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The Refuge

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Join us on Sat. evenings for bible study at Panera's in the Loop. What a joy it is to introduce you to our church!

You'll discover that our passion is to provide a place where people just like you can have a life-changing experience with God. At The Refuge, our doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. We are a life-giving, multicultural church and our goal is to infuse life and God's love into people and families through engaging, powerful worship services that offer biblical truth in relevant and practical ways. Together, we're striving to become the kind of church described in the Bible, where there's relevant teaching, heart-felt worship, honest friendships, constant prayer, and compassionate care for those in need. In short, we'd like to have the kind of contagious Christianity that can influence and encourage the entire community, one life at a time. So, if you are still just checking out the "church scene" and investigating the claims of Jesus Christ, thank you for allowing us to help you in your search. Or, if you are a committed Christ-follower who wants to sink the roots of your faith even deeper, you can find a home here at The Refuge Church.

10/28/2026

Some Goodbyes Stay With Us

Some goodbyes are never quite finished.

We carry them with us in the memories that make us smile, the songs that take us back, and the moments when we instinctively wish we could pick up the phone and hear a familiar voice one more time.

Sometimes, grief arrives quietly. Sometimes, it catches us completely off guard. A photograph, a familiar scent, a favorite song and suddenly, we're missing someone all over again.

And that's okay.

The people we love leave pieces of themselves in our lives. They shape our stories, teach us lessons, make us laugh, and help make us who we are. Their absence changes our lives, but it doesn't erase what they gave us.

Our faith doesn't mean we never feel the pain of losing someone. Even Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. Love and sorrow can exist together, and there is no shame in either.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

There is room for all of it: the tears, the laughter, the stories we tell again and again, and the hope we hold onto when goodbye feels too heavy.

So today, let's remember the people who helped shape our lives. Say their names. Share a favorite story. Listen to the song that reminds you of them. Let yourself feel whatever today brings.

Because remembering isn't a failure to move forward. Sometimes, it's one of the ways we continue to love.

🖤 Some goodbyes change our lives. They never have to erase the love.

10/27/2026

🏮 A Light That Carries Love: Honoring Our Ancestors

Across the world, people have found beautiful and meaningful ways to remember those who came before us. One such tradition is Obon, a Japanese Buddhist observance that honors the spirits of ancestors.

For many families, Obon is a time to remember loved ones, visit graves, gather with family, and take part in traditions passed down through generations. Lanterns are an important part of some Obon observances, with practices varying across Japan and from family to family.

There is something deeply human about wanting to remember those we have loved. Their stories become part of our stories. Their lessons shape us. And even when they are no longer physically beside us, the love we shared can continue to light our way.

As we learn about traditions beyond our own, let's approach them with curiosity, humility, and respect.

We don't have to belong to a culture to learn about its traditions or appreciate their meaning. We can listen to those who observe them, take time to understand their significance, and follow their guidance when invited to participate.

Respect means seeing more than the beautiful lanterns. It means honoring the people, history, and beliefs behind them.

Here at Refuge, we're making room for remembrance in its many forms and reflecting on the love that connects us across generations and cultures.

🏮 May we carry the light of those we remember with love and gratitude.

10/27/2026

🎃 A Little Hope, A Little Love, A Little Magic🎃

Let's be honest. The world feels heavy sometimes. There is so much hurt, so much division, and so much uncertainty. Some days, it can be hard to know what to hold on to.

That's when I think we need to remember the little things: a kind word, a helping hand, a shared laugh, a moment of wonder. Even the simple whimsy of the season can remind us that there is still joy to be found.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Faith. Hope. Love. Three things worth holding on to when the world feels uncertain.

We don't have to agree on everything to treat one another with kindness. We don't have to share the same background, beliefs, or traditions to show respect. We need one another more than we sometimes realize.

So as the pumpkins glow, the ghosts playfully float about, and a little Halloween magic fills the air, let's remember to make room for one another, too. Let's offer grace, choose kindness, respect our differences, and be a little light in somebody else's day.

Because hope isn't always a grand gesture. Sometimes it's simply choosing to believe that kindness still matters—and then putting that belief into action.

May we be people who give one another something to hold on to.

10/26/2026

🎃 Happy Monday, everyone! 🎃

Got a case of the Monday blues? Let's add a little mystery, a dash of spooky fun, and something unexpected to the start of our week!

Here at Refuge, we're getting ready to explore some fascinating traditions, stories of remembrance, and the beautiful ways people keep the memories of loved ones alive.

