Walking through the Old Market for the first time was like walking straight through my dreams. I had been a bit terrified, to say the least, about moving half way across the country to a place I had never even visited. Although my hometown was not much smaller than Omaha, the city seemed huge to me and I was afraid I would be lost among its many residents. And then my husband brought me to the Old Market.
It was like an escape to the small town life I craved, without losing the appeal of civilization my husband had deemed a necessity. As I meandered through the quirky shops and art galleries full of locally made items, the sense of community overwhelmed me. For the first time I felt that Omaha could truly be my home.
The Old Market prides itself on attracting all sorts of people and enabling them to be themselves. The Market Church sincerely shares this desire and that is why we choose to exist in such a vibrant and exciting community. But it goes beyond existing. What I dream about is for TMC to come alongside the already thriving Old Market community and become a heartbeat for the neighborhood.
My hope is that every person who visits not only the Old Market, but TMC as well, finds their family as I did. That no matter where they came from or where they are headed, we can become home. I dream of a church that is truly a helping hand to its neighbors; the hand that provides warmth from the cold winter storm for the homeless on our doorstep or simply a hot meal for brand new parents so there is one less thing to think about.
Community is not something I can ignore. It is not just a check in the box or a scratch off the list. It is in me. At TMC I have found dozens of others who share a deep desire to care for others in their needs and times of desperation. That is my hope for anyone who comes through our doors, that they will find a home.
Natalie Wallace
Natalie Wallace
More info about TMC can be found here
