ITLOTC
(In The Life Of The Church)
Pentecost
Birthday Reflections (by Daniel)
My birthday is this week, and I will officially be over halfway through my 20s. This event has caused me to pause and reflect on my experience being in my 20s as a whole. Being a twenty-something is strange. There are people in all stages of life who are in their early 20s. There are people still in college or grad school, people who are just getting started out in their careers, people who already have robust careers, people who are single and still living with their parents, and people who are married and who have kids.
For many, the yearly 20s is a time of transition. This was certainly true for myself. All within the span of 5 years, I had finished college and seminary, gotten married, had our first child, and I’m just now starting my career as we’re in the process of serving with an organization which specializes in Bible translation.
This kind of rapid transition can be disorienting. On top of all of the transition, the early 20s is a time when many start to ask hard questions about their identity. People become less dependent on their parents and start to realize that their parents are just as flawed as they are. It’s a crucial moment for figuring out who you are as a person. People start to realize that their thoughts, feelings, and emotions are their own and that they alone are responsible for asking hard questions and taking care of themselves.
I’ve always struggled with my identity. I’m a mixed raced kid who grew up in the south and went to majority white schools growing up. It wasn’t really until college when I started to understand the importance of my cultural identity. I’ve also always struggled with perfectionism. I’m a huge people pleaser and tend to draw my identity from the people around me.
What was the nail in the coffin for me was when I came to the realization that, not only is my identity now my own, I also have ownership over my faith. My early 20s was when I started asking difficult questions. I distinctly remember going to my home church my Junior year of college and thinking to myself, “I disagree with everything that just came out of my pastor’s mouth.” It was extremely disorienting. He was someone I trusted and looked up to.
My junior year of college was also when I started having panic attacks. I didn’t know who I was anymore. The way I saw myself could be summed up in one word, “stupid.”
As I’m coming over the hump of my 20s, I can say that I’m finally more comfortable with who I am. The decisions that I make, while not perfect, are my own, and I can be confident in who I am as a person. This, of course, wouldn’t have been possible without family, friends, and years of therapy.
I guess I say all of this to say that if you are in your early 20s and are in the midst is struggling with your identity, if you struggle with your self worth, if you have anxiety about your next stage of life, if you feel as though you aren’t living up to your parent’s expectations, if you are realizing that what you were taught growing up is only half true or completely wrong, or if you feel like you lack the confidence to make it in the real world, you are not alone. Thanks be to God that we worship the One who has the power to raise dead and tired bones.
Meet the UBCer(s)
Kerri Fisher
Waco Dives Location - Saffron
Josh here. I just want you to know that Saffron is my favorite place to eat in Waco currently and i’m so excited y’all waited until I was back to go here. So if you want your best lunch now, join us Wednesday at noon. Saffron is located at 416 N Valley Mills. (by the old dollar theatre next to Popeyes).
Summer Side (7/23)
We have an open mic/open wall event coming up on this Friday, July 23rd, at 7pm. If you have any interest in sharing some songs/poems/stories or visual art, please email jamie@ubwaco.org.
UBC T-Shirt
We have new UBC shirts in the works. These will be simple white t-shirts, with a black logo on the pocket area. The shirts will be $15, and we will have a party to tie-dye them on August 15th (should you want your shirt to be more awesome). You can sign-up on Sunday morning, or email Toph to sign-up with how many shirts and the sizes you want.
Caritas Volunteer Opportunity
We are looking for 8 people (more if you should desire) to volunteer at Caritas next Tuesday July, 27th from 1:00-3:30 PM. Those interested can contact Toph@ubcwaco.org. Volunteers will meet at Caritas which is located at
Parishioner of the Week
Kathy, Hazel, Maddie, Wade, Kathleen, & Charity for working kids classes in AC-less dungeons on the south side of the building.
Leadership Team
If you have a concern or an idea for UBC that you’d like to share with someone that is not on staff, feel free to contact one of our leadership team members.
Chair: Kathy Krey kathykrey@gmail.com
Ben Raley: Benjaminraley@gmail.com
Bryce Sandvall: Bryce@holeintheroof.com
Katie Valenzuela: KatarinaEValenzuela@gmail.com
Luci Hoppe: lhoppe@gmail.com
Jose Zuniga: jzgrphix2002@yahoo.com
Taylor Torregrossa: Taylordtorregrossa@gmail.com
Student Position: Davis Misloski
Student Position: Maddy O’Shaughnessy
UBC Finance Team
Do you have a question about UBC’s financial affairs? Please feel free to contact any of your finance team members.
Catherine Ballas: catherine@refitrev.com
Jen Carron: jen.carron78@gmail.com
Mike Dodson: financeteammike@gmail.com
George Thornton: GeorgecCT1982@gmail.com
UBC HR Team
If you have concerns about staff and would like contact our human resources team, please feel free to email any of the following members.
Erin Hill: erin.albin1@gmail.com
Sam Goff: samuelgoff92@gmail.com
Craig Nash: Craig_Nash@baylor.edu
Kristen Howerton: khowerton94@gmail.com
Patrick Broaddus: patrickjbroaddus@gmail.com