For someone who’s never attended Tomoka, it can be confusing to see people dressed so casually, especially if they come from a background where everyone is supposed to dress their best when going to church.
This is exactly what happened to our ministry pastor, Greg Holmgren, when he first visited Tomoka. Here’s what he had to say:
“The first time my wife Sue and I came to Tomoka was on Easter Sunday. She had a nice dress on, and I had my suit on. We pulled into the parking lot of the church and I saw someone wearing shorts, a t-shirt, flip-flops and a baseball cap. I looked at my wife and said, ‘One thing I can promise you is that I’ll never go to that church.’ It completely had to do with how that person was dressed on Easter Sunday. We stayed away for about six months until Christmas. God kept calling us to Tomoka, so we decided to give it one more chance. We walked in the Worship Center, and saw the spirit that was in the church, and the love that the people had for each other. We could not stay away from Tomoka. To my shame, I had the preconception that if you didn’t dress right for church, you weren’t respecting God, but Jesus went to people that were poor and without clothes to help them. Certainly that’s the job He’s given the church.”
At Tomoka, we’re not concerned with what you wear. You can come in wearing a suit and tie, or a t-shirt and flip-flops. We’re just happy you have a desire in your heart to grow closer to Jesus, and we want to help you accomplish that. No matter what your situation may be, we encourage you to come as you are, and let the Holy Spirit move through you.
