends ourselves."

"I feel like I know everyone at the church now!" Emily laughs.

By showing up—by being willing to take that sometimes awkward first step into a circle of strangers—you might find a community that was waiting for you all along. That the community isn't about perfection or performance but rather about presence. It's about creating space where people can share their thankfulness, their concerns, and, ultimately, their lives.