Question: "When is a store not a store?" Answer: "When
it is JUST LOVELY people meeting, greeting, and serving the public in a JUST
LOVELY environment.
A feeling of peace permeates the atmosphere of the Christian book and gift shop
located in downtown Shallotte. It is what its sign indicates: just a lovely
place to visit, browse and buy. The name came with the purchase of the original
enterprise when it resided in Sonrise Square, Sunset Beach. However, the new
owners-a group of families who comprise The Upper Room, a home church
community-both view and live it as a scriptural statement. They are committed to
being people whose lifestyle demonstrates "how lovely are the feet of those who
bring glad tidings" [Isaiah 52:7]
From the offering of a cup of
tea to the gift of tealights to assist children at Waccamaw Elementary School in
their commemoration of 9/11, from the smiles that greet everyone who enters the
store to the bags of gifts offered to the reading program students at Jessie Mae
Monroe Elementary, there is a sense that this is not simply sales promotion.
These are definitely just lovely people who view themselves as servants of God
and their work as ministry.
Their story is both complicated and courageous. It
began a number of years ago when Parna Hopkins led a Bible study group at a
nondenominational church in Raleigh. Some who attended were eager to deepen
their understanding and probe their concept of discipleship. They asked Parna to
assist them in that endeavor. She did. They sought more. Eventually, they called
her to pastor a home church community. And, as the saying goes, the rest is
history.
In fact, their history includes far more than that.
Parna dreamed dreams and saw visions of expanded ministry. Her little community
was comprised of people whose lives had already been fraught with hardships and
struggles. Their vulnerability and hers were wed in a marvelous marriage of
faith. Each experienced transformational moments. Together, they found a
profound serenity and became a "healing hospital." Together, they became
helpers. Together, they walked in hope and trust that God would see them through
anything that came their way.
And God did.
In the late 1990s, Parna and
Stephanie, another member of the group, came to Sunset Beach for a respite and
spiritual retreat. While there, they lamented the fact that there were no
Christian bookstores in the area. Travel to Myrtle Beach or Wilmington was
necessary. As they continued to voice their dismay to each other, an idea was
forming.
With what some would call coincidence and others,
providence, they met Evelyn Madison, a real estate agent who "just happened" to
have a store for sale. She asked, "Do you know anyone who wants to buy a
business?" They surely did! With a handshake to confirm the deal, Parna and
Stephanie phoned the church family in Raleigh to announce their corporate
ownership of a gift store named JUST LOVELY GIFTS. A graced partnership, The
Gifted Artisans Corporation, had begun.
The way was not without its peaks and valleys. An
entire faith community was now faced with moving from Raleigh to Brunswick
county. Quite scripturally, the words were too hard for some and they remained
behind. The others took a prayerful plunge, sold their homes, quit their jobs,
decided to continue their learning to be disciples, and moved. All believed, and
continue to believe, that God is Lord of all, Lord of everything in their lives
without exception. For them, to step out in faith is to change one's life and to
change one's life, one steps out in faith-blind faith!
What they needed to know about running a business was
learned via "on-the-job" training. It was also the culmination of many combined
years of unique garage sales where goods were artfully displayed according to
use. Bathroom items were in one section; kitchen things in another. They also
worked cooperatively, using each gift and talent as needed. The strengths of one
person offset the weaknesses of another. Everyone dug deeply into his or her own
cache of abilities offering whatever they could for the good of all.
Practicality was not set aside. Parna sought
professional assistance in creating a business plan via UNC-W. The entire group
gathered the upfront, startup money. This was to be a venture in which all would
invest. It was to be a group ministry and a synergy of talents. No individual
would be boss of all.
Stephanie's sales background assists in marketing the
store to the general public. Michelle's artistic talents create grand displays
of merchandise. Daniel and Kirk build and/or tear down walls. Marcia is
treasurer; Jennifer & Nina fill in as salespersons.
It was not easy. Each member learned the meaning of
sacrifice. Each tasted his or her own personal brand of self-centeredness and
began to discover there is no room for that kind of behavior in a store that
calls itself a ministry. Learning to be other-centered was and is hard work. But
it is doable.
Each individual now gives more than was ever thought
possible. There is no such thing as minimum and maximum is an ever changing
horizon. Their individual fears have given way to trust and belief that God
qualifies the called. This awareness pervades the community. Even the children,
Naomi and Camelia pitch in.
Learning as they go continues to be a humorous
adventure. One day, Nina was at her wit's end trying to balance the books. The
store was closed and she had papers scattered about in her effort to "do it by
hand because I can't figure out that calculator." In desperation, she phoned the
group and told them of her plight, her inability to balance the books. Parna's
son and daughter-in-law were immediately dispatched to assist. They arrived at
the storefront to find Nina on her knees in the midst of the papers. Thinking
that it was her balance that was the issue, they commanded her to remain as she
was. Taking a blood pressure cuff, they began to administer first aid. Laughter
finally broke the mood as Nina managed to convince them that it was not her
balance at stake, it was the book's!
As I listened to their intricate and interwoven tales
of trial and error, failure and success, laughter and tears, I was imbued with a
deep sense that these truly are just lovely people whose whole being, feet,
hearts, mouths, and eyes, is filled with but one desire: to bring glad tidings,
good news, to Brunswick county.
Fran Salone-Pelletier is a religious educator, author,
and lecturer. The second volume of her latest three volume series, 'Awakening to
God: The Sunday Readings in Our Lives,' is available at local bookstores.
