Dana Ginter is one of the youngest members at Southeast Christian Church’s Chapel in the Woods Campus. But age is irrelevant. The seniors who attend services at the campus are among her best friends, and the chapel is “her place.” 

Pastor Harera Rusaza is celebrating his first Thanksgiving in Louisville. His journey has not always been easy. His voice breaks as he lists all God had done in his life. 

Amber Counasse was 39 and knew nothing about church when she decided to check out the Addictions Support and Recovery Group, which meets Wednesday nights as part of Encounter at Southeast Christian Church’s Elizabethtown Campus.

Ken Crowe experienced the world through a small lens until he joined the Army in 1993.

In 1926, Congress encouraged Americans to celebrate every Veterans Day with “thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”

Though COVID-19 paused international mission trips in March, missions has never stopped. 

Daja McAtee suffered in silence for over a decade after being sexually abused in elementary and middle school.

Amy Pasley has been made new. 

On Sunday, Oct. 4, a gym became a sanctuary for the launch of the Bullitt County Campus, the 12th campus of Southeast Christian Church. 

COVID-19 has been especially hard on moms who added teaching their children through virtual learning and non-traditional instruction to a host of other duties. 

Charles Mwungura never planned to follow in his father’s footsteps. 

When Mark Braun and a group of other elders from South Louisville Christian Church met with elders from Southeast Christian Church in July to discuss the possibility of becoming a Southeast campus, he had one question: Why?

When 400 people gathered for a Southeast Christian Church Livestream Watch Party in Bullitt County last November, the wind of the Holy Spirit seemed to be blowing. About 30% of the crowd had no known ties to Southeast.

By RUTH SCHENK | rschenk@secc.og

By 30, Tracy Baechle had everything she ever wanted. Or so she thought. 

What can change hatred forged behind prison bars?

A launch is a celebration paved with prayer and purpose. 

Austin Simon found Jesus on a bathroom floor.

Life is better when it’s lived together. 

Most of us have been told to avoid talking to friends about religion and politics.

The Southeast Christian Church family is growing again. 

Meeting Cheryl Humbert, you wouldn’t peg her as a recovering drug addict, but the 66-year-old grandmother used cocaine on and off for 40 years. 

Early mornings, Immanuel hoes and weeds rows of onions, spinach, African eggplant, tomatoes and banana peppers. He’s still adjusting to life in Louisville after fleeing the Democratic Republic of the Congo a year ago. 

Even behind masked faces, smiles were evident as Southeast Christian Church regathered as a church family at seven of its campuses Sunday, July 5. 

Sixteen weeks ago, Southeast began meeting exclusively online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Church members met in homes for watch parties with friends, neighbors and family members.

Senior Pastor Kyle Idleman was equally eager for in-person services to resume.

“I’m just really excited for all of you who are watching this at one of our campuses,” Idleman said in his sermon Sunday. “I am so glad that you’re here. It’s so good to be back together, to worship God together, to encourage one another. I want to thank all of you for your patience, for your grace, for your help as we slowly and intentionally ramp back up.”

Volunteers stood at entrances and welcomed attendees with signs that said, “Welcome back!” “We’re glad you are here!” and “We’ve missed you!”

Heather Rhein and Julie Embry, who are members of the Blankenbaker Campus, were excited to begin serving on Sundays again.

“We love serving,” Rhein said. “It’s how we became friends.”

Though in-person services are now available at most campuses (with the exception of the Chapel in the Woods Campus), people are encouraged to worship wherever is best for them and their families.

Idleman’s sermon, “Returning to Routine,” wrapped up Southeast’s most recent series, “Never Going Back.” Southeast’s upcoming series, “The Way Forward,” will walk through Jesus’ final discourse to His disciples in John 14-17 and will last through November.

In-person gatherings will continue, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Though government and health regulations about in-person gatherings may change, Idleman said that the church will never close, because the church is people, not a building.

“I hope that we get to keep regathering every week until Jesus returns, week after week, but I don’t know,” Idleman said. “Maybe we’ll have to push pause on gathering together in-person again. And if we do, it’s OK, because what I can tell you for certain is that just because we’re not able to meet together physically doesn’t mean that we are not still the church.”

Many who heard Pastor Dave Thomas pray during Southeast Christian Church online worship services last month were asking the question, “Who is Dave Thomas?” 

Jonathan Schulte and Brandon Davis could be described as the twin towers: They stand 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-7 respectively. 

Sarah Elliott will tell you she has every reason to remain in bed. 

Landon Miller is done digging for nothing.

Stepping into God’s call means leaving behind our former ways of living.