by Heidi Miranda

This touching story is about a family separated by four time zones and 2700 miles, yet brought together weekly in a personal, spiritual and wonderful way. Back in 2017, the Miranda family sent their son, Jonathan, all the way from sunny California to the Naval Academy in Maryland . It was there that Jonathan (aka Jonny) met Bart Physioc at a Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) gathering on campus. Jonny, who was a plebe (freshman) at the time, actually asked to be discipled after hearing Bart speak. Heidi and David, parents of Jonny, were delighted to hear that their son was growing in his faith, and grateful that he had a spiritual mentor, whom they hoped to meet some day. Then, when Covid-19 restrictions were imposed, preventing church gatherings in-person, David and Heidi found themselves connecting from the West Coast with their son on the East Coast at the same worship service. All who tuned in watched as Heidi and David enjoyed being with their son, Jonny, and his fiancé, Mary, on Sunday mornings during the Haus Church services. Not only did they get to see them pray, sing and hear the same message, but they also got to see and hear Jonny deliver one of the messages. Then, Bart began to meet weekly with David by phone for Discipleship, and now Jonny has seen and heard his dad deliver the message twice at Haus Church services! Over the past 17 months the Mirandas, and many other families from all over our great nation and world, have gathered in our own homes for fellowship, worship and to hear messages from God’s word with people we only met through our Zoom logins.

“We have been part of many in person churches over the years and have been very involved, but this experience feels different. We do not want to dismiss our past experiences; however, the relationships that we are building with our Haus Church friends are authentic and keep us accountable to the body of Christ. We share each others burdens, joys, triumphs and sufferings. It is place to come and be real with each other!”  - Heidi Miranda

Heidi went on to share this recent experience. “We just came home from a visit to Annapolis and were blessed by Bart and Dawn to stay in their home. We were welcomed and loved on by many Haus Church families, and invited to meet in person for breakfast by Joan Arnold.  We were then escorted by sweet Adrienne Harris and met up with Kathleen and Bob Morrison to enjoy a lovely time of fellowship. Joan's hospitality was above and beyond. She even came by Bart and Dawn's home twice to bring us flowers, and then breakfast fixings! We now have friends in many states and even in other countries like Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. David and I are eternally blessed! We joyfully experience the love of God through Haus Church .”

Haus Church was born though the suggestion of a friend at the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020. Now, 19 months later, we see families separated by thousands of miles worshiping together and life-long friendships formed among people who have never met in person. What a blessing!

This article was originally posted in November 2021.