Today we continue our special three-part series that features the stories of friends and former members of an Acts 29 church in Columbia, Missouri.

Last week, we brought you Derek and Kaylee's story, and today we have the privilege of sharing Matt and Cassie's.

Matt comes from a long line of Lutherans, and his only experience

with the church prior to joining this congregation had been within that context. Cassie had recently

become a believer after living as an atheist, and when they moved to Columbia for grad school,

they'd join this church as a way to find community in a place that was less liturgical for them to grow as a couple.

Although Matt was hesitant at the lack of accountability and clarity of bylaws from the start,

eventually the relationships went out.

Many pivotal life experiences happened for Matt and Cassie while attending this church.

They were married, had children, and Cassie eventually went on

to finish grad school. They were deeply committed in heart and action. Matt and Cassie faithfully

volunteered their time and dedicated their lives to this church for seven years. Matt was on the

worship team, an elder candidate, planned outreach events, provided photography

services for the church, and was even offered an associate pastor position.

In addition, Cassie and Matt were small group leaders for four years, and Cassie served on the

hospitality team, Children's Ministry, wrote blog posts for the church website and provided

other assistance for other day-to-day tasks.

If this sounds like a lot, it is. They were all in. But even despite all that they gave and all that they

did for the church, it wasn't enough. And they ended up heartbroken. I'm Johnna Harris and this is the bodies behind the bus podcast.

I am all about blessed subtraction.

There is a pile of dead bodies behind the Marseville bus.

And by God's grace it'll be a mountain by the time we're done.

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