But that's just a little teaser: you'll have to join us this week to discover more! 👀🕯️

So grab your coffee, shake off those Monday blues, and make room for a little fun in your week. After all, life is always more interesting with a little curiosity and a touch of the unexpected. 🎃

Have a mysteriously marvelous Monday, everyone!

10/25/2026

🎃🐈‍⬛ A Little Spooky, A Little Silly! 🎃🐈‍⬛️

Pumpkins, curious kitties, and a little spooky mischief. Halloween season is the perfect excuse to embrace our playful side!

Sometimes we just need to let our inner child out, enjoy the silly things, and make room for a little harmless magic in the everyday.

So tell me, are you team cute and spooky or creepy and kooky? 👻🎃

10/24/2026

You're My Person

Everyone needs a person. Someone who shows up when life gets messy, listens when words are hard to find, and reminds us we don't have to carry it all alone.

They're there for the tears, the laughter, the difficult days, and the little moments that make life sweeter. The people who let us be ourselves, remind us we're loved, and help us find a little joy even when life feels heavy.

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

Be someone's safe place. Celebrate the people who make life brighter. And remember, it's okay to let someone be there for you, too.

10/23/2026

Choosing Hope When Life Is Uncertain

Sometimes life puts us in situations where we desperately want to fix things, protect the people we love, or find an answer that just isn't there.

We pray. We worry. We do everything we can, and still, the outcome isn't ours to control.

But even when we can't control what happens next, we can choose hope.

Hope doesn't mean pretending everything is okay. It doesn't mean ignoring the fear or promising that everything will work out the way we want.

Sometimes hope is simply believing that this moment isn't the whole story. It's continuing to pray, showing up for the people we love, and taking things one day at a time.

And when you find yourself struggling to hold on to hope, it's okay to lean on someone else for a while. You don't have to be strong every minute of every day.

You don't have to know how the story ends to believe that hope is still worth holding on to.

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
Psalm 31:24 (KJV)

Whatever you're facing today, may you find a little hope to carry you through.

10/22/2026

Choosing Compassion When You're Still Angry

Sometimes people hurt us in ways that leave wounds that take a long time to heal. And sometimes, even while we're still carrying that hurt, we find ourselves in a moment when we have a choice: how will we respond?

Choosing compassion doesn't mean what happened was okay. It doesn't mean forgetting, excusing someone's actions, or pretending we're no longer angry.

It means recognizing that another person's humanity still matters, even when they've hurt us.

Jesus calls us to love others, but that doesn't mean we have to deny our own pain. We can have boundaries. We can acknowledge the hurt. We can take the time we need to heal.

And still, when the moment comes, we can choose kindness over cruelty and compassion over revenge.

You don't have to be completely healed to do what's right. You don't have to be ready to forgive to recognize someone else's need.

Sometimes compassion is the first step on a much longer journey.

Give yourself grace as you walk it.

📖 “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” — Luke 6:36 (KJV)

10/21/2026

Choose Something Bigger Than Yourself

What if we chose to make the world a little better than we found it?

We don't all have the resources, influence, or opportunities that some have. But we all have something we can offer.

Maybe it's using your voice to stand up for someone who isn't being heard. Maybe it's showing kindness when the world feels unkind, making room for someone who's been pushed aside, or simply being the person who listens without judgment.

We can't fix everything. We can't carry every burden or solve every problem. But we can choose what we do with what we've been given.

Our faith isn't just about what we believe. It's also about how we love, how we treat people, and what we do when we see a chance to make a difference.

You don't have to change the whole world. Start with the part of it you can reach.

Choose to be part of the good you want to see. ❤️

📖 “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

What's one little thing you can do to make someone else's world better today?

10/20/2026

Take the Leap of Faith

Some of life's hardest decisions are the ones where we can't see where the road leads. We can pray, weigh our options, and still have no guarantee of how things will turn out.

Sometimes the leap is a new job, a fresh start, or even a move to Boston. Sometimes it's choosing a path we never imagined we'd take.

And it's okay to be afraid. It's okay to have questions. Give yourself grace as you figure it out.

Faith doesn't mean knowing every twist and turn ahead. Sometimes it means trusting God enough to take the next step, even when you can't see the whole picture.

You don't have to know how the story ends to begin a new chapter. Sometimes you just have to take that leap.

Have you ever taken a leap of faith that changed your life?

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5 - 6

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Kissimmee, FL
34759

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+14075455547

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