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Before Joe and Debbie Cox were married, they set out to find a nonjudgmental, grace-based church home. Their neighbors invited them to try their church, which was a local ELCA congregation. Joe and Debbie found what they were looking for there, so it felt natural for them to join Lord of Life when they moved to The Woodlands 28 years ago.
After completing new members classes, they jumped right into Christian education and the community outreach that the church had going at the time. Soon afterward Joe found himself on the church council. They felt that they were a part of the Lord of Life community right away. “The way to get connected here has always been by picking a ministry that speaks to you, and then get involved,” Joe said.
Joe wrote “I have always appreciated the consistent message of Grace and acceptance for all that is proclaimed and exhibited at Lord of Life. Jesus said that his followers will be known by the way they love. I rarely find love exhibited in judgement. Also, I appreciate this congregation’s appetite for outreach -- both locally and worldwide. Outreach is shown by a willingness to literally get our hands dirty at times in order to bring a little light to a dark situation.”
Joe learned generosity along with the proper regard for material possessions from his mother and grandmother. Despite neither of them ever attaining much material wealth, they were always ready to share what they had with those who were in need. They understood that these “belongings” were just theirs for a brief time.
Joe and Debbie give to Lord of Life and to other Christian ministries because it is a way to give back a small portion of what they have been given. Joe gives because he believes the scriptures teach us to worship God by the giving of our time and assets. “I have received many blessings by taking on commitments that seemed daunting at the time,” said Joe.
Joe hopes that the next generation will come to realize that they are also blessed and accepted by this congregation, and more importantly, by Christ himself. Joe hopes they will find their place within the Body of Christ to serve and be a blessing. Joe concluded “The Christian Walk requires service to be complete. My hope is that Lord of Life will continue to offer many opportunities to serve both within the church and within the community.”
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