Hello everyone, I’m new here, and this is my first post. My family and I haven’t been to church for several years. I don’t believe this has been good for us, but it has at least given me the space to see and explore, with hope, the doctrine of UR. I don’t think it will be easy going back to church, though I do feel a need to be a part of a Christian group. Which leads me to my question: Are you a member of a church, or do you attend a church somewhere sometimes? If not, do you belong to a Christian group? What has been your experience of believing in UR and being a part of a Christian group who believe in ET. I wonder whether there is a culture clash when it comes to say witnessing. Even though an ET christian and a UR christian may agree on the necessity to witness, they are both doing it from different perspectives. I’m interested to hear your comments and thoughts.
I wish to share how I came to believe in the reconciliation of all people to God. Prior to that time, whenever I heard the word “Universalist”, I understood it to refer to someone who believed everyone would go to heaven automatically, whether they became a Christian or not. I have always considered that to be a false teaching — and still do.
The church with whom I presently meet is part of a circle of fellowship in whose leading brethren understand God to have restored the gifts and ministries to the Universal Church. Prior to attending this church, I had been reading early Christian writings, and was surprised that so many of the early Christian practices were being carried out in the meetings. I also heard many teachings which corresponded to the early Christian teachings about which I had been reading. About a year after I began attending this church, I went to one of the summer camps. At the dinner table, I heard one of the leading brethren say, “I never could believe in an eternal hell.” WHAT???
“What have I gotten myself into?” I thought. “I have gotten myself into a cult!”
I walked around that camp ground, deeply disturbed. My main emotion was that of horror. But just when I was in my worst frame of mind, I thought I sensed a word from God, “Don’t worry about this. Just leave it alone and enjoy the rest of the camp. All will become clear.” Then, to my amazement, I felt completely relaxed.
After I returned home, I discovered something even more amazing. For the next week or so, whenever I read the scriptures I saw the reconciliation of all things to God in virtually every passage! This is what convinced me of its truth.
Hi, Craggs!
Welcome to the group; it’s great to have you! We just had a thread on this very topic, so I’ll give you the link: The Search for a Church There’s a lot of good advice there. As for me, I meet with friends in a simple/house church setting. When there are only a few families, said families are much less interested in excommunicating you if only because that would be one less person to bring a dish for the weekly meal together! 
(Also because they know and love you, and you know and love them, of course.)
But as I said, there’s quite a lot of good advice on this other thread and if you post there, people will address your specific needs. Also, it would be great if you’d post a little about yourself and your journey in the introductions thread.
Blessings, Cindy
Hi Cindy and thanks for that. I’ll check the thread out, and yes, I’ll get to introducing myself too. Cheers, Craggs