Coming Home – A Celebration Story 

A candid interview with Lisanne Roth
by Paula York and JaneFe Bennie, Melbourne, Australia 

Q. Welcome back! Now, you became a disciple at university, met your future mate co-leading together, got married, left church for a while; what made you want to come back to church again? 

A. I was away for about 16 years due to some church conflicts. We left Sydney for New Zealand - a great small-town rural community. In that time, our beautiful family grew. Our mission team dreams were so far off the mark! We weren't reading or praying, so our faith stalled. We later moved back to Melbourne to be closer to my family. During my late husband's heroic battle with a terminal illness, a few disciple friends reached out to me. But after he passed away, we spoke more about God and life. One conversation stood out from the rest. 

Q. What was so significant about this conversation? Why did it so move you? 

A. We talked about the Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32), and it hit me that I needed to "come home". Why was I ignoring God's family? All those years away, I was so ashamed and regretted not fighting harder for God's church. I was in the middle of this grief, having lost my soulmate, and I missed God deep down. So, I still have life - it's a gift; God is telling me to trust him. Everything that happened was part of his life plan for me (Psalm 139.16). 

I cringed in my fear and anxiety about returning to church. What will I tell people? How will I be? I was overwhelmed. But I decided just to be real. If Jesus can be, so can I! The little steps coming along to family groups and church again have been so encouraging.

It was time to enjoy God. I got back to personal retreat times with God. I studied the Cross more to understand grace better. I wrestled with the scriptures and got humbled and rejuvenated. I am forever grateful to the sisters who stood by me - all lights in a dark valley at times. God guided me back through them to bring me home. 

Q. What would you say now to others that have left God's family and are perhaps thinking of coming back? 

Seek, listen, look out for the signposts. Don't ignore them! I see how God loves us reconciled to him. I love how God is more than all our fears and regrets. God knows the best way to mould us into the people we are meant to be, not the world. 

I am learning that He is everything, and He is enough. I have a long way to go, but the future is more hopeful, secure and inspiring. Sometimes, we have to push past all the noise, and God grants us rest, recovery and all the refreshment we need in his gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12-13). I think of Psalm 23 - God wants to care for us completely. And we can dwell in God's house forever. 

I love that Jesus is the author and perfecter of my faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the Cross so that I will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12:1-3). Thank you, God, for calling me home. Now we celebrate!