Go to the Gym, Meet the Pastor
November 18, 2009
by Jeff Helms
The words that first come to mind when I think of UPC are constant and community. When I first came to Orlando in the fall of 2000, I was broken, skeptical, and guarded. 2000 marked my third year of being on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and this year was my "if this does not work out, I'm leaving year." This was my job. As for myself, I was not going to let anyone in on my hidden medical issues that I did not think were obvious for someone 4'11", and 26 years old. I was going to keep it all inside.
That year in Orlando with Campus Crusade worked. I liked my job and I thought that was where God was going to leave me. I had been going to UPC on and off for a little over a year. I was getting into a Bible study and this new guy, what was his name? Oh yeah, Mike Osborne seemed to be always running into me. This was at the gym! I did not know he was the assistant pastor at UPC. I began a great friendship with Mike. This led to getting into the Men's ministry and getting into leadership in my Bible study. God was not done with me. Not by a long shot.
Through the years, as I watched Mark Bates preach which turned into Mike Osborne preaching, I was having modeled before me wisdom, humility, and leadership. What I was not used to was that none of these guys had an ego. I was offered different leadership positions and events to get involved with and they pushed me and always let me do what I could handle. I was feeling perfectly home at UPC.
My medical issues can be pretty obvious sometimes. In the summer of 2008, I lost a massive amount of weight because of pneumonia. However, I gained that weight back by taking cordico steroids. To me, this was worse than the illness itself. I absolutely hated it! My men's group that met every Friday afternoon at Friendly Confines was integral in getting me through that. I am not able to go to this group as much because of my job, but I have a bond with these guys that is eternal.
UPC has always been there for me whether it is help, advice, prayer, you name it. UPC is unlike any other church I have ever been to! Their prayers work too! I grew 5 inches! (That's another story...)