Originally published in Hyde Park Life April 2008

By Margarita Martin

The first time I attended Hyde Park was against my will. I was not ready to try another church. As a new Christian, I was excited about the Lord and was doing everything I thought a new believer should do – that is, read, study, and pray.

My then-fiancé, Tim, now my husband, lovingly referred to me as his “little Jesus Freak.” Attending church, however, had become too painful.

After my baptism, Tim and I became convicted that we needed to find a church closer to where we live, so we could be more involved. We wanted to experience the “love” that Jesus talks about. Soon after starting to attend a new church, we began pre-marital counseling.

Much to our surprise, the minister canceled our sessions once he learned that we had been married before. Even though we had forgiven, and been forgiven, by our previous spouses, we were told by the church that not only would the pastor not marry us, but we would not be allowed to serve in the church.

We were welcome to attend, but that was all. We were sinners – not good enough. My heart was broken. I had many new questions, hard questions, for God.

When I reluctantly visited Hyde Park, my hard exterior melted away by the time I reached the front door. The transformation started in the parking lot. The parking lot attendant had the biggest smile on his face as he waved us into a visitor’s spot.

And the hospitality did not end there. As we walked onto campus we were greeted by two more smiling church members. They even shook our hands! There was a lot of activity going on in the Courtyard and even people there stopped to greet us. We thought, “Maybe we aren’t lepers after all!”

We completed the New Member Class and our pre-marital counseling in December and were married by the Reverend Matt Horan on Jan. 1, 2008. Today, thanks to the love and warmth of a host of volunteers and staff members, we are active members of our new church family. I praise the Lord each day that Tim and I are truly home.