She realized others were standing around her, singing a final song. She stood and tried to sing along, but there was such emotion bubbling that she slipped out the back door of the church and stood by the railing.

A woman she would learn later was the pastor’s wife came out and stood beside her. “I saw you leave. Is there something wrong? Can I help?”

Melissa turned and wiped her eyes and laughed nervously. “I’m fine. I just . . .” She stopped and studied the woman’s face. “I’ve been to churches before, but something was different today. Is what he said true? Can God really wipe all your mistakes away like that?”

The next week she came for Sunday school and got Courtney situated in her class and then found a room off the sanctuary for something called the Explorers Class. These were adults who had questions about what the church believed, what the Bible said, and there were a few skeptics. The pastor was there to begin the discussion and study, and there was another man who took over toward the end when the pastor left to get ready for worship.

“I’m Shawn Cates, and I’m glad you’re here today. I’ve been listening to your questions and the discussion and it’s encouraging to have you here. We’re all on a journey, coming from different backgrounds. In fact, the pastor asked me to be here because, well, about a year ago I was sitting where you are. I was kind of at the end of my rope and there was no knot to hang on to, and I began to learn about how much God loves me in spite of all my mistakes. I found answers here. And something happened on the inside—ask anybody who knew me a year or two ago and they’ll tell you, there’s been a big change. And I don’t take any credit for it.”

Shawn was a few years older than her, Melissa guessed, tall with a big smile and a salt-and-pepper beard. She thought he looked a little like a lumberjack with his broad shoulders. Afterward, when some others had left the room, she went up to him.

“So are you a pastor here?”

Shawn laughed. “No, I just volunteer. It’s Melissa, right?”

“How did you know?”

“The pastor’s wife told me she spoke with you and invited you. I can’t tell you how good it is to have you with us.”

They spoke for a few minutes and then Melissa glanced at the clock. “Oh, I have to go . . . There’s something I need to do before the worship service.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in there, then,” Shawn said.